Caroline94535

As of today, June 30, I still have 12 successfully nesting pairs of Purple Martins.

In the past three days, 40 chicks have hatched. One chick died within hours of hatching, so there are 39 chicks in the gourds today.

There are 23 eggs still being incubated.

The Tree Swallow chicks are growing by leaps and bounds. I'm still saying there are six in the nest, although I'm having a dickens of a time counting them.

I saw three teeny-tiny House Wren heads in the nest box I maintain behind a neighbor's house. These chicks' noggins were no larger than a small green pea. Teeny-Tinys for sure.

I hear young Crows making a terrible racket, but I've not actually seen them. I swore after fighting Cooper's Hawks for three years I would never, ever complain about crows again. Crows keep the Cooper's Hawks away; crows don't eat (or can't reach) the young martins. I do everything possible to encourage the crows. Cat kibble, anyone?

There is a pair of crows nesting at the far end of the block across the road from me. Haven't seen a Cooper's all season, knock on wood!

JUNE 30, 2015
Tier #1 - 8 gourds

Gourd 1 - 5 live chicks, 1 chick dead - from original six eggs
Gourd 2 - 6 eggs
Gourd 3 - 5 chicks - from the original 7 eggs (I didn't want to move them around to find the other eggs)
Gourd 4 - 6 chicks - from the original 6 eggs
Gourd 5 - Empty
Gourd 6 - 7 chicks from the original 7 eggs - I'm so happy!
Gourd 7 - 6 chicks plus 1 egg from the original 7 eggs
Gourd 8 - 2 chicks - from the original two eggs

Tier #2 - 7 gourds

Gourd 9 - 4 eggs
Gourd 10 - 3 eggs, up 1 from last check
Gourd 11 - 2 chicks, plus 4 eggs from the original six eggs
Arm 12 - No gourd hung
Gourd 14 - 5 eggs
Gourd 16 - 0 eggs
Gourd 17 - 0 eggs
Gourd 18 - 4 chicks from the original four eggs

Here are the six chicks in Gourd 4. Each season I keep one special photo to represent that year's Purple Martin adventure. This very well may be my 2015 photo.

The big guy, lower right, is just a smidge over an inch tip to tail!




Here are some of The Mamas and The Papas after I finished the nest checks and raised the rack back up.

Tartan

​Wow, that's quite a crop!

sherian

Looks wonderful. Did you make the gourds? I have never seen them only the apartment birds houses for purple martins.

celwood

So exciting. Thank you so much for sharing

ManiacQuilter2

I agree. What a crop of chicks. What an adventure is occurring near you.

Geri B

How long have you been doing this " maternity ward for birds"? Quite an interesting hobby......where did you get those gourds?

toverly

What fun! My mom always wanted to do what you are doing with purple martins but we were never on a flyway. Great job.

Wanabee Quiltin

We are in a flooded area of the Illinois River right now, it is cresting today. There are two purple martin houses across from us and one of the houses flooded. The birds are very upset and flying everywhere. I loved your pictures and the type of purple martin houses you have are interesting, never seen them before.

Roberta

I had been watching some Swallows caring for their young in one of our birdhouses. Monday I noticed the door had blown open on the house during a cold a windy rain storm on Sunday and all the babies had died. It truly broke my heart because both Momma and Papa were taking such good care of them only to lose them all just when they were about ready to leave the nest. If only I'd noticed the door had blown open sooner :-(

Sandra-P

Wow, they are so sweet. Thank you for sharing.