Almost Unblievable!

[Terry]

I don't have the time to post much here, but this i'd like to share. Mostly for those here in the nouth.
I was working outside yesterday when i herd that unmistakabe voice of a PM. I looked up and sure enough their she was an ASY female calling and circling the colony that is not at all ready yet!
She is close to 3 week's early here.
I managed to hang a few gourd's and open a few compartment's on the N-star just in case she needed a place to stay.
I'm not sure she belong's here as i did not see her enter any housing yet.
If she does stay around and know's how to supplementel feed, i can keep her going until the weather hold's to favor her better.
She did land and look in a gourd this morning, but didn't stay long. Will have to just wait and see if she stay's around.
If your in the north and have an establihed colony i would recommend getting something up, just in case.
More than likely see will be alone for 2 to 3 weeks and hopefully she will manage to survive.
It's a joy to see her but sad as well because she's way to early.
Best wishes to all this coming season!

[jr 2]

hi terry; seen your scout report;;see you posted march 28th last year;;yes; you are way early;you must have a big colony;are you in the athens and galolpolios area?? ;see there are scout reports for there too;; i got my housing up over the weekend but haven't seen any martins yet;;seen first one last year on march 14th;;;have a great year;;jr2

[John Miller]

Well...I suspect you now hold the distinction of having the northern-most arrival. I might have held it for a few days last week.

Good luck to you,
John Miller

[JL Murray]

There is a report from Pekin Iliinois too !

[Doug Martin - PA]

Wow Terry you are in northern ohio.

I thought at first you were in the southern region. That is early for up by the lake!!!

Congrats and keep her alive.

I better order my crickets and fast!! You are even farther north than me. Thanks for the heads up.

Doug

[ToyinPA]

I was shocked when I saw your report. 18 days early & a ASY Female before any males...wow! I'm wondering if she got off course due to storms & just kept heading north? .....

I found a homing pigeon a few years ago. I was supposed to be 3.5 hours drive southeast of me. Spoke to the owner, who released it in TN. It got caught in a line of storms & flew off course. The owner was shocked it ended up at my place, so far off course. The poor bird was so exhausted & dehydrated it fell off 2 of my neighbors roofs. I rescued it, feed/watered it & kept it for 3 days. Once I felt it was back to normal I released it & sent it home .

I'm central PA, so you're way north of me. I have one house on the pole & ready to raise when they show.

Toy in PA

[MingjoMartins]

Central Ohio here -

I was calm, cool, and collected and just patiently counting the days....until I saw this post!

My projected 2013 date (in my own head) was March 20, 2013

My T14, PVC 12, and gourds are all ready (but closed) - so now it's just me and this damn window.....watching, watching, watching...

Keep her safe, feed her if you can, and congrats.

Now back to the window....waiting...

[Terry]

jr2, I'm way north 4mi. south of lake erie. Yes we have a nice size colony around 75 to 80 pair. This is really abnormal for hear.

John, i really wish you retained that honer, because now i have to worry and hope i can keep her alive. I'm afraid she's gonna have a rough road ahead.

Toyinpa, I was shocked as well when i saw her! I don't think she got off course.
Who know's what in their head's. If they decide to come and the weather favor's them, i believe they come on in.
I have seen them arrive in bad weather (snow) here in the past.

Minjgo martins, I think alot of folks will be doing the same. Best wishes to all this season.

[John Miller]

How I compartment feed, and not absolutes...always evaluating:

If she's trained to flinging, that may work, but often when it's very cold in northern parts of their range, they hole up in units and can survive for several days this way.

I keep most of my compartments or gourds plugged early to force early arrivals to just a few favored cavities where I can place crickets or mealworms. First day, just put four or five as may scare them. They don't always eat this way, but most of the time even the most dense martin will if it has to walk through them. May need to clear the floor of nest material a little in compartments..in gourds I try to put on inside porch. Have experimented with laying a small piece of roof shingle in gourd nest bowls on which to place crickets. don't like to introduce something new like a saucer that might spook them.

don't flush out when it's raining or snowing as getting wet in cold temps may be very dangerous for them, and maybe wait until afternoon if they are holed up on a cold day. I've observed over the years that they survive dry cool periods much better than wet cool ones, and suspect getting wet when they are not as active and preening may lead to hypothermia.
John M

[Ed Pace]

Real good notes and advice John,I hope all landlords get a chance to read them. Were all routing for Terrys female,, even though the odds are against her.
Good luck Terry.
Ed.

[ToyinPA]

You can keep all but a few rooms open. Place heat packs to help keep her warm on cold nights.

Hope she makes it.

Toy in PA

[Wetterdale]

Just saw the post of the early arrival in northern OH and I am shocked here too. It sure doesn't feel too spring like yet. I am routing for you and her. Take good care of her and keep us informed. You have to give her a name!