The Purple Martins are laying eggs

10 years ago

We went to the Boundary Waters area last week and got back Friday. Saturday I noticed the birds were acting "different" in a peaceful, happy way. That was certainly a change for this spring.

They were hanging around the gourds all morning and early afternoon. The males were chattering and staying very close to their mates. I thought some of the hens may have started laying eggs.

Later in the afternoon I decided to lower the rack and do nest checks.

I was right! Four gourds (numbers 3, 5, 6, and 12) had one egg each. Gourd 2 had FOUR eggs for a grand total of 8 for the start of the season.

Of my 16 gourds, 13 have very elaborate, sturdy, and well mudded nests. Three seem to be "bachelor" nests. Sometimes a male will dominate two gourds or house cavities. One is for his mate; he defends the other gourd to keep other males further away from her. They could also belong to young males that haven't managed to entice a female in yet.

This is the latest my colony has ever started nesting. The late, cold, wet spring, coupled with all the hawk woes, has made this the most challenging season yet.

I will check them again tomorrow to see if the rest of the girls have joined the egg party.

Comments (7)

dees_1
10 years ago
That's good news! Everyone seems to be a bit slow this year because of the weather. I have babies in all different stages, with some getting ready to fledge.

We have 120 total compartments (36 just put up two weeks ago; 48 total added this season). I have about 60 pair with a few lone subbies flitting about.
marie_ndcal
10 years ago
I don't have any PM--but the others are late this year also. We have a Robin on a light fixture and a dove in the crabapple tree and my neighbor has an assorment. Still building and still nesting.
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Comments (5)
Glenda...it's my therapy! I love all the native birds, and the cavity nesters (Purple Martins, Tree Swallows, Woodpeckers, Bluebirds, Chickadees, Nuthatches, etc.) most especially. The PMs eat only flying insects. They have beautiful songs and calls. They are always on the wing. They are so sweet and gentle and nest only near humans. They have "imprinted" on humans since before the time of Columbus. He discovered native American villages up and down the eastern coast with long poles hung with gourds around the areas. Insect control, beautiful birds and beautiful song. Socks...Yes, I'm registered with the Purple Martin Conservation Association. They track "landlords" submitted information on arrivals, dates, eggs, fledges, departures, etc., and the migration back to Brazil. They actually use doppler radar to check the early and late migrations, too. For a native bird that was brought almost to the point of extinction to now have a migration mass large enough to track is wonderful. I also belong to three other private Purple Martin forums that collect data and share information. OakleyOK...I've never had a problem with wasps in my gourds. Of course, my gourds are kept taken down, cleaned, and stored in the basement as soon as the chicks leave, usually around Aug. 1. I set the colony up again around April 15. I keep duct tape over the gourds' entry holes until the PMs actually arrive. That keeps the non-native vermin, such as starlings and English House Sparrows out.
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Comments (4)
Marilyn C. I hope so, too. They would not have any chance with the hen dead. This way there is at least some hope. Lisa - They lay one egg a day, usually before noon, until they have their clutch complete. It can be anywhere between four and eight eggs. On the day this hen was injured (many will die after being attacked by so many males) she had just laid her second egg. I check the nests daily and keep a log of the number of eggs. Incubation usually begins when the next-to-last egg is laid. By noticeing when the last egg is laid, but keeping the written record, I can estimate the hatching and fledging dates. Lily316 - Tree encroachment is one of the top reasons people either fail to attract martins, or lose their colony. One neighbor across the street had to take down a huge, dying tree, an elm of some sort. The canapy of the tree was twice as big as their house! I did like the tree, but I was also happy to see it fall. It opened up a third flyway for my guys. The city makes home owners remove any dead trees, or trees that are so far gone they know they won't recover.
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Comments (10)
Leslie...I use either aspen or red cedar shavings. Either is fine. These are the big shavings, not the "sawdust." I buy the big bags at Tractor Supply. What's left over at the end of the season is used to change out one of Harry's seldom-used puppy pillows. Some people use pine needles, just rake them up in the fall and save them. Make sure they're really dry before you put them in the gourd. Some folks use chopped straw. Sue...I prefer to use gourds, either natural gourds that I've modified, or Super Gourds from the PMCA. If you're interested, I can email you all sorts of info on them. Gourds provide much safer housing for martins. They're safer from preditors, wet weather; and far easier to maintain than the houses. Also, there's much more room for the two rather large adult martins and 6-8 of their chicks. This SuperGourd has a reinforced hanging tube so rainwater can't drip inside from the hanging wire. The lid to the right is the access port. I take the photos through here. There's a PVC elbow added to the back of the gourd for additional ventilation and I enlarge the seven drainage holes on the bottom. I number each gourd so I can keep accurate records which are then sent to the PMCA to be included with all the other landlords' data. There's an incubating female peeking out of this gourd. This is a tricked-out SuperGourd. I added a porched double-wide tunnel the front. The pairs of martins love to sit on their front porch, and it makes it almost impossible for owls or hawks to pull out the chicks. The male is on the right.
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Comments (7)
Caroline's experience may differ from mine; she's so good about writing summaries on her colony. I'm a laid back landlord and can only check a few of my poles (I have 9 poles with a total of 108 compartments). My martins don't bother me too much. They hover around but don't really complain terribly. I've had a couple females stay in the cavity during a check. They do get used to it. I get swooped more if I'm just hanging out in the yard close to the racks. I talk to them every time I'm outside so they know my voice. Some even come over just to make sure it's me, greeting me with a chirp or click. The Barn Swallows are far worse. I have a couple nests in my front entry way and when there are babies, even going out to get the mail is an adventure. They're not going to hit but they do get close!
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Lily316
10 years ago
Lucky you. I have had a few robin's nests and at least three cardinal and catbird ones.
caroline94535
Original Author
10 years ago
Lily, every one that enjoys any species of birds is lucky, too! I am very proud of my little PM colony though.

I don't know where they're nesting, but I have a pair of catbirds that visit my nectar feeder every day. Yes; they have a sweet tooth hidden in that sharp little beak!

I use an older style Opus nectar/"oriole" feeder. It has rubber plugs that function as bee guards. I took two of them off and was surprised at all the other birds that love sugar water when they can get too it. I've seen chickadees, house finches, purple finches, Hairy and Downey woodpeckers, and hummingbirds all using it, along with the expected orioles.

Of course, I don't have a photo of the catbird on it, but this is the nectar feeder all the yard birds enjoy.
caroline94535
Original Author
10 years ago
Here's a Cape May warbler, on its migration from the Bahamas' to northern Canada enjoying some sugar water.

I put the nectar feeders out the first part of April, even though I have to bring them in at night to keep them from feezing. The early migrants love the treat.
glenda_al
10 years ago
Great pictures, Caroline!
Lily316
10 years ago
Love these pictures.

The Purple Martins are laying eggs

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The Purple Martins are laying eggs

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