Still waiting in Columbia, MO. Am nervous because I had to move my houses last year because we moved two houses down. The spot is not as prime as before but still in the open. Had two gourds hung by the lake last summer that were not used but had several martins check it out all summer long so I am hoping they considered it part of their colony and will at least go to those then draw others to the new houses locations. So what are my chances of saving my colony this year without having to start completely over?
I did see a pair of Tree Swallows last weekend and the martins are usually a week behind them.
Still Nothing in Columbia
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DornCounty
- Posts: 2169
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
- Location: Rural SE Kansas
- Martin Colony History: .
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Trio-Jedi
Hang in there buddy. I live further South than you and my town has about 60 public houses and I have not seen one martin yet.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
Hang in there. A few have showed up but the main push isn't here yet. There's 5 colonies (including mine) I see going back and forth to work only seen martins at 2 of them. And the one that is the biggest colony I haven't seen any there yet. I know it's hard to be patient waiting on your birds to show up. It's like little kids at Christmas.
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Craig Haddox
- Posts: 444
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 5:13 pm
- Location: Missouri Washington
Nothing here in Washington, Missouri yet. I usually see my first arrival around the 18th. I had 40 pairs last year and was hoping for some early birds this year. At my site I have always had arrivals in March. Last year my first arrival was April 2nd. I'm not sure what to expect this year.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Empty housing in Forest Park, St. Louis, this morning...now a day late from last year. A few reports of arrivals about the St. Louis area..in Mo and Illinois. Sometimes a female that arrives first can go unnoticed as they are not as boisterous as the males...
But you know, these early arrivals probably represent less than 1 percent of the population on its way.
John M
But you know, these early arrivals probably represent less than 1 percent of the population on its way.
John M
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hello jmeyer.
Here's a link to the post reporting Diane's success. She moved, too. Further than "two doors down" and the birds have finally found her and their previous housing.
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21914
So, it is possible. Your birds will come back and be disturbed because their old housing will not be there. When you see them, go out and talk to them...let them see "you". Go to the old location and let them see you move to the new location. Be persistent and they may remember you and connect you to their nesting success from last year. Hopefully, they will make a complete connection and move to the new location. Good luck!! Let us know what happens!
Here's a link to the post reporting Diane's success. She moved, too. Further than "two doors down" and the birds have finally found her and their previous housing.
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21914
So, it is possible. Your birds will come back and be disturbed because their old housing will not be there. When you see them, go out and talk to them...let them see "you". Go to the old location and let them see you move to the new location. Be persistent and they may remember you and connect you to their nesting success from last year. Hopefully, they will make a complete connection and move to the new location. Good luck!! Let us know what happens!
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
I went to the Scout Report and found all my previous records. I have used different names through the years, but Alvin is small so it wasn't that difficult to find "my" reports. These are the dates of my first returning bird from the last 12 years.
02/05/2001
02/08/2002
02/11/2003
02/16/2004
02/12/2005
02/07/2006
02/03/2007
01/23/2008
01/30/2009
01/28/2010
01/22/2011
01/26/2012
Notice there is not a single duplication and that the first dates cover a spread of a full three weeks. What I didn't realize is that in the past 5 years the first bird has returned in January. Before that it was always February. I wonder what that means?? Global warming; or could the same bird (who is just a little earlier than the rest) be the reason? Interesting...
02/05/2001
02/08/2002
02/11/2003
02/16/2004
02/12/2005
02/07/2006
02/03/2007
01/23/2008
01/30/2009
01/28/2010
01/22/2011
01/26/2012
Notice there is not a single duplication and that the first dates cover a spread of a full three weeks. What I didn't realize is that in the past 5 years the first bird has returned in January. Before that it was always February. I wonder what that means?? Global warming; or could the same bird (who is just a little earlier than the rest) be the reason? Interesting...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Leverett Doehring/Mo
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2004 12:04 pm
- Location: Villa Ridge, Mo
- Martin Colony History: 1st birds 1990. 1 12 room metal house, colony started.
current 2 tr14s, 1 tr18, and 56 gourds, usually average @ 70 pair. 102 rooms available.
above mounted on 4 structures..
Hang in there is good advice, I had 2 more show up yesterday just down the road from you folks. Puts me at 4 females and 1 male.
itsjustLEV
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
touch down! spotted an ASY male on the gourd rack at the golf course at Forest Park, St. Louis, today... he might have been there a day or so as I can only briefly look once or twice a day...but he's confirmed now.
If anyone wants a tour of the martin sites in Forest Park this summer -- the housing is scattered over about three areas -- just let me know. I ride my bike through the park most evenings in summer, and can meet at the visitor's center. We had 60 pairs last year, and adding one small house, so will expand some.
Will be checking on sites at the Missouri Botanical garden tomorrow, about two miles south in the city...but some of the housing is partially open.
Will mention that St. louis Audubon is putting up two Trendsetters later month in Creve Coeur park in St. Louis County....the parks departing is putting in the ground stakes and I'll help with the setup soon and then just "consult." I'll get photos later. It's a lake site and should get good occupancy.
John M
If anyone wants a tour of the martin sites in Forest Park this summer -- the housing is scattered over about three areas -- just let me know. I ride my bike through the park most evenings in summer, and can meet at the visitor's center. We had 60 pairs last year, and adding one small house, so will expand some.
Will be checking on sites at the Missouri Botanical garden tomorrow, about two miles south in the city...but some of the housing is partially open.
Will mention that St. louis Audubon is putting up two Trendsetters later month in Creve Coeur park in St. Louis County....the parks departing is putting in the ground stakes and I'll help with the setup soon and then just "consult." I'll get photos later. It's a lake site and should get good occupancy.
John M
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Guest
Just showed up in KC yesterday. I didn't even have my house up and suffered a severe scolding.
It's up now and all parties are happy.
It's up now and all parties are happy.