Hurrah....the 3 babies fledged today. dad sat on perches and called to them, and a few hours later they were flying around.
they fledged around 2:30 pm, and flew around till about 5:30 pm. then the 3 babies and parents disappeared. I waited until 9:00 pm to see if they were coming back to roost, but I didn't see them return.
aren't they supposed to roost on the house for a couple of nights?
but hurrah....my first pair of martins had their babies fledge....they survived the squirrel, mites, sparrow (one didn't), blow flies, 6 nest changes, and sy males. yeah!!!!
sharon
babies fledged....do they come back at night?
Congratulations Sharon 
Good job My babies that fledged the end of June came back for about 17 nights. This last nest that fledged June 21-22, are still coming back, but it was 7:35 PM before they got in last night. They had been coming back about 5-6 PM. I don't think they will be coming back to many more nights. It sure is getting quiet around here.... 
.....Pat
Good job My babies that fledged the end of June came back for about 17 nights. This last nest that fledged June 21-22, are still coming back, but it was 7:35 PM before they got in last night. They had been coming back about 5-6 PM. I don't think they will be coming back to many more nights. It sure is getting quiet around here.... .....PatSharon,
Well, I can tell you from my observations and research for the last 7 years is that in general they will come back for a couple of nights. Also when they do go and leave the house at night, they will return several times during the hours from 7-10am. I believe this is the parents way of telling them this is their home and to get their bearings together for the return flight from South America. This period can be up to 2 weeks depending on the weather and how late in the season they were born. During those 2 weeks they are getting their arial/feeding training from the parents.
Glad they finally made it and to your dedication in seeing it through. Congratulations!
Well, I can tell you from my observations and research for the last 7 years is that in general they will come back for a couple of nights. Also when they do go and leave the house at night, they will return several times during the hours from 7-10am. I believe this is the parents way of telling them this is their home and to get their bearings together for the return flight from South America. This period can be up to 2 weeks depending on the weather and how late in the season they were born. During those 2 weeks they are getting their arial/feeding training from the parents.
Glad they finally made it and to your dedication in seeing it through. Congratulations!
I'm a "nestcamaholic" Is 18 hours a day a bad thing? (I have 2 this year, luckily I have 2 eyes!)
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Guest
well my birds are doing what yours did....they are back flying around and squawking this morning....2 of the babies are in the nest....so not sure if maybe just one fledged yesterday, and two haven't yet, or if they go back to the nest the next day.
I know my bluebirds all fledge within a few minutes of each other, and then go into the trees and stay there for about 2 weeks. So I had thought the martins would all fledge within a few minutes of each other too.
Yesterday I saw 5 martins flying, so I thought it was my parents and their 3 babies. but maybe it was the parents, 2 sy's that hang around, and one baby.
well fun...
thanks for the response....
I know my bluebirds all fledge within a few minutes of each other, and then go into the trees and stay there for about 2 weeks. So I had thought the martins would all fledge within a few minutes of each other too.
Yesterday I saw 5 martins flying, so I thought it was my parents and their 3 babies. but maybe it was the parents, 2 sy's that hang around, and one baby.
well fun...
thanks for the response....
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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.
Hello Sharon.
Congratulations - I'm glad you were back from your vacation to see the fledging take place. Are you having visitors each morning at your site? Did your little family come back this morning?
The parent PMs may have moved the fledglings to a family assembly site in nearby trees and they may have stayed the night there. If you can, watch again this evening to see if they return. My PMs would bring their young back to the housing as early as 5:00 pm. Then, they would feed the young in the nest and then the parents would leave around 8:00 pm and not return until the next morning around 7:00 am. The fledglings would already be out and about when the adults returned each morning. I think my adult PMs were going to the roost each night. This is what happened with the last 3 "late" nests at my site. The adults from earlier nests would bring their young back to the nest, and then the adults would go into the nest with them for the night. Earlier fledging broods returned for over a week in every case. These last three nests were gone within 3 days. Last Friday night around 8:15pm, I watched four fledglings (no parents) come back to the housing for the night - Saturday morning there were many visiting birds - Saturday night, nobody came back to the housing for the night - Sunday morning, no visitors. I think my season is finally at a close...
Congratulations - I'm glad you were back from your vacation to see the fledging take place. Are you having visitors each morning at your site? Did your little family come back this morning?
The parent PMs may have moved the fledglings to a family assembly site in nearby trees and they may have stayed the night there. If you can, watch again this evening to see if they return. My PMs would bring their young back to the housing as early as 5:00 pm. Then, they would feed the young in the nest and then the parents would leave around 8:00 pm and not return until the next morning around 7:00 am. The fledglings would already be out and about when the adults returned each morning. I think my adult PMs were going to the roost each night. This is what happened with the last 3 "late" nests at my site. The adults from earlier nests would bring their young back to the nest, and then the adults would go into the nest with them for the night. Earlier fledging broods returned for over a week in every case. These last three nests were gone within 3 days. Last Friday night around 8:15pm, I watched four fledglings (no parents) come back to the housing for the night - Saturday morning there were many visiting birds - Saturday night, nobody came back to the housing for the night - Sunday morning, no visitors. I think my season is finally at a close...
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.
We were responding at the same time...
So, I have just read your answers to my questions.
I just wanted to let you know that it is perfectly normal for PMs to fledge one baby one day and one or two the next day and they bring the young back to the nest for the night and will feed them just as they did before they fledged. Purple Martin parents care for and nurture their young and I think your PM parents are very proud of their productions!
Enjoy their success - it truly is your success, too - next year you could have 10 pair!
So, I have just read your answers to my questions.
I just wanted to let you know that it is perfectly normal for PMs to fledge one baby one day and one or two the next day and they bring the young back to the nest for the night and will feed them just as they did before they fledged. Purple Martin parents care for and nurture their young and I think your PM parents are very proud of their productions!
Enjoy their success - it truly is your success, too - next year you could have 10 pair!
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
I have some families stay in the trees for a few nights and leave, and some that come back to the houses. I think your bunch just preferred the former. No worries-you done good!
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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.
Sharon?? Are they still hanging around in the mornings and then coming back at night??
I'll just bet you are sitting outside or in front of a window watching every little flight they make, aren't you? After 19 years - - - you're probably trying to soak up every Purple Martin minute you can capture.
Enjoy...
I'll just bet you are sitting outside or in front of a window watching every little flight they make, aren't you? After 19 years - - - you're probably trying to soak up every Purple Martin minute you can capture.
Enjoy...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne