MartinCam.Com Blog

The first wave of ~20 young have all fledged per a nest check yesterday. There is another round of young martins underway which should keep the colony active through the 4th of July.

Nest Check details:

Gourd A: 4 eggs
Gourd B: all 6 fledged
Gourd D: 1 egg
Gourd E: 3 eggs
Gourd F: 4 week old young
Gourd G: all 4 fledged
Gourd H: all 4 fledged
Gourd I: all 4 fledged (camera)
Gourd J: 1 young
Gourd K: 1 egg, 1-2 fledged

Nest check on Tuesday the 22nd revealed:
Gourd A: new nesting material
Gourd B: 6 young
Gourd G: 4 young (originally 6 eggs)
Gourd H: 4 young (originally 6 eggs)
Gourd I: 4 eggs (camera)
Gourd K: 1 young, 3 eggs (originally 6 eggs)

The nest camera with 4 eggs should be hatching any day...

During a nest check on April 7th, two gourds were found to have young - probably only 1-3 days old. In the last few days we have also spotted eggs in the gourd-cam (Gourd I) - 4 were counted during the nest check.

Results:
Gourd B - 6 eggs
Gourd G - 4 young, presumed 2 remaining eggs
Gourd H - 3 young, 3 eggs
Gourd I - 4 eggs
GOurd K - 6 eggs

Hopefully the overnight near-record low temperature of 41F did not present a problem to the martins.

During a nest check today we counted:
Gourd B - 6 eggs (bottom course, faces WNW)
Gourd G - 6 eggs (top course, faces NNE)
Gourd H - 6 eggs (top course, faces NNW)
Gourd K - 6 eggs (top course, faces ESE)

We've also noticed 2 birds overnighting in the gourdcam, I, so would expect eggs in there at some point.

Of note so far this year, the birds have been very light on bringing in nesting material - not too many leaves, sand or other.

During the last day or two, it seemed pretty clear a bird had died in Gourd I (GourdCam gourd). Today during a nest check that was confirmed and the female bird was removed. No obvious trauma was observed. We had a cold temperature of 38F the other night, so possibly cold stress? 10 other birds were happily flying around during the check today.

Detail of feather from deceased bird: