Here in So. IL yesterday afternoon, temps were in the low 50s, and I saw some behavior from my martins which I've never noticed before...they were feeding really low to the ground, as low as 2 or 3 feet.
The field right next to the house got bushogged yesterday, so I'm wondering if they were feeding on the insects that were emerging from the fresh-cut grass, or perhaps there were no insects at higher altitudes and they were forced to feed lower.
It was really weird to see them fly that low, almost like barn swallows.
I saw them do this around 5:30 pm or so...til dusk.
Anyone else see this behavior due to colder temps?
Martins feeding low to the ground
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birdy girl
- Posts: 1179
- Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:09 am
- Location: Mississippi/Dumas
I have seen the martins do this at my site this year and last year during cold spells. I would flip crickets during this time and had more success this year than last year with them catching the crickets in mid air. When they fly close to the ground to eat they are hungry. Apparently there are no insects flying high when the temps are cooler.
Early this month, when temps were in mid to upper 40's, the five I had at the time were doing the same thing. I just assumed some type of bugs had just hatched and were low to the ground.
Today our temps made it to the upper 40's and I could see our martins flying very high in the air, while the barn swallows and chimney swifts were flying low over the fields.
Today our temps made it to the upper 40's and I could see our martins flying very high in the air, while the barn swallows and chimney swifts were flying low over the fields.
I have seen this many times in cold weather around here and it always scares me...it will be in the low 30's tonight and tomorrow the Martins will be flying low over the roads..which is bad with people rushing to work, many are road kills. It is so sad to watch
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bedwards97
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:16 am
- Location: Illinois/Brookport
Talked to my wife about it yesterday...she said when she come home that day there were a bunch of martins actually on the ground on our garage apron, which is concrete.
I recall a post a few days ago where someone said they will use concrete/gravel to absorb the heat from the surface.
Amazing animals aren't they? Using whatever they can to get through these cool days.
I recall a post a few days ago where someone said they will use concrete/gravel to absorb the heat from the surface.
Amazing animals aren't they? Using whatever they can to get through these cool days.
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Guest
I drove over to the shop last Saturday afternoon; it was mild and drizzly after a big rain on Friday night. The midges were swarming by the jillions on the south side of the farm buildings with a stiff north wind blowing. The martins and barn swallows were flying from knee to head high, back and forth behind the buildings, picking off those midges.