Martins Gone

James Strickland FL · Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:18 pm

Sad news tonight I had 4 martins here yesterday and they have been here for over 2 weeks and tonight I have just 1 male. I do not see any under the houses and nothing looks out of place. I do not know what to think. If this keeps up I will not have martins this year.

flyin-lowe · Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:26 pm

I would not sweat it for a few days. For the last three years my ASY'S show up and after a week or do they disappear for a few days. I have seen others on here report similar behavior. If you don't see them by Wed or Thurs something might be up. I am guessing they will be back in a day or so. They might just be gone all day and sneaking in at dark.

Jeff Robinson · Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:38 pm

Ditto on Flyin Lowe's comments James,

My first two years, they were in and out over the first couple weeks, and even when they were here steady, if hawks or other predators were close, they'd streak in without me seeing and I wouldn't see them till the next day IF I caught them before I left for work.

Jeff

bwenger · Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:27 pm

James,

You have a nice place and had a lot of visitors last year. Keep the faith, they will be back. They know from your nesting pairs from last year that it's a safe place to raise young, so don't get discouraged.

Bill

Gary W · Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:28 pm

Hi James,

I have experienced those plus and minus stats before, during the early part of the season. In most cases, those missing birds will reappear sometime in the month of March.

Gary

James Strickland FL · Tue Feb 26, 2013 6:07 am

Thanks everyone for the support. I may be worrying to much.

dsonyay · Tue Feb 26, 2013 6:43 am

Same here James.

I don't have a thriving colony yet. This is my third year. My early arrivals will stay a few days and disappear a few days from time to time. The first year it scared me. Thought a hawk attack scared them away.

I have two right now and they have been in and out for a week. It's like they don't get really serious about their gourds/site until the main troops start to arrive later on. But who know?

. I wouldn't worry. Its still very early

Best of luck!

Gobbler T · Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:39 am

They're just out gathering friends. Keep the faith brother! They'll be back.

rrmartins · Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:07 am

Don't worry, they are just gathering more to bring back.

James Strickland FL · Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:24 am

I sure hope. This morning a friend looked in on them and their was only one flying around.

Carlton · Tue Feb 26, 2013 5:05 pm

I will throw in my vote with "they will be back, Jim."

James Strickland FL · Tue Feb 26, 2013 6:53 pm

Well the only male I have came in and the other did not. This is it for me. If he leaves then I am over with this hobby. It is just to much work with little to no results. Going from 6 to 1 is more than I wish to deal with. I am going to go and find another hobby.

Keith · Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:26 pm

Hello James,
I am just curious to know if there are any hawks hanging around your area that has made your martins uneasy. This can sure have an effect when there are just a few birds especially before nesting begins. You know I am behind you all the way and certainly hope your martins do return. Good luck.
Keith

dsonyay · Tue Feb 26, 2013 10:28 pm

James-
You'll be fine.. you had one pair last year and lots of visitors from what I remember.
That one male is going to get a female. The others may be off finding females.. who knows? You've got the beginning stages of a site... like me.

Just relax and let nature get to work. All you need to do is keep the houses up and maintained. Those little guys will appreciate it.

marshainpuntagorda · Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:58 pm

James, I have an established site and my Martins left for a few days a couple of weeks ago; when they returned the Alpha male brought 10 more with him and his "girlfriend"; don't give up my friend; nature has her way, but you are helping the Purple Martins by just trying...if you don't have predation or failed nesting you should be ok...just make sure you have the stovepipe predator guard and the netting...if you have last years birds they are still trying to establish...hang in there...

James Strickland FL · Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:14 am

Thanks Marsha, I think I have had a Hawk attack. I have everything on the bottom to stop any other animal. We will see. Lets hope that they are coming in real late for a while.

John Miller · Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:05 am

Often martin behavior is linked to weather. In early cold spells, martins may depart some housing and huddle at well-established colonies.

You on the other hand have been experiencing a heat wave. Not sure how that might affect them, but suspect they are soaring high over the everglades and enjoying themselves.

John Miller

James Strickland FL · Thu Feb 28, 2013 8:37 am

John I sure am hoping you are correct.

marshainpuntagorda · Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:16 am

James, we have had hawks trying for a quick snack and our decoy was targeted...you could see the talons and hear the "clunk"...that was one surprised hawk

BTW the Martins and Doves had taken off just a second before the attack...if you can put up a decoy it may help

James Strickland FL · Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:21 am

Thanks Marsha, I have had Decoys up before and the visitors just hate them and will not land. I am not sure what to do. I may try doves and see what happens. I have a Bass pro shop near me and I am sure they have them.