More cold temps on the way.

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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

Well we are in day 4 of bad weather here. Very windy cloudy 50 degrees. Feels like 43 temp. My colony is doing great but they have been well fed.

We will get a break finally tomorrow with temps in the 60s for a day or two, but then more rain and potential highs only in the 40s once again for the weekend.

The Upper Ohio Valley will all participate in yet another below normal period of a few days in a row. Western New York will barely get a break at all before going right back to the 40s. Cold rain too.

Accuweather has a slightly better temperature forecast and it would be nice if they are right. Weather.com had the forecast almost 10 degrees colder.

The good news is after this next cold spell it should get warm the rest of the way out into the extended forecast.

So prepare for more chill northeast we are not done yet with winter type weather. To think it was in the 80s back in March. Wow.

Check the local forecast for your area and plan ahead.

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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D'Nese
Posts: 450
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 3:09 pm
Location: Unionville, TN

Doug,

Now is the time I really hate, LOL, your weather predictions!!! Sorry!!! :oops:

It reminds me of how many birds will be lost to this absolutely weird spring we are having. I am from Rochester, NY and I couldn't imagine having birds right now living there. I hope your predictions are not correct ( yeah right, you've been as reliable as a good dog is faithful ) and that the sun will come out and the warmth will shine!!!!

I hope your guys at your place fair ok. I know you do supplement feeding and that is probably the only thing that will save any of these birds now. Keep up posted!!!

:lol: 8) :shock:
D'Nese in Tennessee


2009-new house up, many visitors no one stayed
2010-3 pairs, 14 eggs, 9 babies 9 fledged
2011 20 pairs, 106 eggs, 79 fledged
2012 37 pair, 120 fledged
2013 37 pair, 173 fledged
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

I think todays weather will be coming in the knick of time. Sunny and in the mid 50s at 10:00 AM. Insect are flying again with a high in the 60s.

My colony is back to nesting and the chatter abounds once again. I had a few beggers that were hungry though this morning. There was frost once again. I broke down and fed only 2 eggs in the feeder. They will feed well today on their own.

My daughter and her boyfriend came for dinner yesterday eve and he really enjoyed tossing crickets to the Martins. Personally I am tired of it. They come right to the deck when you raise your hand and forward toss of 2 feet with good timing completes the pass. They look like a stealth fighter gliding right at you.

Hope all in the NE can benefit fropm this weather today. We are almost out of this cold weather. Saturday more rain and snow showers. But 50 at least on Friday and Sunday.

Next week the warmth returns.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Ben@SWMichiganPM
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:57 pm
Location: Michigan/New Buffalo & IL/Chicago

Doug if you get another chance to toss crickets. (Hopefully you won't need to) take a video and post it to youtube. I have only seen one video posted to youtube tossing crickets. I think it was Larry Merchant.
PMCA member. Trendsetter 12 system on Lake Michigan, 2011: 1 pair laid eggs, lots of vistors, 2012: added dawnsong and decoys, no luck (Had a wren take over the house), 2013 added four Troyer gourds to up my chances.
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

Ben,

I don't really know how to post to youtube but I think I know someone that may do it for me. This weekend the weather will be right for it again.

I would love to get a slow-motion on one coming right at me to get the cricket then snapping it up. Similiar to that owl video.

Let me ask around and find someone to help.

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
Posts: 6743
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas

It doesn't seem fair, we are running our air cond more this year than ever, temps the next 7 days range from 86 to 91. We sure don't need any cricket tossing here :lol:


EDIT: Just saw on TV where it was 109Deg in West Texas! Looks like an early summer
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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leroy
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 8:21 am
Location: ny

We are in our fifth day of cool rainy weather here in Northern NY with day time highs from 38-45 degrees.I called a landlord 6 miles from me today to ask him how his birds were doing as he currently has about 15 birds in residence. He said they are doing ok but fears he will start to lose them if the weather does not improve in a few days. I have been trying to convince him to try putting scrambled eggs on his oyster shell feeder for a few years but he does not want to mess with mother nature- hoping for the best---
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