So at this point, I only have one Gourd left to fledge. I noticed for the last 3 weeks a male has been feeding these babies without the help of a female. Regardless of what happened to the female, I have never seen a male ASY take ownership and feed young in this situation. Usually the instinct to begin the migration and the lure of the community roost is too strong in the males.
And he feeds them well it's not something he is doing passively.
The young will fledge in the next week or so and they will all be on their way.
Usually late in the season the males abandon the Colony and the females are left to feed the remaining babies. When I sit and watch them there will be a dozen females bringing in bugs and not a male anywhere around.
After 20 years of raising Martins, I learned something new!
Male Martin feeding Babies
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Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 1911
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: 2018 Success at my Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”.
2019 Success at my home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
,,,, Spiderman ... That's interesting to hear.. But, I think you may have something there.. I have one pair ready to fledge in a day or so, and I haven't seen the Male feed the babies, either, Female only.. He does a lot of yacking but very little if any feeding.. Now I have a swarm of Martins here everyday, waiting on the little ones to fly..
Dave
Dave
Home Site “Little Hocking, Ohio”
2010 / 2018 -- Lots of Visitors
2019 — 1 Pair, 5 Eggs, 5 Babies, 5 fledged.
2020 — 1 Pair, 4 Eggs, 4 Babies, 4 fledged.
2021 — Waiting on March 2021
Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”
2018 -- 15 Pair, 58 Eggs, 38 Hatched and 36 Fledged
2019 — 26 Pair, 128 Eggs, 99 Babies and 97 Fledged.
2020 — 30 Pair, 156 Eggs, 137 Babies and 137 Fledged.
2021 — Waiting on March 2021
PMCA Member
2010 / 2018 -- Lots of Visitors
2019 — 1 Pair, 5 Eggs, 5 Babies, 5 fledged.
2020 — 1 Pair, 4 Eggs, 4 Babies, 4 fledged.
2021 — Waiting on March 2021
Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”
2018 -- 15 Pair, 58 Eggs, 38 Hatched and 36 Fledged
2019 — 26 Pair, 128 Eggs, 99 Babies and 97 Fledged.
2020 — 30 Pair, 156 Eggs, 137 Babies and 137 Fledged.
2021 — Waiting on March 2021
PMCA Member
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 1822
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2020, 60 pair with 285 fledged youngsters. 83 total cavities available, 58 Troyer Horizontal gourds and 4 modified deep trio metal house units, 1 fallout shelter, owl cages around all units. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit www.iamartin.org and join.
Call me crazy for doing what I do, but I feel it aids the lone females in feeding the remaining youngsters. I soak my frozen crickets in water until they are thawed, then put a small handful on each compartment porch in which there is a lone female feeding their youngster when close to fledging.
Mite control, heat venting, predator protection and additional feeding during bad weather add up to success.