February 11 my wife called at about 4 PM and stated, guess what we have. I was working and was kind of busy so I asked what. She said we have a martin on the martin house. She said she was driving into the drive-way and noticed one martin was on the perch of the heath house. She then said he just flew off and is circling around the pond. She said he flew back onto the gourds and went inside.
The other day I told her I had been seeing three martins visiting my houses, but thought they were from another site that is located about a quarter of a mile from mine because they were hesitant to light on my houses. They would visit my site late in the evening, but not roost. The other site has not been raised and is only about 6 feet off the ground. Being it was early in the evening ( 4 PM ) I thought maybe it is one of mine so I asked if there were three. She said she only saw one and he was going in and out of the gourds and flying onto the heath house. I thought " all this is a good sign " because her description of his behavior seem to indicate that he was comfortable being at my site. She then said he flew off just as she was going inside our house.
About 7 or 8 minutes later my cell phone ranged. I thought, " this is good he probably came back " so I hurriedly answered the phone. It was my brother. He used to pick at me for being a nut about martins. He has never showed any interest, what so ever, in martins until last year when he put up a martin house. Surprisingly he got several pairs after only a few days. He would call me and say he was setting in the front yard watching the martins. I would tell myself he was doing all this because he felt guilty about picking at me. I soon realized, that was not the case, that he was enjoying them too.
He said he just noticed two martins flying around his houses. He said they were not going into the houses. I told him, If they are yours they would be going into the houses. I told him it was a good sign, that they would roost if they were his. He stated they had just flew off. We talked and it was good to hear that he had had some visitors. He has had a few health problems and it seem to lift his spirits. I was glad for him.
He lives about 26 miles north of me and I told him all this is a good sign and his would be back soon. I told him I had seen a few at my site, but they had not roosted. I told him about my wife calling earlier and told him, maybe this is one of mine. I told him I would call him later.
I got home at about 5:35 and my wife said one was inside one of the gourds. I asked if it was just one or were there three. I am still thinking the three martins were not mine because I saw the three late yesterday, only to watch them leave just before dark. She said she only noticed one. Hum m good sign. I watched the one that was poking his head out of the gourd. Every minute that passes is good, he's probably going to roost.
After a minute are two he flew out and went to the heath house. At this time four more martins, that were inside the gourds on the other side, flew out. They only flew a few feet and circled back to the gourds and went inside. Sorry, I will cut to the chase. They all five roosted for the night.
I called my brother and told him. He said his did not roost. I told him his would be back.
By the way, my other brother ( the oldest ) had an excellent site out in the country for about 46 years. He just built a house near mine, but it is somewhat wooded. He only had visitors last year. I am hoping he is successful this year, but he needs to clear some of his trees.
Good luck to every one. I wish I could put heaters in mine, it is freezing outside.
Big brother called
Good luck this season.-
Gene Crosby
- Posts: 48
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 1:16 pm
- Location: Louisiana / Bush
My oldest brother really had a good site. He built his house on open land and easily got martins in all his houses. He planted, I am guessing, about a dozen pecan trees, some within a few feet of the houses. When the trees became full grown they covered the martin houses but the martins still returned each year. It was kind of unique.
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Guest
I bet you were quite excited when they turned around and went back in the gourds. Good luck this year 
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Joe Zorn
Looks like you have some stickers, Gene.
No snow there? My son called from Jackson MS (about noon) , saying he has over 5" on the ground since midnight, and it was still snowing, Also, the news said that Mandeville was getting snow at lunch time.
Did it jump over you?
No snow there? My son called from Jackson MS (about noon) , saying he has over 5" on the ground since midnight, and it was still snowing, Also, the news said that Mandeville was getting snow at lunch time.
Did it jump over you?
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Gene Crosby
- Posts: 48
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 1:16 pm
- Location: Louisiana / Bush
Yes we had some snow Friday morning. One martin came out of the gourd and flew around for a few seconds while the snow was coming down hard. He seemed to be energetic and wanted to see what it was. I noticed one adult male was dead on the ground the same day. I don't know how long he had been there. He was laying in a spot that made him hard to see. First one I have ever lost due to the weather.
I was not home Saturday, but noticed 6 this morning. They appeared to be healthy. Two were females and one I could not determine.
My mother and two sisters live in Brandon, Ms.
I was not home Saturday, but noticed 6 this morning. They appeared to be healthy. Two were females and one I could not determine.
My mother and two sisters live in Brandon, Ms.