7/19 Late Hatch

[USMCmom4]

As of to date my colony has fledged, except for 1 gourd who lost their first clutch (english sparrow I suspect). They started over and when we returned from vacation, we did a nest check and found a 1 or 2 day old on the ground. Knew it was from this gourd, there were 3 other siblings but they were much older looking. I returned him to the nest in hopes that he would catch up but 2 days later I decided to weigh him and an older sibling. The sibling weighted 32g and Boris here only weighted 8g. I decided to help him out in the hopes to get him caught up with his siblings. He is eager to eat (that is not an issue) and in 2 days he is now 12g. I need to know if i'm feeding him enough and how often I should feed. Hes starting to use his voice and the little mouth eagerly takes it in. I don't want to over or under feed this little guy. Also, what are your opinions of him catching up to be reintroduced to the family before its fledge time. Will he even get there???? Photo included

Boris.jpg

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[C.C.Martins]

First, welcome!!! And love your "handle." USMC!
Well done taking him in. Id submit that your feeding schedule is doing wonders for him.
I also think that the head start you gave him will do wonders. Id not keep Boris too long from the nest.
Is there plenty of bugs on your area and others getting fed ok? If so, think stuff Boris again put him back and let adults bring him success. Your fortunate its the only nest, you can monitor closely. You can only do so much, id say he is going to be just fine.
I wonder how he ended up on the ground, perhaps trying to get to the front and pushed out? Either way, id stuff him, put him back and monitor.
Again, very very good job,
Tom

[USMCmom4]

Thanks Tom,
The others looked wonderfully healthy and all the same size. Boris has been eating a cricket every 20 - 30 minutes and he lets me know. I'll finish out feeding him today and put him back into the nest tomorrow. Is it ok to check on him daily and get a weight, maybe put a few crickets in him and then return him? There are plenty of bugs in our open fields and the others in the colony come back several times during the day. His parents are in and out all day. His sibling weighted in at 46g today and Boris is at 14g as of this afternoon. I know its natures way but I just have a feeling he going to fail with siblings that large. But as you said, Let his parents do their thing.
Thanks for the words of encouragement.

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[C.C.Martins]

Very welcome.
You know, perhaps every 3, 4 days. Every day may be too much, taking him out, feeding and weighing, might be a tad much.
Do a walk around every day for sure.
Sounds like boris is just the one who is lagging, would bet he fledges last and is the reluctant one to go. I think timing is good though. Last year had exactly what you are going through, late nest, one chick pink and just tiny its siblings were huge. Didnt think it would make it, it did just fine. It was a public site and I did not supplement its food...in a drought no less...made it.
During the season, if I find a little guy and know iv a nest with fewer and look to be the same age ill move it to that nest, they do very well. Did that twice this year.
With what you have you can focus energy on the nest and chicks.
Trust the adults, iv seen them push through others to get food to the ones in back.

[USMCmom4]

So Boris has flourished under the parents care and feeding despite that the siblings being at least 5 or more days older. Today 8/14, the last older sibling has fledged the nest. Will these parents still feed the remaining baby even if he isn't ready to fledge for several days? On 8/10, I did a weight check only on Boris and he weighed 44g and looked to be about a 14 or 15ish days old. So he's got several days before he would consider fledging. Will they stay around in these late days of august to see him through to fledging or will they leave him on his own.
Thanks, Cindy

[C.C.Martins]

Good news! In short, they will feed Boris just fine. What typically happens is those that fledged will be taken away and parked somewhere. Adults will bring them food, and start teaching them how to be martins. One of the pair will continue to feed those who have not fledged yet. They will stay around and watch over Boris. Evening, they will bring them all back for the night and cycle repeats until they all fledge.
Even if a pair has decided to roost with others, they will return to take care of them. Had 2 nests that fledged fine, yet two chicks from each just refused to leave...took forever but all made the leap.

[USMCmom4]

Will be very observant till he is gone. I've invested a lot woman hours on him and just want to see him leave and be a successful martin. Thanks for the information, FYI I installed a camera in the nest so I'll know when the siblings stay and when he finally leaves.

[C.C.Martins]

If they only knew how much we feel about them!
A camera will show you alot of the goings on. I had two and was addicted, that changed this year as I watched a male continually drive his mate off the eggs and away...got to the point I thought it was another female! It was violent and that was it for me. He eventually settled down, she got to sit on her eggs but I took them out next nest check.
Wish Boris the best!!!! He's in good hands.
Tom

[USMCmom4]

Ok? Question - siblings came back for the night. I noticed either a parent or sibling pecking at him and trying to get him out of the nest. He has refused so far and I really don’t think he’s able to fly yet. Although his wings and tail are fully feathered but when he flaps those wings he is somewhat bare under his wings and body wise he is small. I can’t get out there to check on him because there is so much activity around the houses. Still has a yellow rimmed mouth too.
Will they force him out?

[C.C.Martins]

No they won't force him. Worst case, he comes out with his nest mates and gets knocked off the porch but they won't force him. Chances are slim of him getting knocked off. Some are a few days behind is all. He will continue getting fed, his nest mates and adults sound like they return for the night, that is a good sign. I wouldn't worry too much about a lack of feathers under the wing, he looks good in the pictures.

[USMCmom4]

2 days ago we returned home before a large rain storm to find Boris on the ground. I quickly snatched him up and got him inside to find he weighed 36 grams. I ran to the pet store to get crickets, mealworms and read on the forum that you can give them super worms if you take the head off due to pinchers. He had regained and is 40 grams as of today. He is definitely a smaller build for a Martin but he’s a fighter. What’s an acceptable weight to release him? I think I read in the upper 40s. I’m concerned that the days for the colony to return to the site are getting shorter here. Today I saw and heard some of the group flying overhead but not landing. Thanks for all the advice.
Cindy

[C.C.Martins]

Oh boy, they aren't stopping? Id worry they will believe he is dead unless they see or hear him. Could get some food in him regardless of the weight and get him back in quick. Watch and see if they are coming by to feed him.
If they do not, is there a roost near you? Or a rehabber? Reason why I'm asking about the roost...you could get some weight on him but its delicate, even the adults try to thin their chicks down before they fly. If he gains too much weight, he will struggle. Then take him to the roost area and let him go.
Or get him to a rehabber.
Not many options now if they are not stopping.

[USMCmom4]

How do I find a roost in south Jersey? Just in case they don’t return. His sibling came back to the nest last night so I have returned Boris to the nest in hopes he returns tonight. They are flying overhead, still waiting to see if they look for him. It’s suppose to get in the low 50s tonight will he be fine in the nest?

[C.C.Martins]

To find a reported roost go to the main page, look for research, them martin roost study, the US will appear, all the purple and yellow dots are roosts. (Screen shot attached).
Ok, are the adults returning with the fledges? Sometimes they just hang out and watch for them to go in. That is a sign the adults are about ready to go. If the adults do return and stay with them then they just may find boris. Its important to watch that cavity close, look for adults feeding Boris.
Oh yes, he will be just fine at low 50s.
Watch in the morning, they will emerge. Some things to watch for: adults leaving the nest, any feeding going on. What I think you have are fledges being taken out during the day to learn to be martins, adults in attendance. Then they return at night. Good sign.

[USMCmom4]

8/21 Boris weighed 42-43 grams. I returned him to his gourd about 530ish as I heard them coming in. He stayed put for 30 mins and as they got lower he just flew out and to the tree tops. Saw him for about 10mins and watched him go to other trees and then he stopped chirping and soon after no sightings. He did not return to the nest that night. Was hoping he would as it got into the 50s that night. Others were encouraging him so I’m hoping he made it, he seemed ready. Today I had a very large group revisit us. I think my season is done. Thanks for all the help along the way! Cindy

[C.C.Martins]

Relief, its in God's hands now. He made it, well done.

[Jones4381]

Wow....just read the entire string...Amazing tenacity by Boris and yourself...and a tip of the hat to C.C. for staying with you on that late departure....I'm tired just reading this incredible journey and story....Congratulations....I gotta think Boris made it and is off to S.America very soon.

[USMCmom4]

Follow Up
Have seen Boris return to the nest for the past several nights. A parent dropped him off and left for the night and my camera showed only him inside. I also saw him on top of his gourd and he is still so much smaller than the others around him (he’s got a certain chirp sound about him).. I’m confident now about his journey to S America.

[C.C.Martins]

Its a tough spot to be in and a testament to your care. Never give up! I feared the worst for a bit, really did. I know I can only feed them for a bit, rehabbers can only do so much yet its more than I can for sure. Id try to find a rehabber you like, keep them in your back pocket...something to put on the ever growing martin list for next year.
Tom

[USMCmom4]

Tom,
Thanks for all the positive feedback even if you felt otherwise. My setup here is not a very large colony (12 gourds) and I like it that way. I'm more attentive if there is a need. I've dealt with at least 4-5 jumpers for one reason or another (heat, hunger, etc.) I've never had a late hatch before and never had such a difference in age of the siblings. So, with dealing with a day old on the ground, older siblings, and then jumping from the nest because his siblings were leaving.... was new for me. Over the years I've always been prepared to feed one or even 2 babies at the same time. Boris was a challenge from the day he hatched but he wanted to live. I can't believe I was there to find him on the ground as a day old and got back from a trip to find him on the ground as a jumper. He was meant to survive, and I was meant to get him through. I LOVE RETIREMENT! I'm sure I'll be using this forum for any and all surprises that come my way. I also enjoy reading everyone else's questions and answers. This is how I learned I could feed him super worms but to cut off the heads with pinchers. So whom do you consider a rehabber? I have a wildlife refuge that I took a jumper to one year because he had an injured eye and was unable to fly. I called them several times to get updates but they would never call back so I feared that he was not able to be saved. So ever since then I've tried my best to get them off on my own, and I do know neighboring colony's that I could release them if my site is not active. Also thanks for the information on the roost, I've saved all of that for next year as well.
Thanks again for all the great advice and I'm sure I will be inquiring within again next season.
Cindy