Wow what a difference a week makes. How precious. I think it's so neat that you can pick them up too.

Hew's getting his big boy feathers. I didn't hear mine very much at the river this weekend. And something got my Bluebird eggs. Grrrrrrrr......:(
Leslie

eww, that's one yugly baby (to me). A duck into a swan kinda story, I know. He looks HUGE in the picture. How long before he leaves the nest?

He's really tiny, considering how much he has to grown in the next couple of weeks. His wings are open in this photo and they barely span the width of my palm.

They're 11 days old today; they should fledge around 28 days.

As an avid birdwatcher and Blue Bird nest box trail provider I would caution folks to NOT handle baby birds. Caroline seems to be an experianced Martin landlord and I am sure had good reason to take this baby out of the nest. I would not recomend anyone else do this. I only handle my baby Blues if there is a problem in the nest ( bugs, wet nest, etc). But it is the cutest darn thing Caroline! What a beak on that baby!

Isn't it, Lisa! Don't you just want to kiss those yellow lips? I know I do! LOL (But I don't.)

No, I don't over-handle them, but Purple Martins, unlike many other native birds, have imprinted on humans from before the time of Columbus, and are not put off by human "assistance" when done in a calm and safe manor.

I lower the gourd rack nearly daily and check the nests...well "nest" this year. When the chicks are between 10-12 days old I remove them from the nest and put them in a basket lined with a towel. I loosely cover them. Then I quickly remove all the old nesting material, check it for parasites, and refill the gourd with clean wood shavings or pine needles. I add about 1/2 teaspoon of Sevin dust under the shavings, form a new nest cup toward the back of the gourd, and replace the chicks.

I have the materials all ready and can change out a nest in less than three minutes if it's not heavily invested with mites or blow fly larvae. Thankfully I've never experienced the latter and have had only minor out breaks of mites that were cured with a nest change and tiny sprinkle of Sevin.

I've had adult birds dash into the gourd before I was finished and wait for me to return their chicks. They swoop around and fuss at me, but they are not distressed at all.

By carefully monitoring their PMs, landlords will have higher fledge rates (The number of hatchlings that live to fly off on their own at 28 days of age.) It's all a numbers game with them; "every martin counts."

By offering larger, safer, dryer nest sites (such as gourds or large 7x7x12 wooden cavities)

...by offering pre-built nests to conserve the returning adults strength...

...by daily (or as often as possible) monitoring to head off any potential parasite or predator problems

There will be stronger adult birds to produce more eggs, and more viable eggs, with hatch and grow quickly into more strong and healthy martins.

The same holds true for our native blue birds, chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers, and other cavity nesters that have been killed off at alarming rates, some (such as the blue bird to the point of near extinction) by the imported non-native European starling and English house sparrow.

Some birds will abandon their nests and young if they are interfered with. It's best to study the species, talk to experts, consulst the Audabon society and your local bird clubs, and do your best.

I'm happy to say that for the past four years I've had 100% fledge of all the PM eggs laid at my colony.

Even if you just offer a large plant saucer of fresh water daily, you're helping our native birds. They're a gift from Heaven, enjoy them.

I'll jump down from my "save the Purple Martin" (and all cavity nesters!) soap box now. LOL

Here is a link that might be useful: Purple Martin Conservation Association

Such a purty birdie...look at those feathers coming out like quills! Good job on Hercules, Caroline!!!

You can stay on your soap box and I will join you!;) The nest that just fledged had some dead blowfly larve in it even though I gave it a complete check at day 13. I have never used Sevin but I will look into it. Thanks!

Caroline.....I wish I had those little darlings in my gourds....but, all I got in mine are some mice....LOL. Hercules is adorable....and looks very, very healthy....Thanks for sharing him with us.....

~Kathy~