February 10, 2000 - It's time again! We'll probably raise the Martin house this weekend. I can't wait for the martins to arrive! I'll update this page as the martins allow me to :)

February 23, 2000 - Heard and saw our first martin scout tonight! He was soaring and circling our house.

February 24, 2000 - This morning as I left for work, our scout was checking out our rooms for rent! Hope he likes one well enough to settle in.

March 5, 2000 - A male and female have started defending the upper right compartment. I opened the remainder of the holes today, although that means that now I will have to start cleaning out sparrow nests. Another male has been soaring around, so perhaps a second female will be attracted. I've been getting e-mail from people with questions - thank you. I'll try to answer any questions I can, but the best information can be found at: www.purplemartin.org

At the start of the nesting season, male martins generally defend more nest holes than they eventually use. These are usually adjacent holes on one side of the martin house. As the season progresses, fewer holes will be defended, and other males will move in. (I hope!) It's been suggested that the defense of extra holes allows the male to be polygamous if the opportunity arises. (typical!) In martins, though, polygamy is only successfully undertaken by about 5% of the males.

March 26, 2000 - The martins have started bringing materials into two of the compartments! The upper left on the alley side has a few leaves and even mud at the entrance hole! The upper left on the yard side also has some twigs and a leaf. I've had to clean out the lower middle compartment every 2 days - persistant sparrow again.

The nest building takes place about a month before egg-laying. The male starts the job with twigs, grass stems, mud, and green leaves. The female starts right after the male, and does most of the real work, with the male just following her on her trips. The first bits that I'm seeing now, consists of grass stems and twigs. If all goes according to schedule, she should stop for one or two weeks now, and then resume, bringing more twigs and sometimes, mud into the nest. Once the stick layer is complete, both birds will bring fresh green leaves in and lay them on top. Some people say the green leafy material gives off a gas that deters the presence of feather mites in the nest. Others think that the moisture from the leaves keeps the eggs from drying out. Leaf bringing stops after the young hatch. I found that the nest often has mites regardless, so I now sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth in the cavities as soon as the birds start gathering twigs. This year I've also laid shredded pine on top of the diatomaceous earth, to give them a head start on their nest-building.

This is a picture of last year's babies - it's hard to get a good picture because of the light in the compartments. I hope this year is as exciting as last!

April 5, 2000 - More martins have arrived! I believe a group of sub-adults flew in last night.

April 21, 2000 - The first two nests are complete and ready for action. There are five other nests that look like the sub-adults are experimenting with their skills. I haven't had this before, so I don't know if they will actually lay eggs or not.

April 23, 2000 - Easter Sunday, and the first egg is laid! Good timing, Mrs. Martin :)

April 24, 2000 - The first nest now has two eggs, and there is an egg in the second completed nest. I'll wait a few days to check now, since they'll lay an egg a day until they're finished. I pulled out two sparrow nests though, with one egg, so I don't like to wait too long. Can't let that sparrow get too far ahead of me!

April 28, 2000 - There are now 3 nests. The first 2 have 5 eggs each. The 3rd has 4 eggs. Not as many as last year, but that's O.K. Pulled out one house sparrow nest.

May 3, 2000 - Oh no! A set back. One of the nests with 5 eggs is empty. There were signs of one broken egg on the ground. That's it. I don't know if it was another bird (sparrows and blue jays are prevalent), or a snake. Ron greased the pole with axle grease. Although that doesn't always deter things, it's better than nothing. Sure makes it hard to do the nest checks though :) I don't think the pair will lay again, but I can hope. I also cleaned out another sparrow nest.

May 6, 2000 - Cleaned out 3 sparrow nests. The 2 remaining martin nests are intact and the first could possibly hatch any day now. The destroyed nest is still empty :(

May 10, 2000 - I didn't want to do a nest check yet, although babies should be present now. I hate to disturb them. But I need to dispose of any sparrow eggs so guess I will check tonight after work.

May 12, 2000 - Babies! There are 4 newly hatched babies and 2 eggs in one nest, 1 baby and 3 eggs in a second, and 1 egg in a third nest, 2 eggs in a fourth. These last two nests could be subadults laying their first year, OR perhaps the pair that lost their eggs are trying again? I can't tell.

May 20, 2000 - We're up to 5 babies in the one nest, but the 6th egg is gone. Maybe mommie pushed it out - a possibility. The other nest has 2 babies and 2 eggs remaining; still just 1 egg in a third; 5 eggs in the fourth. Removed house sparrow nests from 3 compartments.

May 27, 2000 - 5 healthy babies in nest one; 2 babies and 2 missing eggs in nest two; 1 lone egg in three; and 5 eggs in the fourth.

June 2, 2000 - 5 growing babies in nest one; 2 healthy babes in nest two; I removed the lone egg in nest three, as no one is incubating it; and 5 new hatchlings in the fourth!!

June 13, 2000 - The first 5 have fledged!! An empty nest! The second nest with 2 babies also has no occupants - they are soaring beautifully. It's so exciting the way they take to the sky! There are 5 remaining babies in the last nest who were the "latest laid".

July 1, 2000 - The last nest fledged today! I'm experiencing "empty nest" syndrome :) 12 healthy babies aren't bad for one house. Although some eggs were lost, at least no babies died. That was so heartbreaking last year. The martins are still around though. They perch on the house mornings and evenings, so I'll leave the house up until they disappear.

July 15, 2000 - I've never had them hang around so long. I love to hear them and see them soar!

July 30, 2000 - Well, they've left. I pulled the house down and cleaned it out well. I'll be ready for their return in February.

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Last updated: 4/25/00