Monday, July 2, 2007 - Purple Martins
I've said it before but I will say it again, I believe that my mother is a homeschooler at heart! She sure does enjoy a good field trip!
We went to visit my mother on Friday because my grandmother was up visiting from Tennessee. A few days before Friday, Mom called to tell me to make sure to bring my camera because she was taking us to see Purple Martins.
Purple martins are the largest of the swallow family and will nest in communal birdhouses with different apartments. It is a great honor to be a Purple martin "landlord" and my mom has the privilage of knowing a landlord first hand. They were happy to provide us with a hands-on field trip!
This is a Purple martin housing development. The males chose a cavity and the females chose their mate, not according to the male but according to the cavity that he has chosen. She then moves in and sets up house.
This interesting birdhouse can be lowered so that the landlord can help to care for the birds. They are very people friendly.
Each nest pulls out from the house like a drawer. We were able to see various stages of baby birds.
They parents gather grass, straw and corn fodder to lay their eggs in. Then, these martins covered their eggs with crab apple leaves. There were three eggs in this nest.
This picture is a little blurry but you can see the brand new baby birds that haven't been hatched very long. The mama bird was actually still in the house sitting on them and allowed the landlord to pick her up. We quickly put these little ones back in their box because they looked cold.
These blind little ones thought we were mama bird returned to feed. It was almost instantaneous the opening of their mouths...and quite comical!
Cameron is counting beaks on these older babies. It is hard to tell whose who in the tangle of wings, bodies, legs and heads. I think there are 5 babies here.
They are very people friendly birds and are handled a lot. The landlord must check for blow fly larvae and other pests, as well as clean out the nest boxes occasionally. Purple martins are very clean birds and will carry their young and own waste products out of the nest and away from the nest.
Both boys got to handle the birds several times. They have FAT bellies. (The birds...not the boys)
They grow very quickly.
Isn't he cute?
Purple martins eat and drink on the fly. This means that they do not feed from bird feeders or drink from birdbaths. They catch all their food as they fly through the air and will swoop low over a pond or body of water to get a drink. Their favorite delicacy is dragon fly.
This daddy bird has caught a butterfly to feed the youngen's.
Male Purple martins are a dark purple that looks black. The females and immature male are a dark gray with some purple.
These birds are neo-tropic, which means they migrate each year. They come to North America, even into parts of Canada, around April and will start heading south to Brazil in August.
This family also had a dairy farm! But I'll save that for tomorrow.
Comments
Tuesday, July 3, 2007 - Awe!
Posted by MiryClay
Thanks for sharing. Those pics were too cute. Glad you had a good field trip w/ grandma.
Blessings,
Lori
Tuesday, July 3, 2007 - That is soooooooo cool !
Posted by Canadagirl
I have really grown to love learning about birds in the last 8 years. This is a bird we don't get around here. I am amazed all the awesome science you show here on your blog ! I wonder what Cameron will become when he is older. If anything he will be able to stand in awe of God's creation.
God Bless my SSiC
In Him<><
-Mary
Tuesday, July 3, 2007 - Wow!
Posted by Anonymous
Those are amazing photos. The house is unbelievable!
That will really be a memorable fieldtrip.
Christie/ IN
http://boysplusacademy.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, July 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Heather
This is so cool, Danielle! I'm going to have to show these pics to Lauren and Ashley! Lauren especially will find the pics and info very interesting!
Wednesday, July 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Awesome! Their so cute!!
I wanted to stop by too and wish you a happy Fourth of July as well.
Debbie (Mychildrenandme)
Wednesday, July 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MamaLlama
How cool!
I showed the kids!
Thanks for all the martin info.
I have a martin house up, unfortunately no martins yet (3 years later!) but a bumper crop of sparrows every year.
We are too far away from our creek in the back--we'd have to have a larger body of water near-by I think.
How cool to touch them and everything though!
Thanks for sharing!
MamaLlama
Wednesday, July 4, 2007 - :)
Posted by Sweetie
WOW, what a neat field trip! It's amazing that the boys were able to even hold the birds! Very memorable for both of them, I would think!
Friday, July 6, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by hugs4Him
Great pics!
Saturday, July 7, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jenn4him
Oh my gosh, that is awesome!!!
Jenn
