Arrival

[Debh]

I finally saw a scout and four smaller martins with him or her. (April 8, 2010) They just flew near the martin house and across the yard. I purchased a new Songbird Magnet sound box and will play it in the early a.m. Maybe they will stick around longer. A calendar that I have shows that they didn't come last year until April 22 so there is still time.
DebH

[Guest]

I play my song bird magnet every morning from 6:00am to 1:30am. I have a timer I bought at Home Depot that turns the power on and off....I have 6 to 8 martins now....Last year I had one pair that had 4 hatchlings... they died from the excessive heat about a week before they were to fledge....Same pair came back to the same gourd this year.....

[Guest]

I meant 11:30 am...with the song bird magnet...

[Debh]

Thank you for the tip. Yes I have a timer also. I think it helps. Mine goes on at 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. If I am home mid afternoon I switch it to the general songbird sound.
Sorry about the babies last year. They are arriving earlier this year maybe to get a head start on the hot weather.
Deb H

[Donnie Hurdt MN]

Debh, you said you saw a martin scout and four smaller? martins with him or her. I dont think you were seeing martins they are all the same size. The smaller birds you saw could have very well have been Tree Swllows.
The adult male martin is all dark in color and the adult female is dark on top and whitish on the bottom.
I hope you have a good season this year.