Three Purple Dots in Florida

Linda Reynolds · Fri Jan 07, 2011 6:54 pm

I am so surprised that no one is posting about the other arrivals in Florida.

THE 2011 season is really underway.........Good luck is wished to all early arrivals and landlords.

Mike Dingman · Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:19 am

Hi Linda:
I am waiting to post.....

apundt-TX · Sat Jan 08, 2011 12:22 pm

I wish the 4 martin scout posters would show a photo and/or submit a report on the forum that states what shape they are in when they arrive....

Linda Reynolds · Sat Jan 08, 2011 4:36 pm

What amazes me the most is that although everyone is noticing the late or lack or arrivals in southern Florida, the fact that some of the reports indicate earliest ever arrivals when accessing arrival history of the person reporting.

The TX report is the earliest ever for the landlord who has reported for 10 years. The second report for Florida indicates the same and the landlord has a documented reporting history.

Mike, we are wishing you much good luck this season, and are eagerly awaiting your official report.

Fredmyyster · Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:49 pm

None here as of yet.

DAKdude · Sun Jan 09, 2011 11:25 pm

Well I'm officially posting for central florida! Three birds for the first sighting. I didn't expect them for a while since they were so late arriving to south florida. Martins are always full of surprises! The season begins. Hang on you birds will be here soon.

Mike Dingman · Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:40 am

Hi James:
Is this at Epcot? Or at your home?
Mike in Melbourne

DAKdude · Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:26 am

Hi Mike,
The report is from my home colony. I suspect there are birds at the Epcot colony but since I work at Animal Kingdom I am not over there all the time to see when the first ones come in. I still haven't seen birds at Animal Kingdom yet, but they are probably there too. Since my office was moved, I can't look out on the martin houses so birds could slip in and out and I wouldn't see them unless I just happened to be passing. (big bummer for me!) I sort of have a contest with myself to see if I will see the birds at my home or work colonies first. It usually ends up being in the right place at the moment they come in. The first birds to arrive usually leave early in the AM and don't return till just at Sundown so if I'm not there right when they zip in I don't get to see them. At Animal Kingdom we have 236 compartments spread over 6 sites backstage. The 6 areas are not in sight of one another so it is easy to miss birds early on since they aren't all in one central location. Only being there 4 days a week also cuts down the chances of an early first sighting. I have my people keeping an eye out when I'm not there but . . . its not the same. At my home site yesterday I was lucky because I got off work a little earlier than usual and was able to get home before sunset and got there just in time to catch sight of my first birds this season. The best thing is that I know they are in the area and am more are on the way!
Good luck this season and keep me posted on your arrivals. We should be hearing from out other martin landlord neighbors in the Orlando area very soon.
James

Mike Dingman · Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:40 am

Thanks James:
Sounds like you busy, (as usual). With all the warm air coming up from the south for the next couple of days, I am sure we will be hearing from more Florida landlords. I expect an early arrival any time now.
Thanks for the reply.
Mike

flyin-lowe · Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:50 am

When you said the sites at animal kingdom are back stage does that mean they are out of site to the public? I have seen the housing at Epcot before but never at the animal kingdom. It would make since that the animal kingdom could have a nice large colony to display.

DAKdude · Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:41 am

The martin colonies at Animal Kingdom are all off show. The reason is that there isn't any good open area that is suitable in the guest area. Animal Kingdom is very well planted with thousands of large trees. Which doesn't make it great for martins. The service areas are wide open and have idea locations. The best areas available where the guests can see them are the wide open areas and retention ponds around the guest parking area. I would love to put some out there but since there isn't much place for people to stop and enjoy them on the margins of the parking lot I haven't pursued it. I have a hard time keeping up with the maintenance of all the houses at Animal Kingdom and the colony at Epcot. There are martin houses on all of the golf courses on WDW property and the golf managers do a great job with them. I need to recruit an army to help me put up and maintain martin houses all across property. Maybe some day. Shhh! it is part of my plan for Purple Martin World domination!

James

Guest · Tue Jan 11, 2011 9:36 pm

As far as getting pictures goes, early on its hard to get a good pic. They stay high feeding, don't linger on perches or on the housing and stay out till just before dark and zoom in without a sound. They are in stealth mode at this point. I did see her briefly yesterday morning preening high on a wire so she looked alright from there.

Courtney-NC · Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:59 am

Hi James, I was at Epcot 3 years ago with my family and it was an absolute JOY to see the martins there. I would have sat there all day long and ignored the rest of the place if it were solely up to me! So, thanks for all you do down there!

DAKdude · Fri Jan 14, 2011 7:19 pm

Well I'm officially posting for central florida! Three birds for the first sighting. I didn't expect them for a while since they were so late arriving to south florida. Martins are always full of surprises! The season begins. Hang on you birds will be here soon.