Just before it got too dark to see well last night, I counted 9 ASY martins. That number has remained constant since April 25th. Early this morning as I let the dog out, he spooked 18 off the two poles. Since martins migrate during the day, do they have a tendency to come in late or at dawn? I know it is just supposition but I was very much surprised to see that many at 6:00 am this morning.
We had very strong WNW winds all day yesterday so they definitely did not have a strong tail wind if they were migrating yesterday. Maybe they held up in the face of the winds and came in this morning.
Thanks,
Ed
Population doubled overnight
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
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Keith
- Posts: 435
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:45 pm
- Location: Missouri/Ava
- Martin Colony History: 85 pair in 2020. Seems fairly consistent the last few years.
Ed,
I wonder if there is any proof that Martins do not travel at night. Over the years I have been awakened on more than one occasion at the crack of dawn by loud Martins that just showed up at my site. Their God-given GPS built-in system could cause them to hover over their destination and then at first light come to the housing. Weird thinking perhaps, but makes sense to me with what I have experienced.
Keith
I wonder if there is any proof that Martins do not travel at night. Over the years I have been awakened on more than one occasion at the crack of dawn by loud Martins that just showed up at my site. Their God-given GPS built-in system could cause them to hover over their destination and then at first light come to the housing. Weird thinking perhaps, but makes sense to me with what I have experienced.
Keith
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Jeff Robinson
- Posts: 908
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 3:32 pm
- Location: Rogersville, Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2008 - Current
72 Cavities - 70 Pairs in 2021
PM Mentor
Could be Keith and Ed. I've also wondered if maybe they don't just stay the night at a close-enough roost they've remembered from years past, then fly the remaining short distance to their destination at the crack of dawn. I've experienced numerous dawn arrivals this year - there's nothing like the early morning jockeying of early birds.
Jeff
2011: 26 pairs and counting....
Jeff
2011: 26 pairs and counting....
PMCA Member - Bedrock Colony
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
My first 2 showed up this year, after dark, during a thunder storm. I've watched them fly after dark, so I'd say yes some will & some won't. Normally most birds don't fly after dark, but I'd guess there are acceptions.
Toy in PA
Toy in PA