Some of you have received individual nest pictures from 6-27 of your nests. I am putting some below to show the full range of what we have going on in the nests currently. It is a busy time of year, we still have eggs in some boxes, new hatches in others and some of our birds have begun to develop their feathers.
We have experienced some losses, some missing chicks, some damaged eggs, some chicks have been found dead in the nest. We do our best to deter predation with baffles, smaller house openings and careful monitoring, but despite our best efforts, their are always owls, snakes and unfortunately invasive species like house sparrows that can get the martins.
Currently we check the nests every 2 days to get as accurate hatch date on each nest. There is a small window in which the state DEEP can band the chicks, they have to be old enough to band, but not old enough to fledge early, so between 10 and 22 days old. Currently we have 55 birds ready to be banded in Guilford and 130 in total at Hammonasset. The state licensed banders come in as a team, they age the birds according to photos, they weigh them and put both a federal band and a state and colony band on them. As part of the landlord experience you are invited to come observe this process and sometimes get to help out. The state sets the date with us, cool or rainy weather postpones plans since the babies are so vulnerable to temperature.
We have experienced some losses, some missing chicks, some damaged eggs, some chicks have been found dead in the nest. We do our best to deter predation with baffles, smaller house openings and careful monitoring, but despite our best efforts, their are always owls, snakes and unfortunately invasive species like house sparrows that can get the martins.
Currently we check the nests every 2 days to get as accurate hatch date on each nest. There is a small window in which the state DEEP can band the chicks, they have to be old enough to band, but not old enough to fledge early, so between 10 and 22 days old. Currently we have 55 birds ready to be banded in Guilford and 130 in total at Hammonasset. The state licensed banders come in as a team, they age the birds according to photos, they weigh them and put both a federal band and a state and colony band on them. As part of the landlord experience you are invited to come observe this process and sometimes get to help out. The state sets the date with us, cool or rainy weather postpones plans since the babies are so vulnerable to temperature.
Update on the fencing and signage..I wanted to let you know that for the most part people have been respectful of the signs and string fencing, although human nature being what it is, people come right down to the string line and stand. 50 feet back would be better, but it is a start.