The Martins are about to head south. I have been watching their
groupings around my house for the past few days. One very young bird was
on the ground near the house, next to an egg, a few days ago. I put it
back up and checked the compartments while I had the ladder out. I
noticed one other youngster, a bit older than the fallen one. I was
wondering whether the youngsters would delay the adult's departure and I
guess I have my answer.
This morning, I noticed the older of the two nestmates on the ground
near my barn. I pulled out the ladder again and put it back up in the
house and watched. About 15 Martins at a time would gather on the bird
house and "encourage" the youngsters to fly. After a bit, the oldest
tumbled to the ground and scampered over to the barn and hopped up
behind a piece of loose siding.
Later in the day, I notice the youngest out in the middle of the yard. I
inspected, and just to see if the bird just needed some height, I tossed
him up into the air a few feet to see if that was the impetus he needed
to fly. He managed to travel further forward than down, but just
couldn't fly yet, so I put him back in the house. Later I noticed the
older one climbing a vine growing on my barn. As I went over, the bird
got a bit scared and took off flying halfway across my yard to a nearby
tree.
I suspect I'll find the younger one out in the yard again, if the cats
don't find him first. I'm betting its too late for the older one too,
but I'll keep an eye out. It seems the adults are basically pu****ng
these youngsters out of the nest to fly or not as the adults get ready
to depart. They usually disappear a few days after I see the large
gatherings like today.
Eric Miller
www.dyesscreek.com
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