First gourd fledged and new eggs

johncanfield · Wed Jun 24, 2020 2:03 pm

Saw my very first set of chicks on 5-26 in gourd #3 and today's nest check gourd #3 was empty so it's been about a month since they hatched. So I think we have four or five youngsters flying around somewhere. To my surprise there are three Martin eggs in gourd #11, this is first time there have been eggs in that one.

And no mites in any gourd, so we have a clean bunch of birds.

Whippy · Wed Jun 24, 2020 4:19 pm

Congratulations on the fledglings.

You didn't mention if you got to see them fly out. If you didn't get to see it try to watch for the next ones leaving. It's fun to watch.

Hope the newest ones do as well.

Coolwhips

johncanfield · Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:24 am

Hey Whippy, haven't seen them actually fly out so far but I'm not always watching.

flmike · Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:40 am

So when they leave the nest the first time, they don’t return to the nest?

johncanfield · Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:55 am

From what I've read, I don't think they return but maybe someone with more experience will chime in.

Whippy · Thu Jun 25, 2020 9:06 am

In my experience over the last few years, once my fledglings left, they did not return to their gourd to stay the night. But that's been my experience. This year, I've more than doubled in pairs and as I watch at night, I see many, many Martins flying around but when it comes right down to roosting for the night, those Martins with babies remaining in the gourds will come in for the night.

I have an idea that fledglings will return during the day to play around on the gourds but I also believe some of these fledglings are from other colonies in the area. I have no way of knowing if either of those are true but I do know there are a lot of babies flying around during the day.

I have only 6 years experience and first hand knowledge so those who have way more experience hopefully will chime in.

Coolwhips

avesrun · Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:33 pm

Fledged martins have been known to (and I've observed as well) return and spend nights in same and other possible open cavities for up to around 2 wks. As a colony grows and crowding becomes an issue some fledged hang about at night and get preyed upon by owls