Sad day for me

[Randall Duhon]

We have been having some really unusually cold weather here in South Louisiana. It even snowed here yesterday. I had 15 Martins as of the other day. I had not seen any in the last couple of days so I lowered the gourd rack to have a look. I found 4 dead martins. It was 2 pairs. They were side by side like they were sleeping. It was a very sad sight. I have been landlording Martins for over 30 years and have never lost one to cold/starvation before. When it gets cold enough to freeze here it usually last a day or so, and it gets back into the 70's real quick. Not this year. I cannot remember when we have had a colder winter. Just wanted to share my sad story.

[Joe Zorn]

Real sad, indeed, Randall. I lost one this morning, as well. I've never lost a PM here in the Thibodaux area either. Unusual weather for our area.

[Spiderman]

I'm sorry to hear of each of your lost Martins. We had some die in 2007 and 2008. When it gets this cold there just aren't any insects for the Martins to eat. After the migration they are especially fragile for the first week or so.

We have been fortunate to keep our Martins alive so far. We have 7 and have been feeding them crickets 3 times a day. Usually around 3:00pm they are the most receptive to feeding.

We are expecting another cold front here in the morning (Sunday) that will keep the Martins from being able to find food for another day or so. Hopefully by mid-week some warmer weather will be on the way.

[Scott D.- La]

Randall,
Sorry to hear of your losses. This has been a real bad winter and forecast for more to come. I fed some Thursday with crickets, in the sleet and rain but, was unable to be here Friday as I had to go to Baton Rouge. I checked my systems today and was relieved that there were no dead and all came in this evening. I would get some crickets to have on hand, as I believe this winter is going to drag out this year. Hope your season improves and you have no more losses.

[trank]

Randall,

Sorry to hear of your losses, I hope the weather breaks soon for you southern Landlords.

Tom

[jeanf]

I hope that's it for the cold weather, but I know I'm dreaming. So sad.

[John Miller]

Randall

I lost 9 or 10 that way one cold April in Missouri. I think some of these birds arrive at the site nearly exhausted.

Try supplemental feeding if you have not. You can put thawed crickets on porches or in compartments, if your birds are not trained to a tray or to tossing. Don't flush the martins out into the snow or cold to do this, but wait for a sunny morning -- or at least no snow or rain. I think when martins are stressed and they get wet, it can be what does them in.

We do what we can and some losses are to be expected. I'm sure you will be fledging many this summer -- let's look forward to warmer days.

John Miller

[Guest]

Sorry to hear about your loss - - I need to check my gourds as I am concerned as well - - such a wet cold winter we have had in 2009 / 2010 - ready for the spring.
Cliff

[Guest]

Sorry to here about your birds, I just posted how glad I was that the Martins are not here on Lake Conroe yet, my wife and I could not take losing the birds like that, we are going back to freezing again tonight. Hope the weather breaks soon, hasn't been like this for a long time!

Dale

[Randall Duhon]

Thanks everyone. I do not know of any places near my home that sells crickets. I will check around. I saw several Martins on the gourd rack this morning. I think they sell dried grubs as bait for fishing in small packs at Wal-Mart. I think I will go see if they have some. Thanks again, Randall.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Sorry to hear of your losses. We have been lucky here, we have about 20+ martins but so far, they all survived. I sure was worried a few times. This weather has really been bad this year, and it still doesn't want to get back to normal.

[Joe Zorn]

Emil, Yeah, real unusual season.

The locals here say it's because of the results of the Super Bowl last week. Hell has not started to thaw yet.

[Randall Duhon]

Found another dead Martin today. I will try and get some live crickets tomorrow in the town where I work. I believe there is a bait shop there. I have a pan on my gourd rack where I put nesting material. I think I will put some in there. Do y'all put them alive or do y'all freeze them first? Thanks.

[Spiderman]

Easiest way to get crickets is to order online. They will arrive in 24 to 48 hours.

[birdy girl]

Randall,
You could try scrambling eggs,chop them up in small pieces and try flinging them. Many people have had success with scrambled eggs. You could also put them in the pan on your rack. Lots of people feed eggs with their crickets and meal worms. Eggs are cheap and most of us usually have some in fridge so they are readily available. I sure hope they will start taking some food soon.

[CNO~La]

Sorry about your losses. Checked my houses/gourds this morning and all were gone. About 12 were huddled together on roof top soaking in morning sun. I offered some eggs, but did not see any take.

Good Luck.

[trank]

Randall,

Crickets should be frozen then thawed you can also use freeze dried meal worms, just hydrate them in warm water for 30 minutes or so then drain off excess water. If you can you might want to place crickets or mealworms just inside the nest entrance. The pan on your gourd rack might work too, but if your Martins are dying they may not have the strength to fly.I hope this helps.

Tom

[Joe Zorn]

Well, Randall, I think the worst is over for this week,

Temps tonight are still above 50F at 10pm. Last night at this time, temps were 35F here in Schriever. They fell to about 26 at 5am today. Mine ate pretty good yesterday afternoon, so the all survived the night this time.

The Google Home Page weather forcast says that the temps here will stay above 35 tonight, and only a couple of degrees lower Monday night. Highs in tne 50's and 60's.

Wish I had not said that. It's colder today than it was last night when I wrote that last paragraph

[Barrowdog]

Tried supplemental feeding, but they arrived this year with wings already drooping and the weather here has been brutal. I lost 7 so far . Hope remaining 5 can make it to thurs when looks better. Never had this in 10 years.

[Julio]

I'm sorry to hear this, please please don't give up with supplemental feeding.