A LATE NESTING MOTHER

We do not know why but late she is. They will likely fledge the young this week. Thousands are already on their way to the Erie Pennsylvania area to roost before the big trip home.

Nice shot docgipe! Will the others wait for her?

Sometimes they do and sometimes a few will hang around to help fledge the young. Sadly sometimes they leave the mother stranded with the fledging which one bird can rarely do.
While Martins are largely dependent on man survival of the fittest is very much in place.
We can only make their housing comfortable, safe and hope for the best. We must understand that only the fittest will complete the yearly trip. Large numbers will not make it in keeping with the survival rates.

This year we had a banded adult female who two years ago was banded before she fledged in Maryland. We do not band our birds. Perhaps we should but banders are a bit scarce in our neck of the woods.