Good Activity in Slidell

[dsonyay]

I've been getting 2 male ASYs just about every day since last Sunday morning. Today was particularly busy starting at 0700.

I had one male ASY on the perches as I was walking outside. He flew off and circled the house as I was going outside to lower the gourd rack to check on something. As soon as I was under the rack, he landed again.

I called out to him and he flew off, so I lowered the gourds (had to check if any HS were trying to build a nest since I last shot one and cleaned out the nest.).

He circled around again, then landed shortly after I raised them again, but by this point there were two ASY males.

I had to go to work but my wife said they were playing around for about an hour after I left.

The other two sites in the neighborhood have their martins back. Both sites are on a pond (less than a mile from my house).

My friend about 10 miles away has a similar rack like mine and he has about a dozen staying.

Things are looking up. The rest of February will be mild, and we'll have no freezing mornings for the rest of the month. Sounding good!

My 5 BB eggs should hatch on 28Feb.

[Paul Stein]

Hi David, came to Madisonville on the 17th to visit family and catch a few parades.(friday nite in Mandeville and sat in NO) Just wanted to say I did notice ya'lls handywork along the north shoreline as we crossed the causeway sat morning. I had read your posting and photos and made it a point to notice them this trip. Good luck this season. I have 3 males and 1 female here in Ga. so far and am very hopeful because it is usually March 1st or later before I have seen anything here in mid Georgia the past couple of years. Paul

[dsonyay]

thanks Paul-

We put another 6 up yesterday. All of the popular ones are up now. I think there another 5 houses left to go. Quite a few martins are out there now.

Have a good year as well-
david