why no scout report in Mississippi?

[Guest]

The other 5 states that have reported having PM's have purple dots above the lower part of Mississippi. Was wondering why no reports from Mississippi.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Are there a lot of landlords in Mississippi? Maybe they are older people that have not purchased a computer? This is a voluntary posting method, so people must be interested in helping others, by posting info, if nobody posts, then it leaves an information gap..I would think that the martins would go right up the River, and there should be a whole lot of martins in your area. Good luck this year.

I often get questions on my email. These type of questions should be on this forum, as a lot of other people may have the same questions. I strongly urge people to post their info and ask their questions. Its ok to lurk and never post, but if we all did that, there would not be a fourm.

[Donnie Hurdt MN]

It always takes a while for someone in Mississippi to report, dont know for sure if the martins come there later or if there arnt many landords down there who are on this forum.

[Laverne]

Ha!

Dumb me! I always thought it was because Mississippi was the last Gulf Coast State to actually get returning PMs. I never dreamed it was because "those" people are stuck so far back in the dark ages that they can't, don't, won't post their Scout Reports to the PMCA website.

Please clear this up for me and the rest of the world. Scientifically, I feel an obligation to let the rest of the world know when my first PM returns. And so, ever since I found out about the Scout Report and the ability to provide this information, I have been doing so.

Yo, Mississippi!! Have y'all got any Purple Martins over there yet? We drive through your beautiful State when we go to Georgia and now Florida. Trust me, I know, Mississippi is just as "up-to-date" as Texas and Louisiana and Alabama and Florida. But, the later arrival of the Purple Martin to your area intrigues me.

Is this data correct?

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
Laverne

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I sure am wondering why there are so few first scout reports from Mississippi???? It should be a great martin area

For instance in 2010, a comparison with the 2 states about the same size on each side of it:
Louisiana = 157
Mississippi = 68
Alabama = 112

[Joe Zorn]

I believe that it has to do with the northern migtation routes.




I made a crude map to illustrate.

The Mississippi folks would likey get the birds that come across the Gulf from the Yucatan. (WHITE). (But that migration route heads north just a little west of the Mississippi River.

The Florida birds go up the east coast and as far west as eastern and central Alabama (GREEN).

The Mexico to Texas migration goes west as far as San Antonio (or so) and head north to OK and Kansas,etc (YELLOW).

The Louisiana birds follow the Misssissippi River valley into Arkansas, spreading east and west, but primarily thriough Missouri. Iowa, and Ill. to points northward.

I think the migration routes simply funnels past Mississippi on both sides, but spreads out by the time they get as far north as Tenn and KY.

Maybe GobblerT has an opinion. He lives in north eastern Miss, near Alabama, and has had no luck getting PM's at all.

[Robbo]

Joe,
Are you saying my Martin's are comming through from Mexico? We will have to keep this Hush, Hush , The Canadian Government must never find out!
Rob.

[Gobbler T]

"those"people are stuck so far back in the dark ages that they can't, don't, won't post their Scout Reports

I take umbrage! No wonder my ears have been burning all day. Yall don't have to bite your tongue with mississippians, you can say whats on your mind!

There are lots and lots of people who have martin houses/gourds in MS. They seem to be every where you go. There are literally hundreds in my little town. Not going to refer to them as landlords, because from what I see most of them ain't, even though they host martins.

I don't think there are many people in Ms that are a part of this forum, so there wouldn't be many to post first sightings
I do however agree with Joe. I think he is exactly right about the birds splitting and going around MS for the most part especially early in the season.

The guy who got me involved, who by the way is not on this forum,(is a member of PMCA) always gets his first birds around Feb 15. As far as being hard to get martins in MS, I've had a heck of a go at it! As for openness I'm living in a wide open plain compared to my buddy that has them every year just like clock work. So I'm still scratching my head

I can say this, If I see a martin, yall will be the first to know!

[Joe Zorn]

Yep, ROBBO, I'm betting even money yours get there with a little tequila toddy under their belt during the trip.

But they could have arrrived via the far west migration up the west coast and on through Oregon and Washington state as well.

Either way, they have taco breath!

[Laverne]

Joe, your map is amazing. If that is really how the migration works, then no wonder Mississippi keeps getting "Missed". Mike said that, I just had to throw it in.

So Gobbler - we have decided you need to save the worms from the Tequila and offer them in a bed & breakfast tray. Maybe that'll work...



Not so seriously,
Laverne

[Joe Zorn]

Thanks, Laverne. Remember, It's just an artists concept, as I understand it. Please don't record this info on a CD-R!

[Gobbler T]

Laverne

If thats what it takes I guess I'll spend my day taking down my housing tomorrow. I haven't had a drop of liquor in 19 years. I'd like some martins, but not that bad. (I'm not an alcoholic BTW) It almost cost me my wife while we were dating and I swore off the stuff.

They'll just have to bring their own!

By the way what route do you take to get to GA & FL? What part of MS do you see?

[Bill Pec]

Joe,
Great illustration.

I live in the south western section of Virginia. If you look at the scout arrival map for Virginia you will notice that the martin's migration arrives in my area weeks later than the rest of the state. I attribute this to the bird's migration path splitting and passing up the east and west sides of the Blue Ridge Mountains and bypassing my area and to the cooler temperatures do to the higher elevations.
Like Gobbler T, I live in an area were most people don't manage their martins or belongs to the PMCA. Just within a mile of my location there are at least twelve known sites not managed. Shooting a gun from a boat is illegal in my state. If it were legal, I would prowl the shoreline in my kayak and pick off some rat birds.

Bill

[Guest]

I am about 40 miles north of New Orleans, and don't usually get my first martins until the second week of February. This will be my 6th year as a landlord and I've wondered each year why the martins are much later arriving here vs Louisiana and Alabama. I tend to agree with the opinion that we are in the middle of two migration routes. Once the martins start arriving, they tend to come fairly rapidly thereafter.
I read the forum regularly and enjoy the information, but don't have time to post much; although I do submit my scout report each year.
With the cold and wet weather, I' m thankful they haven't arrived yet.

[Pappy]

I am located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Bay St Louis and live in a water community, on the water. One house (12 compartments) on the dock, another in the yard 20 feet from the water. I have had martins for four years now, but no arrivals as of yet. Last year the first, followed by others within a day started arriving mid February. I don't know why they are later than New Orleans area. As the birds fly, New Orleans is about 45 - 50 miles away, and Slidell LA is even closer, maybe 25 miles.
We were below freezing this morning, and will be again tomorrow morning, so I guess it is good that they haven't arrived yet. We have several square miles of marsh (loaded with marsh grasses) within site of my upper porch, so food should be plentiful when they arrive.
FYI, the blue birds are here and started claiming their boxes. I have several boxes throughout the neighborhood. Abundent forms of wildlife are everywhere.

[Barrowdog]

Interesting map.
Makes sense to my experience here in Pensacola getting regular martin traffic in mid February. I usually see an overnight scout by now, but not yet.
Barrowdog

[diane davis-ms]

Me too Gobbler!
I've been perched in my window camping out morn & late evening for 3
week's now.LOL! Been looking and waiteing just looked again and not good i see 5in ice cycles hangeing under my gourd's.
There are 20 or so pertty big older colonies up & down the road from me
and i look there also every time i pass. though some dont keep up ther houseing very well & none yet. I have fresh warm soft pine straw, cricketts in the freezer & little 7 in each houseing compt,. Just incase they come in with this sleet & ice storm. At least if they do i know they will be warm & fed.
I dont think many landlord's around me report any comming in, But there are lot's within 100minl's or so around me.
I'll keep watching! And report soon as i see any!!!! Hope you all have a great
p.m. year and a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Laverne]

Laverne

By the way what route do you take to get to GA & FL? What part of MS do you see?

Just that short strip along I10 near the coast. One time we came back along I20 and turned south along the Natchez Trace. I remember lots of thick forest and deep ravines. I don't think there are a lot of Purple Martins in that area. Too many trees... But, there could still be some established colonies out there somewhere. You never know...

Beautiful countryside, pretty much reminds me of East Texas. I love the piney woods.