Still feeding babies in Central Texas

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Emil Pampell-Tx
Posts: 6743
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas

We still have one active nest, I saw them feeding the babies this AM. They came in January, so we had martins for parts of 8 months, never have had martins from Sept thru December. We get about 15 to 25 visitors every morning from a nearby roost.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

Wow that's awesome! You got a lot of entertainment Emil. :grin:
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

We have one nest still feeding, too - another week and it will be all quiet :cry:
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Nikkidodi - SATX
Posts: 37
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:40 pm
Location: TX/San Antonio

Great news, Emil. I am having the same experience here. One nest remaining, earliest possible fledge day is Aug. 8th. A few hot days near 100 recently, but cooling this week to the mid 90's. I have only 8 houses (4 quad pods and 4 gourds), but counted 42 purple martins on the house and power lines above yesterday. When I went out a few minutes ago, there were 8 on the lines and a couple flew off chattering and wiithin a minute there were twice that many that came to say hello (or I'd like to think anyway.)
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Emil Pampell-Tx
Posts: 6743
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas

Thanks to all of you, its a joy to still have them, even in San Antonio.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Matt F.
Posts: 3978
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Houston, TX

Great report Emil!
You're finishing up a nice, long season.
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

I've got a nest of 4 left. They all hatched the same day, July 11.

2 are much smaller due to dehydration. I got them back on their feet, but I fear the 2 bigger chicks will keep them from getting feed. I'm feeding them crickets a couple times a day & am hoping they make it.

Half my colony has left already & I fear these 2 smaller chicks, if they make it, will get left behind. They look like they are almost half the size of the other 2 chicks. Dehydration really stunts their growth.

Toy in PA
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Emil Pampell-Tx
Posts: 6743
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas

Toy, I do not think that they will be left behind, they will stay with them as long as they are alive and healthy
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Emil Pampell-Tx wrote:Toy, I do not think that they will be left behind, they will stay with them as long as they are alive and healthy
Ed:

I've had parents abandon chicks before. Here we've have a major lack of bugs the last 3 years. I've also had parents fledge chicks too early & many did not make it.

These 4 chicks are now 3 weeks old, but the 2 smaller ones are no where near ready to fledge. The Mom brings in food, looks in & then flys away. Dad brings in food & feeds them. Today he brought in what looked like a HUGE moth of some kind. It was bigger than a dragonfly & he couldn't get them to eat it.

Toy in PA
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