Round Rock Update

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

34 Babies
22 eggs
11 pair

The 22 eggs are in 4 remaining nest. Everyone looks heathy and there is plenty of food this year so far. I think gourd four is renesting also, its had 4 eggs in it for three weeks and today it has five. Good luck everyone. :grin:
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
Gobbler T
Posts: 1518
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:13 am
Location: Mississippi / Columbus

rr,
You've almost doubled your pair #'s from last year. That's a real good jump in my book. :wink: Good luck with them baby's.
Tony


2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

We are praying today. Very strong storm coming in and I lowered the house for the first time.
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
parkerdes
Posts: 417
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:41 pm
Location: TEXAS/Weatherford

Great news & report about your martins!!! I know how exciting it is to have growth!
I had 11 successful pairs last year with a late nesting ASY pair that lost all their babies to heat! I also lost at least 3 fledglings that were late & too weak to fly! Hope we all have a better year with the rain we are getting!
I currently have 18 ASY pairs & lost the hatchlings to SY predation of my only SY pair so far. I also had a pair of ASYs that lost 3 babies to (I assume)...the same! :x
I think I might have 2 more pairs or the SY female is joining up with another SY male & possibly renesting. Not sure yet but I saw a female bringing in nesting material to an unoccupied gourd this morning.
I have a new nest with 5 eggs but not sure if the mom is brooding the eggs or if this is the same female making a new nest next door???
Hope all goes well for your colony this year & you have lots of fledges!!!
Take Care!!
Lila

2009--1 ASY & 1 SY Pair
2010--6 Pairs
2011--11 Successful Pairs + 1 Late Pair that lost their brood to heat!
2012--18 ASY Pairs & 1 SY Pair---104 eggs so far! 1 SY nest lost to infanticide! :o(
rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

Now thats exciting, still nest building? I am going to nest check here in a minute, we had a huge storm yesterday evening. I will update shortly.
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

Everybody fine after the storm and all the nest are dry. The T14 is a great house.
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
Laverne
Posts: 2216
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
Location: TX/Alvin
Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.

Glad to hear all is well in Round Rock. I was awakened around 2:30 with wind and rain down here in Brazoria County. But, everything held together and all is well with us, too.

I'm sorry to hear you lost some to infanticide. We have, too. The nests I found victimized were the nests of SY female ASY male pairings. I think as the birds mature they recognize the danger and become more vigilant in guarding their nests and eggs and young. I think this is also where all the fighting comes from. This is why the ASY chases the SY male away...
Sincerely,
Laverne
rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

That gourd now has seven eggs in it. They did not even throw the other four eggs out. Glad you guys were ok also.
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
Laverne
Posts: 2216
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
Location: TX/Alvin
Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.

Through the years I have seen many renestings. Frequently, the original eggs are retained. Sometimes I find an egg with a hole pecked in it. I imagine a mother bird who has laid this egg and then incubated it, finally pecking at it to determine that it is not viable and will not hatch. So, she starts over... how sad... (for me - not for her) I think she just moves on to the next level with a sense of urgency beginning to gnaw at her.

I love to see the young fledge. It means the parents were successful -- and that's what it is about for all of us...
Sincerely,
Laverne
rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

One of my gourds only had two babies, which is fine. They were born first and should fledge by next Friday. :)
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
Post Reply