Martins are here in northern canada photo

april57 · Thu May 27, 2010 2:02 pm

Yeah after all our bad weather finally we have 2 pair and maybe more cant figure out what cavity they want and they keep flying around and chirp chirp chirp...sooooo happy
enjoy
April

Robert Richerson · Thu May 27, 2010 8:11 pm

Wow April, you are very, very northwest as I just looked you up on the map. It is absolutely amazing that martins migrate as far south as they do and back up to northern locations such as yours.

I really like your house design. Good luck and I hope you have a fantastic year. I will be interested in reading future updates from northern Canada.

Gary W · Thu May 27, 2010 8:17 pm

Hi April,

Congratulations on your arriving Martins! That is a beautiful house too! My only concern is your round entry holes. They can admit Starlings which can kill or evict Martins. You may live out in country where you hardly see any Starlings, but if one shows up, it can be a devastating experience for your Martins! I do wish you the best of success in raising lots of Martins!

Gary

MingjoMartins · Thu May 27, 2010 8:57 pm

Congratulations, but boy are you up there!! Beautiful house!

april57 · Fri May 28, 2010 9:36 am

Yes we do know about starlings and none here yet but we trap them then eliminate...these houses keep them warm and cool in the summer...thanks about the house..I handpainted all those sunflowers., We are almost as far north as the martins go..the concervatory which i2 10KM from us are overrun with martins this year so hoping a few of the extras still come here. I have my dawn tape playing today in the rain
Will keep u posted
April brrr is cool here

sheila&dwayne · Fri May 28, 2010 9:48 am

Hello from Bonnyville Alberta. We are further north and yes there are lots of martins here as well as another 30 km north in Cold Lake. At this point we have a ton of nest building going on and have counted 26 ASY's so far with no subbies yet. We put up a second house this spring and its a good thing we did.

It's amazing how tough this birds are as long as they have some good housing to help them out and supplemental feeding works wonders. Our birds showed up in a snow storm and drove straight into the house. Thanks to all our southern friends for looking after our martins as they make the long journey up here...

april57 · Fri May 28, 2010 6:43 pm

Yes I meant Alberta is the most northern part they go to. I think they may go as far as Slave Lake also...
I agree we got our first martin this year in that awful snow storm then he left for a week then returned...
Please send me some of your birds. Last night I saw 10 fly over our house but kept going ...darn oh darn
I tried the supplemental feeding but they arent used to frozen crickets oh well at least I tried
April

Robbo · Sat May 29, 2010 4:24 pm

Iam feeding these birds mealworms and eggs. Today after the Hawk attack and watching Sparrows and Starlings eat the food at the feeder Iam putting the Crickets,mealworms directly into the nests. I hate lifting that house!!!! but it is dry! I watched Starlings trying to enter before the Hawk attack, I don't know how you keep them out of your house?

Brad-AL · Sat May 29, 2010 7:04 pm

It amazes me that birds will migrate that far to nest. It also goes to show that Martins are much tougher than we give them credit for being. I'm sure the Martin population is much higher in the north now than it was before supplemental feeding started, but there had to be some there before it started to supplemental feed. I'm all for supplemental feeding, but the species survived without it for a long time. Now they can thrive with that tool being used. I just looked and it's about 5000 miles from my house to Sao Paulo Brazil, and it's about 2250 miles from my house to Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada. They're going nearly half again as far as the ones that nest here. Amazing.

Congrats to all who have succesful colonies as far north as you guys. I'm sure it's a tremendous amount of work to keep them alive during the cold snaps that you have.

Robbo · Sat May 29, 2010 9:46 pm

IT IS FREAKING SNOWING!!!!!!

april57 · Sun May 30, 2010 12:03 pm

Welll its been snowing now for 2 days and I am freaking also. Just got some crickets from the conservatory but not lowering the house until its gets a bit warmer today. The birds need to conserve energy and keep warm...so dont want to disturb them more than needed.
These birds arent cricket trained and they are frozen. I defrosted and put them on the ledge May 02 when we had our last snow and they didnt eat them...so maybe this time???
We dont seem to have any starlings around? Our friends that we gave a house to as a gift have a lot and they live about 20km away. Just wait until they lay eggs then we put their nest in the trap with the eggs and presto in 2 seconds you have a starling. Then we put them to sleep. Sad but true in protecting the martins.
Gawd please send some wamer weather here this is just way too stressful!!!
April

Robbo · Sun May 30, 2010 1:11 pm

April,
Food is energy, for the effort of leaving the house they are rewarded with valuable nutrition/energy, or provide them with a feeder. I do both and they are eating. Iam using the eggs and mealworm menu, they seem to like it. The Martin's are not showing the signs of distress today so I am hoping that the supplemental feeding is succeeding, it has been a challenge. Also it gives you a chance to make sure the nests are DRY!! Nest change/ dry out, it could save on Parasitic problems in the days to come!!!! and their lives. Entrance holes are a heated topic and I know your house provider is against SREH's but.......... I use to get Starlings.............. Now none and just a little more security for the Martin's. However to each thir own.

April it has stopped snowing and raining for now here any luck some bugs will come out.
Robbo.

Robbo · Sun May 30, 2010 1:18 pm

April,
Search out Starling attack video it might give you more insight and opinion on entrance holes. Warning very disturbing I could not watch it all!!! I do not remember from where, you could ask the Forum or go to You Tube.
Robbo.

april57 · Sun May 30, 2010 1:34 pm

Thanks again Robbo
What kind of supplemental feeding station do you have? I am going out to put crickets in their cavities if they are there?? dont know yet
I put crickets on the deck last snow storm and they didnt eat them
Thanks again and will check into the video
April

april57 · Sun May 30, 2010 2:06 pm

No worrys my birds are all gone

hope they come back today or tomorrow when it gets warmer.....darn this snow drives me crazy!!! Have the dawn song playing...
April

sheila&dwayne · Sun May 30, 2010 10:07 pm

April57 its propably best to get yourself a feeder like Bob talked about and load it with crickets for now until they get accustomed to eggs and mealworms. In this weather its not a good idea to keep taking down the house as it flushes them out each time. They need all the warmth they can get.

we put up a feeder the first year and if they are hungry enough they will find the crickets. just put it up close to their house. Ours just come out of the nest boxes, chowed down and fly back in. I sure hope it warms up but they were carring on today and it was 5c. yep they are tough.

Your martins may be back....don't give up..good luck

april57 · Sun May 30, 2010 10:44 pm

Thanks so much for the concerns. The sun peeped out for a short time and hubby and I put crickets in the cavities we thought they might return to. Sure enough tonight by 9PM we have about 5 martins returned. I did notice that some crickets were on the porch outside the hole we put them in and watched as 3 martins flew into the hole one after the other..something going on!!! and they are staying I noticed.
I am going to put up a platform feeder just for the future too. Get them used to using it off and on then for the bad weather.
April
ps now I can sleep tonight...gawd I am possessed and pathetic in a good way

sheila&dwayne · Mon May 31, 2010 9:44 am

Yep we know the feeling......

Robbo · Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:57 pm

Yesterday I found another dead, that makes 3 in total. Weather has changed for the better finally. Iam heading out to do nest checks and get the Sparrows in tow. I seen Martin's at every hole this morning at both houses and fighting with the Sparrows so it looks like they will look after the Sparrows soon!!!! I must be dragging in other Martin's and or Subbies it looks like full houses again, an awfull set back however, I have never lost an adult before to weather. Usually have eggs at this time of year, on the brighter side of things, perhaps will have the Martin's a little longer this year.
Robbo.

april57 · Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:03 pm

So sorry to hear this. Our weather has been so unpredictable and cold. I did get some crickets and put them into the cavities and they were eaten so my only 5 survived. It seems now the weather will be warm enough during the day for food.
I checked the cavities today and there are 2 green leaves in one so a pair are ready. Whew eggs soon.
Our swallows have laid all their eggs. Some nests 7 eggs. They laid them during the blizzard. Gee how does that work? Tough birds.
I hope we do attrack more subbies or adults keep my fingers crossed
Take care Robbo
April