help with baby martins not being fed by mom

cnevett27 · Sun Jul 19, 2015 1:12 pm

I have 4 babies that hatched around june 28. July 14, found one dead. The other one looked significantly smaller than the other two. They were around 50 grams the the littler one was around 36 gms. Watched for a day and did not see the mom. I have two other gourds going and observed feeding going on there. After supplemental egg for the smallest, I took into the rehabber. Today I have continued to watch and still see no mom. The two other birds' keel does feel obvious, stomach is NOT doughy...we've had extreme temps in upper 90's with heat indexes around 100 or more. I started supplemental crickets every 90 minutes today..3 a piece. Not sure if this is enough, not sure if I should just bring them to the rehabber on Monday. I have another group that are just two birds that were born around July 5th and they are around 60 gms. These birds are smaller and less developed but weigh more than the other two who appear to have no one feeding them. How many crickets would I be feeding and how often? Should I take them in on Monday to rehab? Also have one last group of nestling who hatched on JULY 12!!! Mom is actively taking care of these, but isn't that late? Season has been discouraging. Have had 6 babies die after all the rains and cold weather. Thanks for any help.

Louise Chambers · Sun Jul 19, 2015 1:28 pm

I would suggest dumping pile of dead crickets right inside the entrance and let the female feed them to the young. An adult martin could use 40 crickets a day, so if you can dump 40 or so in there, that would be enough to really help out. Check the next day to see if she is using them or not.

cnevett27 · Sun Jul 19, 2015 3:27 pm

The problem is there is no female bird taking care of these two guys. I have sprinkled a little sand on the troyer porch and it has not been moved by a mother bird making entry. It appears as though she has decided to move on since most of my others have fledged. I am stuck with trying to either pop these two in one of my last gourds with two others whose mom is feeding, but they are about one week younger or send them to rehab. Cindy

Craig Haddox · Sun Jul 19, 2015 4:42 pm

Cindy, I'm from Washington also. Can you put the babies in another nest where they are close in age they could be adopted and be fed. If not I would try the rehabber. My last martins fledged yesterday. Had 44 pair this year. Good luck with the babies.

cnevett27 · Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:49 pm

Craig, Have you moved birds before and had success? Will the mom/dad attack new babies that show Up? Thanks, Cindy
P.S. If everything goes well I will have about 56 fledge this year...done from last year...

cnevett27 · Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:55 pm

Also, These babies are about a week older than the ones that already have a mom feeding them. If I transfer them, is it best to do it at night? Should I continue to weigh all four birds then and see if they are being fed?

Louise Chambers · Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:05 pm

Cindy, there must be a bird feeding those babies or they would have died by now, I think - you have not seen any feeding since the 15th? Or you started supplemental feeding the first day, and that kept them from starving? Trying to get a clear picture.

If a nestling is fostered into another nest, it should be the same size, or very close to same size as its new siblings. If it is much bigger, it could hog incoming food to detriment of smaller birds. If it's smaller, it may not compete successfully for food. Rehabber might be best option at this point.

cnevett27 · Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:12 pm

Thanks Louise, I am leaning towards Rehab because there is a size difference. My older guys feathers are good, the other nest has younger birds who are still growing feathers, however they weigh 10 grams more than my older birds. I started supplemental feeding today...all day, every hour, with crickets, 6 per baby. Watched them on Saturday and Friday and never saw a mom fly to the nest. I was out there alot obviously on Sunday,wrenching up and down..felt sorry for the other birds. Its such a bummer, and I am growing attached to these guys by feeding them. I could continue to feed them in their nest for a couple of days more..my problem is most of my martins have left except for two other active gourds. There will be no one around when its time for these guys to fledge and I heard that parents are important for that. I don't know how they manage in rehab... Appreciate the advice!