Hi everyone
I always wondered at this time of year where my martins would be ?
I live in mid Michigan and it will be almost 2 months before they arrive here.Last August with the adults I sent about 270 to South America I know a lot probably did not make the trip,but the ones that did where would be right now? In South America? In some of the Southern states?
With good weather how long does it take them to get from Florida to Michigan ? Weather forecast tomorrow 4-6 inches of snow ,Just trying to get through these long days of Winter.
Kevin
Where would my martins be ??
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
With the winter that we are having, yours may be really late this year, and yours will still be in South America! smile....When they decide to come, they may come straight to your house, only stopping to rest for a few hours in a couple other states. Its uncertain, each bird is different, they are wild birds, but they will come when the time is right. I also think that they use bugs to help guide them, if there are few bugs available, they may stop, and wait someplace for a few days. I am sure that nature helps guide them so that they come at a good time when bugs are plentiful.
There was an article in a recent PMCA Update magazine about the flight times of a few birds that were rigged for testing. You should try to find a copy of that Update magazine. Some surprising things were discovered about the flight times
There was an article in a recent PMCA Update magazine about the flight times of a few birds that were rigged for testing. You should try to find a copy of that Update magazine. Some surprising things were discovered about the flight times
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Kevin,
Here is a link to some info about martins that were tracked, after having harnesses with geolocators attached during the nesting season:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12597
Based on data from two years of returns, it is most likely that martins from PA, MI, etc, are still deep in Brazil. The trip home can be accomplished in just a few weeks.
We are anxiously watching for the return of some tagged birds here in Texas...
Louise
Here is a link to some info about martins that were tracked, after having harnesses with geolocators attached during the nesting season:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12597
Based on data from two years of returns, it is most likely that martins from PA, MI, etc, are still deep in Brazil. The trip home can be accomplished in just a few weeks.
We are anxiously watching for the return of some tagged birds here in Texas...
Louise