I have had martins for over 10 years now with about 30 nesting pairs. Last year 95% of the nestlings died due to the unseasonably cold temperatures and nonstop rain. This year I only have a couple of martins back and usually by this time I have 15-20 martins. I dont even know for sure if the male and female that do hang around are ones from last year, because they seem to be gone most of the day. I saw them last night, but havent seen them at all today. Really weird. I went across the lake where there was another colony last year and there are no martins so far. It doesnt look very good for martins this year.
I was wondering if anyother michigan landlords are experiencing a large decrease in martins showing up this year?
Michigan Martins
I have not seen any yet, althought his is only my second year (had 3 pr subies last year).
My aunt a few miles away had 3 pm's around last week, but she has not seen them in a few days now.
I'm not sure where they are hiding.
Allen
My aunt a few miles away had 3 pm's around last week, but she has not seen them in a few days now.
I'm not sure where they are hiding.
Allen
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Guest
They are running late all across the south but they are catching up fast so I think you will probably experience the same when it starts there.
dick
dick
Martinboy, I'm located in NW OH. aprox. 15 minute's from the state line.
This will be our ninth year hosting PM's.
Last year we were blessed with 83 pair.
I as many, was very concerned about their return after all the losses of young last year.
Fortunately our PM's take supplemental feeding and we were able to fledge aprox. 43%.
When i realized they were in trouble and found out why, I had to act.
I alway's have mealworm's early on when they return, so none will starve here as long as they will learn to feed, and learn they do!
I also mix in scrambled egg's and they readily take both here.
Unfortunately i had fead them all the mealworm's and was out.
So scrambled egg's is all i had to offer.
They fead their young as well as themselves through the period.
Had i not fead them, i too would had lost many more. Supplemental feeding saved many and i wish i had noticed they were starving sooner
and we possibly could have saved even more.
Our first arrived on Mar. 29 th. and as of today. I estimate we have close to 40 pair back. So they appear to be on time here.
It's early, so their is plenty of time left here in the north.
Hopefully, your's are just a bit behind and come in soon.
This will be our ninth year hosting PM's.
Last year we were blessed with 83 pair.
I as many, was very concerned about their return after all the losses of young last year.
Fortunately our PM's take supplemental feeding and we were able to fledge aprox. 43%.
When i realized they were in trouble and found out why, I had to act.
I alway's have mealworm's early on when they return, so none will starve here as long as they will learn to feed, and learn they do!
I also mix in scrambled egg's and they readily take both here.
Unfortunately i had fead them all the mealworm's and was out.
So scrambled egg's is all i had to offer.
They fead their young as well as themselves through the period.
Had i not fead them, i too would had lost many more. Supplemental feeding saved many and i wish i had noticed they were starving sooner
and we possibly could have saved even more.
Our first arrived on Mar. 29 th. and as of today. I estimate we have close to 40 pair back. So they appear to be on time here.
It's early, so their is plenty of time left here in the north.
Hopefully, your's are just a bit behind and come in soon.
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Guest
Terry, thanks for the advice! I will definetly try the scrambled eggs and meal worms if I get martins again! I sure hope that maybe they are just behind. I still continue to keep my eye on the martin houses across the lake and they too do not have any martins yet. Also checked the lake a few miles south of where I live and none of the martins houses have martins either.
Terry how did you feed them?
Terry how did you feed them?
I don't know if you have ever sullplemental fead them?
Although i'm sure you have read or know about how it's done.
I started like many, using a plastic spoon than a sling shot to get them started.
While this was quite entertaining and enjoyable.
It was also cold and miserable outside. I used to flip till i thought my finger's were going to fall off, and the spoon's or sling shot's would break.
As the colony grew, i couldn't flip them enough to feed most and they were wasting alot of energy.
So i rigged up a blowgun with a funnel on the end and hooked it to my compressor. I could then shoot aprox. 20 or more mealworm's at once.
The Martin's soon got the hang of the process and hardly ever would any hit the ground.
Still there were too many to try to feed like this, so i built a bed an breakfest feeder tray. Something like what you see for sale here.
I then would shoot the mealworm's from next to the feeder.
I did this for several day's. I then would put some mealy's and scrabbled egg's in the tray's.
I also put some egg shell's out as well.
It wasn't long before they found it and it was game on!
Now i hardly ever shoot them in the air and make them waste energy.
They know where to go, and let me know when they are hungry.
They simply go and land on the feeder looking for something to eat.
Life for me and for then has evolved. and everybody for the most part is happy an content.
You might give a BB a try. I find it most satisfying and rewarding, knowing i don't have to worry if they are getting enough to eat.
Although i'm sure you have read or know about how it's done.
I started like many, using a plastic spoon than a sling shot to get them started.
While this was quite entertaining and enjoyable.
It was also cold and miserable outside. I used to flip till i thought my finger's were going to fall off, and the spoon's or sling shot's would break.
As the colony grew, i couldn't flip them enough to feed most and they were wasting alot of energy.
So i rigged up a blowgun with a funnel on the end and hooked it to my compressor. I could then shoot aprox. 20 or more mealworm's at once.
The Martin's soon got the hang of the process and hardly ever would any hit the ground.
Still there were too many to try to feed like this, so i built a bed an breakfest feeder tray. Something like what you see for sale here.
I then would shoot the mealworm's from next to the feeder.
I did this for several day's. I then would put some mealy's and scrabbled egg's in the tray's.
I also put some egg shell's out as well.
It wasn't long before they found it and it was game on!
Now i hardly ever shoot them in the air and make them waste energy.
They know where to go, and let me know when they are hungry.
They simply go and land on the feeder looking for something to eat.
Life for me and for then has evolved. and everybody for the most part is happy an content.
You might give a BB a try. I find it most satisfying and rewarding, knowing i don't have to worry if they are getting enough to eat.
I had my first ASY male (ever) show up on Friday evening in Monroe. I'm not sure if he spent the night, but he was out there Saturday morning and evening.
I tried to flip some crickets to him, but he didn't seem interested and took off.
I tried to flip some crickets to him, but he didn't seem interested and took off.
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Devere Sturm
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:20 pm
- Location: Michigan/Pigeon
Martinboy, I'm in the Thumb of Michigan and have had Martins for the last three years. Last year I had 13 pair. Today my first male Martin arrived and he looked so wet and cold. Thank goodness that he had a nice wooden North Star house to get into for the night. Aluminum would be oh so cold. My friends in the area are also experiencing later arrivals. I think that it is the lack of bugs in the area. The birds know when it is the right time to come and it appears that time is starting.
Devere Sturm
Devere Sturm