fortunate timing!

[ben_wood]

I admit that I am a procrastinator, I just got around to cleaning out my gourds and Trio house this morning. Well, as I was arriving home this afternoon I saw a familiar sound and looked up and saw a male martin flying around and singing. So in record time I reattached the gourds and raised the house, within 5 minutes the martin had landed and was checking out the accommodations. So be prepared to welcome back our feathered friends, they just might arrive earlier than you expect!

[John Miller]

Ben

I bet it was a thrill.

As some folks know, as sites get older it's more likely to get a few very early returning birds that probably are 3 or more years old and perhaps have made the journey so often they found a shortcut.

In Missouri, these early birds arrive several weeks ahead of the two year olds.

Watch to see which compartments your guy is favoring should you need to try supplemental feeding in compartments. Colder weather moving in here this weekend.

Best of luck this season.

John M

[The Olsons]

Ben,

Congratulations on your first martin returning; I know how excited you must be

Sometimes I think our first returning martins hide out somewhere and watch us...to see whether the housing is ready, whether we practiced the "welcome back purple martins dance", how nervous we get when we do not see them, our stiff neck from watching the sky, and then just before we are about to pull out our hair or dye it purple, they have mercy with us and show up at our housing. Sounds to me your guy was watching for you to get things going so he could come home. Best wishes for this season and lots of fun and happy times.

Astrid

[Joe Levins]

Ben I'm glad you got your rack up and ready. Hope you have a good year.

[db]

Morning all, Ben / Joe, I'm still waiting about 50 miles south of you in Greenville. Sould be any day now. Last year I saw my first one on 2/1......db

[ben_wood]

Good to hear from you again John M. If memory serves me correctly aren't you trying to re-establish a colony in a park near you? Hope all is going well!

Hello to the Olsons! Thanks for the encouragement, you meet the nicest folks on this forum!

Joe and db, all I can say is I hope we get more rain this year!!! Good luck to both of you.

Since I have raised my house and gourds, I now have to keep the sparrows and starlings run off, it's fixing to get really busy around here!

[klcretired]

Ben,
Good for you getting your PM Housing up, now let the games begin, you stay after those S&S's now and don't let them get the upper hand.