No Martins in Tuttle, Oklahoma???

CHenry · Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:03 am

According to the scouting report, they are here in OK and al around me but i have none?
Anyone in my area have any info on this?

Guest · Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:03 am

CHenry
We live on S 134th street in OKC and ours came home last Monday--poor little buggars. We somehow ended up with 7 or 8 during the snow storm, but the extras have since moved on. Migration is on. Hang in there.

PS I know your frustration. Every year (except this year) our nieghbor one mile north of us has a whole flock of them return before we get our first one.

Many martins to you!

CHenry · Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:59 am

Ok, I'll be patient a bit longer. I don't expect the same martins to return because last season ended early in tradgedy when lightning struct my Martin house, killing several and forcing the rest to leave. So i'm sure I'll have to start fresh but I spent alot of cash on the new pole and super gourds so I hope they find it!

CHenry · Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:36 am

bump to ther top....

redfinch · Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:49 pm

I'm starting to look for ours here in Verdigris. They arrived last year on March 21st. We've had one or two stop and then move on after a rest.

Go through the same thing every year. "When are they going to get here." I thought perhaps they would show up with the warm weather Mon and Tues.

We've had a hawk in the neighborhood. He came down and took a black bird right off the ledge outside the kitchen window. We've managed to chase him off when we see him. Seems to come out of nowhere at times.

Well, hopefully our summer residents will arrive soon.

Michael Sanford ~ OK · Wed Mar 24, 2010 3:17 pm

I have between 12-15 martins in residence here in north Edmond. Between now and the end of April will be the big arrival of ASY birds. Between the middle of April through the end of May will be the big arrival of SY birds. So keep your chin up, CHenry. You have two solid months to go to try and attract some more martins. Be sure to eliminate any HOSPs or EUSTs you may have in the meantime.

Don Strickland · Wed Mar 24, 2010 3:30 pm

No Martins in Shady Point, Ok., YET!!

CHenry · Wed Mar 24, 2010 3:35 pm

Thanks Michael, my gourds don't even attract HOSP at this point...LOL
Okay, i'll keep a look out, its just that the last 3 years it has been within one day of March 15 when i saw them arive.
Oh and, what is ASY and SY? I know, i should search and figure this out but hey, i'm lazy today...

Michael Sanford ~ OK · Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:18 pm

ASY birds are adult birds (After-Second-Year). SY birds were last year's fledglings (Second-Year). ASY birds typically come back first followed by SY birds.

http://www.purplemartin.org/MartinID/martinid.html

CHenry · Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:50 pm

Thanks, I have tried to figure that out from reading other post and all I could deduct is it had somthing to do with age.

JamesinIA · Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:19 pm

It's no wonder you don't have any martins yet with that creepy guy making faces and sticking his tongue out at them.

Hang in there!

James

CHenry · Fri Mar 26, 2010 8:51 am

I have martins!!!
They showed up yesturday sometime. Just 2 for now, appears to be a male and a female. The male looks to be bigger so maybe a ASY? and the female looks like it might be a SY?
Don't know if you can tell much from these pics i took with my iphone but thats all i had to take a pic with. At least i think you can tell they are indeed Martins.
I tryed flicking crickets but they were not interested so i gave up after i wasted about 25 lol.
They went into gourd # 6 on the backside and stayed the night so i hope they will stay the summer too! 11 vacancies still so BRING EM ON!

CHenry · Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:38 am

Will these 2 martins bring in others? I mean i would think them being here would make it easier for others passing by and looking for housing to find my gourds but i don't know.
Anyone know?

redfinch · Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:08 pm

CHenry, I'm still waiting for my group to show up. They'll be here. I get so impatient. I know your anxious. Had some stop and then go after a rest.

Good luck. We still have lots of time.

CHenry · Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:26 pm

Did u read the whole thread?

Michael Sanford ~ OK · Fri Mar 26, 2010 9:42 pm

Those are definitely ASY birds, Clay. You can't tell ASY from SY based on size. SYs and ASYs are typically the same size. Feather markings are about the only way to tell them apart. Plus the SYs won't be in this area for a few more weeks. I betcha a twinkie those birds nested with you last season. And I guarantee they will bring in more.

CHenry · Sat Mar 27, 2010 11:08 am

Michael Sanford ~ OK wrote:Those are definitely ASY birds, Clay. You can't tell ASY from SY based on size. SYs and ASYs are typically the same size. Feather markings are about the only way to tell them apart. Plus the SYs won't be in this area for a few more weeks. I betcha a twinkie those birds nested with you last season. And I guarantee they will bring in more.

oh I feel a little stupid now. Did not know that about size and arival times, something I had never heard discussed before.
Anyway, I hope your right and they will bring in lots more birds, I would like nothing more than to feel the need for more housing because all 12 gourds are full!

Tony Hall · Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:51 pm

I have had a successful colony since 1995 and last year was my absolute worst.I only had 2 pairs raising young after starting with 6 pairs.I had a hawk attack last year and don't know if my lack of birds so far this year is because of that or the weather in Texas.My birds have never been this late before.The latest ,according to my log is 3-21.

redfinch · Sat Mar 27, 2010 3:01 pm

Mine have never been this late either. We've had this pesty hawk in the neighborhood. He took a blackbird from our window sill the other day.

Several residents have moved in the past couple years and we are the only ones left with houses. Last year we didn't get quite as many as the year before and I was concerned about how many would show up this spring. As I've mentioned, some have come but moved on after a short rest.

With the warmer weather coming next week, hopefully I can say our residents are back