My little colony has its most nests ever at five. Most years we have four.
In the past the babies in all nests have been pretty much the same age. Not this year! I have two nests with pinfeathers just starting to show, one nest with naked pink chicks, one nest with the chicks completely covered with gray/blue pinfeathers, and one still with eggs!
Looks like we'll not have the mass fledging event this year, it will be more spread out.
I continue to have "low rent" tenants, with three families preferring the old cheapo house, and only two living large in the Quad Pod.
They all look fine. Glad to see that yours are doing ok.
We are having the best year ever here. Many of the nests have fledged, and so far, we have not had any jumpbers. All the babies can fly on their first attempt, which is so unusual here.
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
I love the spread. How neat to get to stage them all. Congrats on the fifth nest! I had three nesting pair last year and this year a jump to seven. Two days ago there were twelve babies spread out between four nests. A pair that is about a week behind in laying their eggs and another pair that is laying right now. I will have a little spread out too. Enjoy!
Deb
