2 fledged on the ground

[Retpsub]

`Saw them yesterday, they look good and almost flap their wings well enough but can't lift up. Adults stick something into their mouths about each 5-8 minuets. Adults attempt to coax them up. -IF- I catch and cage them to feed and they get rest what are the chances they can get stronger to go on. What has been your success rate doing this. Thanks. *BW*

[Louise Chambers]

They're better off with their parents - I'd put them up out of danger, on a platform, on house porch, or cavity if you know which one.

The reason for keeping them with their parents is that once they can fly, the parents still need to feed them for 1-2 weeks, until they can feed themselves.

[Matt@atx]

Hi Louise,

After rehabbers take in Martins and get them healthy and ready at the fledging age, they release them to an active colony. Will members of this active colony teach these young birds how to hunt and feed them for that 2 week period?
(Gosh if not, these birds will be in trouble)

[Louise Chambers]

Some may be adopted, but at least when released from rehab they are healthy and good weight and should have had some time in a flight cage to get them flying better. Instinct will help a bit too, but best recourse when possible is to return them to nests so they can fledge with parents.

This year, with lots of young going to rehab due to the drought, I believe the rehabbers do their best to release them at active sites where they can observe the other martins.

[Matt@atx]

What is a flight cage Louise? Is this a cage the rehabbers place them
into to teach them how to fly or practice flying to strength their muscles
before they let them lose to an active colony?

[Louise Chambers]

Yes, a large enclosed area with perches, soft netting on walls (wire screens and cages will damage feathers), etc. Not all rehabbers have them, but larger facilities do. But I am not a rehabber, we can ask Penny H for information, that would be a better source.

[Matt@atx]

thanks Louise, very interesting. I will email Penny and ask her. Those guys probably got something like that with all the babies they have to bring up.

[Louise Chambers]

Rogers Wildlife Rehab has everything the birds need to be rehabbed successfully and released - flight cages, skilled care, you name it (but they can use donations & our support)

http://www.rogerswildlife.org/dev/about-b.html

The point I wanted to make, and probably could have been more clear about - if the birds cannot go back in their cavity, or to a safe area where parents can feed them (not on the ground), then they should be taken to a rehabilitator. If the landlord takes them in and feeds them, they do not have flight cages or the background to know when they are ready to release, how & when to release, etc. If landlords can't take them to a rehab facility, at least contact Penny (TX Rehabber on this site) and get her advice. Post fledging parental care is important to the birds' survival chances on release.

[TX Rehabber]

Louise, Matt & Retsub,

I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Tom Dellinger in 2002, with the help of Kathy Rogers, when I released my very first Purple Martins that I had raised from nestlings, into his colony. For those who didn’t know him, Tom was the ultimate authority in Texas on Martins and banding. IMHO. Sadly, the Martin community lost our friend in 2008.

I’ll never forget my apprehension when holding my first Martin for release. Tom looked straight at me and said, “Honey, just open your hands and he’ll do the rest. Now you watch as these adults come down and take him off for a little flight around the yard.” He disappeared over some trees and then came back to land on the housing. Again, Tom said, “Now watch as those adults coax him back in the air for a longer flight.” Soon, the Martin was taking flight again. This was repeated for each of the 7 birds. I will never forget that first experience.

It is very important that fledglings be released into a colony as the adults will adopt them and show them the ropes, as told to me by Mr. Dellinger. Until that happens, the Martins that are taken into the Center, once their weight is around 48 grams and are able to feed themselves, spend some time in a flight cage, on average about a week. Yes, all our Martins learn to pick-up before they are released. I have made special arrangements with landlords where I release fledglings that they put out a “little extra food” just in case.

By placing them in flight cages, we can ensure that they will build up their flight muscle and are water proof. Water proofing comes about after bathing, when the young martins, by instinct, use their preening gland (uropygial), located at the base of the tail to express an oily substance to clean and waterproof feathers. Otherwise, if the young birds were to get soaking wet, not only could this render them unable to fly, but they could also succumb to hypothermia. It is VERY important that any birds released are not begging to humans for food. They MUST BE afraid of you. Otherwise, they will NOT survive.

Louise is correct about the caging requirements needed for Martins. Most of our flight cages are designed according to US Fish & Wildlife regulations for large hawks. 10’ X 12’ X 15’. Smaller cages for songbirds including Martins are 10’ X 10’ X 12’ which are larger than required. We also have special flight cages for our woodpeckers that is built around a tree (“Peckerville”) and flight cages for our water birds (Herons, Egrets, Pelicans, Ducks & Geese) that have large in ground pools for wading, bathing and catching live fish.

In the state of Texas, to be a permitted rehabilitator, you MUST have the required flight cages as specified by USFW and Texas Parks & Wildlife.

[Retpsub]

Thanks to everyone for the info. I got home too late to find the two birds but in the morning I'll look for them and if I find them I'll take them to a Rehab center here in Houston for a few days for the best care then bring them back and reintroduce them to their parents first and then turn them back to them. Excellent info from those that know best. Thanks. *BW*