10 eggs in one nest!??

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
sonja8582
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2022 10:31 am
Location: Tyler, Texas

I have a photo I hope it will attach- to my surprise I had 10 eggs in one nest!!! My trendsetter 18 room has been popular but this is shocking! Any input- good or bad? I am near certain it is actual SY birds that had this many! Ugh says file too large. I can email- or if you want to contact me- text 903-830-2962 and I can share the image that way!
2021: 1 pair-2 fledged
2022: 3 pair- 7 fledged
2023:5 pair- 16 fledged
2024: 14 pair- 62 fledged
2025: 15 pair-55 fledged

Sonja Hampshire APRN, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP
Purple Martin Landlord since 2021
Texas Girl - born and raised, not leaving either
Top
randyM
Posts: 254
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2015 2:30 pm
Location: Long Lake SD
Martin Colony History: * 2016 - 1 pair (ASYM + SYF) 2/3 eggs hatched 2 young fledged.
* 2017 - 4 pairs, 16/17 eggs hatched, 16 fledged, 16 banded - 2 banded SY returned in 2018 (12.5%)
* 2018 - 10 pairs, 46/52 eggs hatched, 45 fledged, 29 young banded - 3 banded SY returned in 2019 (10.3%)
*2019 - 32 pairs, 145/160 eggs hatched, 139 fledged - 87 young banded - 12 banded SY returned in 2020 (13.8%).
* 2020 - 35 pairs, 180/199 eggs hatched, 178 fledged - 150 young banded & 42 SY returned (28.0%)
* 2021 - 89 pairs, 363/446 eggs hatched, 355 fledged - 150 young banded & 19 SY returned (12.7%)
*2022 - 116 pairs, 495/579 eggs hatched, 471 fledged - 150 young banded & 27 SY returned (18.0%)
*2023 - 160 pairs, 708/828 eggs hatched, 572 fledged - 150 young banded & 38 SY returned (25.3%)
*2024 - 235 pairs, 950/1153 eggs hatched, 865 fledged - 100 young banded & 18 SY returned (18.0%)
*2025 - 200 pairs, 795/953 eggs hatched, 739 fledged - 200 young banded

I've had nests in the past with 11 and 10 eggs. For the 11-egg nest, none hatched whereas the 10-egg nest 4 hatched. My assumption is that a second pair (or at least a second female) took over these nests perhaps due to the original female of the nest dying and the developing embryos in the incubating eggs dying as well. A SY female likely laid eggs with the existing clutches at my site and hatched her own 4 eggs in the 10-egg nest. The 11-egg nest was eventually abandoned. I've had a few tree swallow nests in past years with 9 eggs, all of which hatched, and one of which fledged all 9 young. Was this the first nest check you did for that 10-egg nest? If not, what was the egg count during your last nest visit(s) and how many days between visits?

Please let us know how many eggs hatch.

Cheers!
Randy
Top
Martintown33
Posts: 1366
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

I’ve never had this happen, but Randy’s answer sounds spot on…
Good luck!
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Top
G Saner
Posts: 257
Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2013 3:37 pm
Location: TX/Kerrville
Martin Colony History: Fort Worth, TX (1967-1976), The Colony, TX (1981-1985), Carrollton, TX (1986-2013), Kerrville, TX (2015-present).

Two SuperGourd poles (12 gourds on each) at River Point Assisted Living Center.

Sonja,

I have a nest of 9 eggs this year. They started laying on April 25th. On May 4th, there were 5 eggs. On May 9th, there were 9.

This looks like 2 separate clutches. It could be 2 females, or it could be that the female thought the first eggs were infertile and re-laid a second clutch. They haven't hatched yet so that leads me to believe the first 5 are duds. We shall see.
G Saner
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Purple Martin Forum”