More PM Nestling Deaths in Austin MN

[Terry Suchma]

Mother Nature's Moom to Bust

Cold weather, lack of insects contribute to purple martin deaths in Austin

By Bob Goetz
Published Wednesday, August 19, 2009

This was looking like a banner year in Austin. The number of nesting pairs of purple martins in housing erected by the Izaak Walton League local chapter had climbed from 12 in 2008 to 22. In all, 114 eggs were laid of which 88 resulted in baby martins. As of the July 14, weekly nest check by Bob Goetz and the 4-H shooting group, optimism for growth in purple martin numbers was running high.

Then came the cool weather later that week and over the weekend. Lows reached the 40s and with highs in the 50s. By the July 21 nest check, the damage became immediately apparent. Five viable eggs and 13 young were all that had survived.

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