Martins Are Back

James Strickland FL · Sun Feb 03, 2008 6:58 am

No martins as of yet I'm still looking to the Skies. Maybe today.

Julio · Sun Feb 03, 2008 9:47 pm

Saw one Male ASY circling above my houses singing away today,James doesn't look like one of my scouts though he didn't even touch and go. According to many of the scout migration maps i have seen we are supposed to see Martins around Feb 15 (which is the time that scouts start to influx in large numbers from SA).So from now to the 15th we should get our birds if not then we are SOL.

http://www.mrbirdhouse.com/map.html

KathyF · Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:50 pm

Julio,
With 18 martins your first year, your odds are really good (better than Vegas!!) and I sincerely believe you'll be seeing your martins soon! I saw your pics in another thread and you have a great site! Keep the faith, Dude - you've got a long way to go!

All of us a bit north of all you guys that are getting martins, are very jealous right now - at least you're getting to *see* and hear martins right now!!!

James Strickland FL · Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:39 am

Well JP your most likely right that the martins we get will not show until or around the 15 Feb. I have not seen or heard any martins around my site and I just going to not worry any longer. I have a nice site and if they show great. My neck is hurting and I am getting a sunburn from being outside all the time. I'm going to go enjoy my days off. They have always came to my site and Today maybe the day but, I have gotten tired from all the work I have done to my site to make it ready for them.

wyatt · Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:19 am

James, you know what they say about the watched pot! Last year it was just when I had given up and forgotten all about those martins that they showed up and surprised me. They're going to surprise you too. You have a great site. They will come.

Wyatt

James Strickland FL · Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:40 am

Wyatt you are so right. It is nerve racking when the whole state is purple and you don't even see a martin. I know that the scouts are the first ones to show and the main stream will not show for a few weeks after. My site had to be restarted and I only had one pair to nest and had 4 sy male that never had mates. I was hoping that they would show as ASY this year with pair by now. My friend Julio has a site not far from me and he has had none show at his site. It is driving both of us crazy. I'm just wish for them to show so I can enjoy them. I know I will get them here at one point. I will alway keep my eyses to the sky and one day soon I will have one sitting on the house and another one will show and I will forget about the time I was sitting going crazy over where they are.

James Strickland FL · Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:56 pm

Well my friend finally had one of their martins show up. That hopefully mine will be here in a few days. There not far from me as far as a crow flys.

Guest · Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:16 pm

James:

Was there a storm during the time your martins crossed? In 2006, all of the martins failed to return to my friend's apartments. I guess they would have left from Louisiana and were in that hurricane in 2005.

Most of the colonies in that community had none or very few. He had none last year either.

Donnie Hurdt MN · Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:16 pm

I hope yours come back soon too, but being that you only had one pair last season they might not have survived to make it back this year..... you might have to start over.
You are in a martin rich area though starting over shouldent be a problem and yes, I know that would be heartbreaking, but you stand a much better chance at getting martins than I do.

Guest · Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:17 pm

I failed to mention that was Southern Illinois--not Memphis.

James Strickland FL · Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:47 pm

No Ann, I had to move in 2006 and was not able to put my houses up, so I lost my Martins. I came back 07 and started over.

dhurdtmn, I had one nesting pair and I had 3 Sy males all season here. I can only hope they show. I also had two ASY pair that were here most of the summer, but they never nested here.

James Strickland FL · Tue Feb 05, 2008 7:13 pm

Well I was on Martin watch and had a no show. I will be outside every night until I see one come in.

Julio · Tue Feb 05, 2008 8:39 pm

James i look up at the sky around here throughout the day and it is devoid of martins. I hit I75 every day and see absolutely none. I'm surprised i have a scout, martins haven't flooded our area yet. What ever birds have come in are spread thin and usually loyal birds going to colonies that are years old. Give it till FEB 28, if you get none then you'll have to wait for the SYs. Trust me your housing arrangement is better than mine you'll have your birds and plenty.

Davlyn · Tue Feb 05, 2008 8:41 pm

HEY JAMES, KEEP WATCHING I KNOW THEY WILL BE THERE ANY DAY NOW!!! TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY!!

James Strickland FL · Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:25 am

Davlyn, My eyes are to the skies every afternoon when I get home. I will see them someday.

litedave · Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:06 pm

Well, I was out in my backyard today about 30 minutes before dusk and heard a familiar sound. I looked up and way, way, way up in the sky I noticed 3 Martins sweeping and swooping and going after their supper. None of them came close, but they are back in the vicinity. Soon they will be landing on their perch above my house and making ready to occupy the new housing I have ready for them. Won't be long now and the fun will begin.

David
LaPlace, La.

James Strickland FL · Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:21 am

DaveH I have not seen or heard any martins around me. I have seen martin by this time. I think that they may be late getting here. It is funny how some folks in GA, TN, an even NC get birds before me here in South FL. I can only hope that they will be here soon.

Julio · Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:05 pm

Hey James, i noticed that my birds are were coming in quite late in the evening. And for some reason my birds right now only 3 are really active and chattering away from 10-12 noon. Perhaps during active times your at work, in any case give it time James your only 15 or so miles from me your birds will be there any day now

James Strickland FL · Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:28 pm

Julio Your right and I think I will see Martins in a few days. I really think that this will happen. I will let you know right when they land.

James Strickland FL · Fri Feb 08, 2008 9:04 am

One of my students informed me that behind his house is a man that has houses up for martins and his houses have lots of martins now. He does know the differents between starlings and martins. I had him in my class year and I showed him what martins and starlings look like. I have had him looking for there return and he gave me the word today.