MartinCam.Com Blog

2 Purple Martins were hanging out on the gourd rack this morning. The "Dawn Song" was playing through outdoor speakers and may have attracted them - either way the season is truly underway now!

This past weekend 12 gourds were raised initiating this ninth year as a Purple Martin colony. Cameras will be upcoming in the following weeks (video cable currently broken).

Each gourd was filled with a bottom layer of brown pine needles, followed by brown live oak leaves. The lids on each gourd were greased with Dr. Bronners Peppermint soap, which really knocks down the mite population.

Tree swallows were seen overhead - but we're ready for a different swallow species.

Took all the gear/cameras down and have some final tallies for this year.

Gourd A: 8 eggs layed - no young/hatches
Gourd B: 6 eggs - all 6 fledged
Gourd C: 2 eggs - no young/hatches
Gourd D: 1 egg
Gourd E: 3 eggs
Gourd F: 4 young - all fledged
Gourd G: 6 eggs - 4 young fledged, 1 egg left in nest
Gourd H: 6 eggs, 4 young, fledged. 1 dead adult after young fledged?
Gourd I: 1 dead female early in year. 4 eggs, all 4 fledged (camera)
Gourd J: 1 young - fledged
Gourd K: 6 eggs - 1-2 fledged, 2 eggs left in nest

Total eggs: 47
Total hatched: 25
Total fledged: 25

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...