I'm being cautiously optomistic this season. My counts are...
In the 11 gourds, I have eight nesting pairs which laid 39 eggs.
Two eggs were pecked by a now-deceased sparrow...this leaves 37 eggs.
Three eggs didn't hatch...this leaves 34 eggs. ( I waited until the hatchlings were 3-4 days old and then checked the dud eggs. Two were clear/unfertilized; one had a tiny embryo that died soon after begining to form.)
All 34 eggs have hatched out and are growing, thriving, and looking beautiful. The oldest are around two weeks old.
I have at least two bachelor SY males. They 're behaving better than can be expected, so far. One is still busy building a nest and singing his heart out, but he has no lady-friend.
Chick count for Grand Forks AFB, ND
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Caroline94535-ND
- Posts: 337
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:12 am
- Location: North Dakota/Larimore
- Martin Colony History: Will add later
Last edited by Caroline94535-ND on Thu Jul 07, 2005 1:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hi Caroline.
Great Job! It sounds like your season is blossoming. Best wishes for many purple seasons in the future.
Great Job! It sounds like your season is blossoming. Best wishes for many purple seasons in the future.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
Great news. So glad you are having a successful season. Also, thanks for your military service to the country 
My 7 babies are fledged. Soon to be off to the south. Hope they miss the hurricanes. Sue
My 7 babies are fledged. Soon to be off to the south. Hope they miss the hurricanes. Sue