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Thread: A Time to Sow, a Time to Reap, and a Time to Fledge!

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    Default A Time to Sow, a Time to Reap, and a Time to Fledge!

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    Harsh light and other technical factors may keep this image out of the Hall of Fame. But I hope the subject matter carries the day.

    Earlier, I posted an image of a purple martin carrying nesting materials to one of our bird houses. Here, you see in another house three amigos purple martin chicks peering out of three apartments, surrounded no doubt by proud parents, and possibly an aunt or uncle. The three amigos chicks are very close to getting "outta here," i.e., fledging.

    Note the detached hook on the left of the image. I used the hooks in building the house to facilitate apartment cleaning in the fall, after the martins have deserted us for warmer climates. But we need the hooks firmly attached to prevent serious embarrassment (or worse) for the birds if a strong wind arises.

    So my most significant other, Linda, dutifully set forth recently at midday to reattach the hook. Hey, there were no adult birds present, so it was a piece of cake. Right?

    Wrong! From hundreds of yards away across nearby Fairlee Creek came the unmistakeable "Chee Chur" (and other unrepeatable cries) of angry adult purple martins (loosely translated, lay off our kids!).

    The hook was fastened, but Linda was again reminded of the perils and privileges of being landlords for the remarkable purple martin!

    Norm
    Last edited by Norm Dulak; 07-16-2010 at 09:18 AM.

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    Axel Hildebrandt
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    Must be great to have so many Purple Martins around, they are fun to watch.

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    I like the way the light hits the house and their faces as they peer out of the house. How wonderfully entertaining they must be.

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    They are certainly entertaining! But they have a terrifying scream when you get too close to their house. Our vegetable garden is right next to the houses and at this time of year I will have martins scream and dive at me, sometimes hitting my head as I try to harvest some vegetables. They are very protective of their young, especially when they are close to fledging. Still I love to watch them and listen to their communication to one another and to the chicks. While it may seem as if there are no parents around, they are always keeping an eye on the house when they go out "bugging" and any disturbance will bring the flock rushing back. They are one of my favorite species of birds.

    Linda

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    Fabs Forns
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    Congratulations on hosting the little ones, we really like them, although they could be quite challenging to photograph!
    Thanks for sharing this!

  6. #6
    Alfred Forns
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    Looks like a great colony and not one starling in sight !!!! They are fun to watch and a challenge to capture flying !!!

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    Judy Lynn Malloch
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    What a privilege to have been able to follow the complete cycle of these little beauties and thanks for sharing with us. Love the story.

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    Thanks and best wishes to everyone who looked at and commented on our feathered tenants.

    Although they don't pay rent for their apartments, the purple martins richly reward us with the pleasure of their company!:)

    Norm

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    This is amazing
    TFS

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    Glenda Simmons
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    love it, too cute. I should put up an apartment, but my bluebirds would proably be pretty ticked off at me, if I took any attention away from them. Alot of work and time, but as you stated, very rewarding and entertaining.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Glenda Simmons View Post
    love it, too cute. I should put up an apartment, but my bluebirds would proably be pretty ticked off at me, if I took any attention away from them. Alot of work and time, but as you stated, very rewarding and entertaining.
    We also have a bluebird trail with 11 bluebird nesting boxes. So far we've fledged many tree swallows and bluebirds from those boxes! The swallows and bluebirds ignore the purple martins, and vice versa.:)

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