A Purple Martin Has Arrived!

Steve Kroenke · Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:25 am

Just a few minutes ago at around 8:20 am, January 30, 2009, a female ASY purple martin arrived at our colonies and circled. She flew around Bob's colony and then mine, but did not enter any housing. She did land at the entrance of one of my natural gourds. We have very few cavities available right now. I will watch closely today and see what she does. I thought for sure a male ASY martin would be here first!

Steve

Update...

She came back and perched on top of my lowered 24 Gourd Super System. I took her mug shot. So this may be her home. I will raise this rack today.

James Strickland FL · Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:32 am

Great News from you Steve. You will soon have lots around you soon.

Guest · Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:50 am

They really seem to be arriving. I saw 5-6 in the air over the north end of the causeway yesterday about 5:30pm. Too bad about the cold weather

Guest · Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:44 am

Yeah Steve..... I know you are excited....Please keep the pics/updates coming..... We all enjoy reading your post!

Still waiting here... Usually get them around Feb. 14-22.....??

Please tell Bob hello for me...

(he gave me the t-14 last season)

Have it up and ready.... just need my feathered friends now!

Hope you and Bob have a great martin season!
Adiekaty

klcretired · Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:29 am

Steve,
I am thrilled for you...How exciting , congrats to you, That is one lucky Martin you are a Great Land Lord , Congrat's to all of you that have Martins and good luck this season
Your Martin friend,
Kenny

Stephen Cruse · Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:47 am

Congrats Steve. I know you have worked hard and deserve every martin you get.

Stephen

Steven Spencer · Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:11 pm

Great news Steve! Let the games begin! It always amazes me that you are twice as far inland as me but you always get birds first! Have a great year!

Sam Fertitta · Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:51 pm

Okay, I am officially jealous

Tim Mangan-Kansas · Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:28 pm

Steve:

I know you are excited to have your first martin back but not as excited as I am. It seems I get my first scout about two to three weeks after you get one. You better keep an eye out, Bob might be trying to lure her over to his site with crickets.

Tim

Guest · Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:55 pm

Steve,I kept looking for your post on your first scout, and this morning I told myself, today would be the day and sure enough its here.Congrats,I enjoy reading all your knowledge and experiences.

Joe Levins · Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:34 pm

Congrats Steve, this the first of many many more. Your female and my male needs to get together. Have a wonderful season.

Joe Levins · Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:42 pm

Got this photo at 8:00 this morning, 34 degrees. Maybe he wishes he should have waited a while before coming.

Guest · Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:43 pm

Hey Steve. Congrats. We are still waiting here in the Florida Panhandle. Don't think it will be today. Cold north wind blowing. Won't be much longer now though. Take care.

MartinMan68 · Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:51 pm

Hey, Steve glad to hear about and see your bird. It will be a while before I'll be seeing any. I'll be keeping in touch. Dennis

Guest · Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:20 pm

This is so exciting. Congratulations to everyone who already has martins this year. They seem to be really arriving now which means it is getting closer to my turn. I hope to see mine in about two weeks or so...guess I am a little jealous too. Hope everyone has a good season this year.
Judy

Guest · Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:08 pm

Is there a "green with envy" emoticon?

That's super news Steve. I'm surprised you guys are already seeing them. Was this one early, or is this the normal arrival time?

The Olsons · Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:35 pm

Steve,

Congratulations on your girl

she looks very good

Please keep us updated and the pictures coming. Can't wait for all your interesting posts this season....best wishes to you and Bob for a great and happy 2009 Purple Martin season

Astrid

Steve Kroenke · Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:52 pm

Hey Folks,

Thanks for all the comments! It is exciting to see the first martin and I know all of you will experience the same joy when your birds come home. For those who are starting new colonies, your excitement will be just the same when you see that first visiting martin checking out your housing.

Well, the female martin returned late this afternoon at around 5:30 pm and circled overhead for a while. She finally vocalized some! She caught insects above our colonies.

Then around 5:45 pm she began diving toward my colony and pulled up on two occasions and climb high overhead.

During the day, I raised my 24 Gourd Super System which has a combination of Troyer Horizontals with cling plates and Excluder Gourds. When she first arrived this morning, she landed on the top perch of this system though I didn't have the rack raised.

Finally at around 5:50 pm she made her last dive toward the Super System and quickly entered a Troyer Horizontal to roost.

Joe, thanks for posting your picture of your male martin! He does look a little cold! My female martin looked like that this morning since she arrived during almost freezing temperatures. However, it warmed up during the day and insects were flying.

Last year, an ASY male martin returned to my colony on the same day. So this return date is about right.

Hopefully a male martin will be arriving any day now to give her some company.

I hope everyone has a great purple martin season in 2009.

Steve

Spiderman · Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:04 pm

That's great Steve. She has definately picked the right location. It won't be long until she will have plenty of company. It's amazing that a Martin would arrive at your site on the same day two years in a row.

Hope you have a great 2009 season.

Scott D.- La · Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:34 pm

Steve, Great news. I'm sure, you will have more very soon. Mine are goofing off somewhere, have not seen any here. Best of Luck in 09!