We found him on the ground under the gourd rack when we got home from work. I truly believe this nestling suffered with some kind of abnormality. He had a strange lump in his neck. I don't know... just really sad...
Good luck to the rest of you with your little runts.
Quiz! How old is this Purple Martin nestling?
I'd like to hear some honest guesses before I reveal the truth...
He died... :-(
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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.
Last edited by Laverne on Sat Jul 16, 2005 8:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
[/b] with all my worldly knowledge of purple martins, it must be about 10 days old, 
Lanell
Lanell
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Guest
Laverne,
Not really sure....but my guess would be 15 -16 days!! The wing feather look alittle more developed than the body feathers??
Good Question
Craig
Not really sure....but my guess would be 15 -16 days!! The wing feather look alittle more developed than the body feathers??
Good Question
Craig
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yvesquad
Hi all,
Well ! Let me see now !!!???
It's 13 days and 6 hour and 4 sec.........................Hi Hi Hi !!!!!
Just kiding !! I am not sure ? Good one Laverne !!
And waiting for the answer Laverne ???
Take care !!
Yves
Well ! Let me see now !!!???
It's 13 days and 6 hour and 4 sec.........................Hi Hi Hi !!!!!
Just kiding !! I am not sure ? Good one Laverne !!
And waiting for the answer Laverne ???
Take care !!
Yves
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Dale Davis
Laverne,
This is a tough one. Looking at its wing feathers I would be guessing about 15 days.
Looking at the back feathers I would think more on the range of around 12 days.
My final answer is 14 days!
This is a tough one. Looking at its wing feathers I would be guessing about 15 days.
Looking at the back feathers I would think more on the range of around 12 days.
My final answer is 14 days!
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Guest
The body feathering is misleading, I think. The flight feathers are the big key, also the fact that the nestling is sitting up, with a wide open eye - seems to be more developed than size and body condition would indicate. I am going with 16 days.
By the way, don't you think the cat image in the blanket is going to give the baby nightmares?
And the answer is........
By the way, don't you think the cat image in the blanket is going to give the baby nightmares?
And the answer is........
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abernathys
- Posts: 220
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:40 am
- Location: maxwell/texas
Hey Laverne--Good test, by looking I would say 15 to 16 days old. I had one that looked just like that but he was in nest with 23 day babies. Took him to the rehabber and he is doing good. He was not getting enough to eat from his parents.
So tell us who won the prize???!!!
Sandy
So tell us who won the prize???!!!
Sandy
PM lover
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
16 to 18 days, looks like an underddveloped runt. The runts sometimes jump when they look like this.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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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.
The answer is 23 days. Isn't he sweet? Bless his little heart. He is so enthusiastic when I start to feed him crickets. He must be starving - poor little guy...
He is from our last nest. They will be 28 days old on July 19th. There were 5 hatchlings. Two hatched one day and three hatched the following day. The three later hatchlings were so-o tiny! When I checked again 4 days later, there were only 3 (2 big ones and 1 little one). Then, we went into fledging mode and I didn't check for about 10 days. When I saw those 3 again, I thought, "that 3rd one isn't gonna make it." He was smaller and his feathering was way behind - so, I moved him to the front of the nest (like that's gonna help) closed the access cap and continued on with my nest checks. Once again, fledging put regular nest checks on hold - but, I kept thinking about that little guy, so I just had to check.
I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't watched it and documented it during my nest checks. I would have thought he came from another nest if this was housing - but, these are gourds. He's getting supplemental feeding now - but, I'm thinking I should remove him from the nest if he is going to survive. I should have pulled him out two weeks ago and started supplemental feeding. His parents are SYs and the other two nestlings look fabulous. Fully feathered, big and healthy, bright-eyed. Now it has started to rain over here. We've got some kind of low pressure disturbance and there is a steady drizzle falling. I want to go back home and feed crickets to baby martins all day...
So, yeah, it was a trick question. The nestling is a little freak of nature - but, it's encouraging to hear from Sandy that he might make it with my help. I'm gonna help him!!
Thanks everybody - for playing the game.
He is from our last nest. They will be 28 days old on July 19th. There were 5 hatchlings. Two hatched one day and three hatched the following day. The three later hatchlings were so-o tiny! When I checked again 4 days later, there were only 3 (2 big ones and 1 little one). Then, we went into fledging mode and I didn't check for about 10 days. When I saw those 3 again, I thought, "that 3rd one isn't gonna make it." He was smaller and his feathering was way behind - so, I moved him to the front of the nest (like that's gonna help) closed the access cap and continued on with my nest checks. Once again, fledging put regular nest checks on hold - but, I kept thinking about that little guy, so I just had to check.
I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't watched it and documented it during my nest checks. I would have thought he came from another nest if this was housing - but, these are gourds. He's getting supplemental feeding now - but, I'm thinking I should remove him from the nest if he is going to survive. I should have pulled him out two weeks ago and started supplemental feeding. His parents are SYs and the other two nestlings look fabulous. Fully feathered, big and healthy, bright-eyed. Now it has started to rain over here. We've got some kind of low pressure disturbance and there is a steady drizzle falling. I want to go back home and feed crickets to baby martins all day...
So, yeah, it was a trick question. The nestling is a little freak of nature - but, it's encouraging to hear from Sandy that he might make it with my help. I'm gonna help him!!
Thanks everybody - for playing the game.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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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.
Dr. Kathi - the cat image is on my t-shirt and yeah it gives everybody nightmares!!!Dr. Kathi~OH wrote:By the way, don't you think the cat image in the blanket is going to give the baby nightmares?
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Laverne, I alos see what looks like a fish right above the bird, only the colors are not exactly fishlike
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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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.
So, what are you saying, Emil - that it looks like something fishy going on here???
I just couldn't believe the difference between siblings in this nest. I should have taken a picture of the other two - I'll do that today when I go home.
I just couldn't believe the difference between siblings in this nest. I should have taken a picture of the other two - I'll do that today when I go home.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
Laverne I have the same thing here at my site. It is my last nest that has not fledged. There are 4 baby's total but the runt looks about the same as yours. I called a rehab yesterday and they suggested leaving the baby in the nest. I can always bring it in later, but they said the parent martins will usually stick around and care for the runt if the others have fledged. Mine are approx. 25 days old today. I hope we both end up with a fledged runt. Good Luck
Pat
Pat
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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 Pat.
Are you feeding your "runt"?
Since lack of food is supposedly what causes this condition - maybe extra food will reverse this condition. I'm gonna give it a try. I just hope his parents don't bale out on him when the other two fledge. If they do - I'll take him to rehab.
Interestingly, I have 3 or 4 other families still bringing fledglings back to roost in their cavities for the night - but the adults are leaving as soon as they get the fledglings in. I think they are all going to the big party at the roost every night...
Are you feeding your "runt"?
Since lack of food is supposedly what causes this condition - maybe extra food will reverse this condition. I'm gonna give it a try. I just hope his parents don't bale out on him when the other two fledge. If they do - I'll take him to rehab.
Interestingly, I have 3 or 4 other families still bringing fledglings back to roost in their cavities for the night - but the adults are leaving as soon as they get the fledglings in. I think they are all going to the big party at the roost every night...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
I am not feeding my little one. I noticed the size difference over a week ago and it is still growing. For now I just plan on watching, if I see the runt stop growing I'll take it to a rehab.
Pat
Pat
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abernathys
- Posts: 220
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:40 am
- Location: maxwell/texas
Hey Laverne--aren't they so cute. Mine was so sweet, he was alert and happy but starving, I could feel his breastbone. I couldn't get him to take food from me, so I took him to the rehabber. On the waye he chirped, he sat on my arm and looked out the window. The rehabber said that she may keep him until next year, she had another PM baby he was with. Your baby is in good hands with you. Keep us updated.
Sandy
Sandy
PM lover