Question About Chicks Fledging
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Bird Brain
- Posts: 332
- Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:22 am
- Location: Highland Village, TX
- Martin Colony History: 2022-visitors, 2023-visitors, 2024-1 pair, fledged 4, 2025-10 pair, fledged 42, 2026-18 pair
If a fledging chick fails on the first attempt and goes to the ground, can they ever take flight from the ground? Or is this a death sentence, assuming they are not immediately eaten by predators ? Should I put it back in a gourd for a second chance? Or hope it figures out how to fly up from the ground?
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
I think its instincts will take over until failure or success. But I’ve put them back in before too, And saw them eventually retry. One in particular was successful after the retry.
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Conrad Baker
- Posts: 756
- Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:43 pm
- Location: Paulina, Louisiana
I always try to return them to the correct apartment. Sometimes they "hang out" on the porches, a brother or sister might accidentally push them off and if they can't fly, they end up on the ground. I use a towel and place it over them, and gently return them to the house.
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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
Agree with the others. I catch them using an old 7 foot long fishing scoop net. I cut the net off and replaced it with a piece of cloth..this allows you to catch it without having to get too close and scaring it into a hiding spot.. then, slide my hand underneath and catch the bird, then return it to its compartment using plug and pull if needed. Leaving it on the ground, if it can’t fly, is a death sentence, as you said..
Good luck
Rob
Good luck
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La