Nightly Evac?
Last year I had 3 pair and fledged 8. They showed back up a week ago and the last couple of days I've counted over a dozen flying in and out of my house and gourds. Then late in the evening before sunset I go out to check and no one is home. I moved my pole to make sure and nothing but every morning back again and very vocal? Any guesses?
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DebA
- Posts: 1941
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
- Location: Pratt County/Kansas
- Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
Maybe they sneak in later than your late evening check?
Maybe they aren't yours from last year but they are up for grabs if they didn't successfully nest nearby last year and they like your site?
Maybe they are waves of mine coming through and they are stopping off to feed on their way to me. Oh yeah...the world doesn't revolve around you, Deb.
Have a great day!
Deb
Maybe they aren't yours from last year but they are up for grabs if they didn't successfully nest nearby last year and they like your site?
Maybe they are waves of mine coming through and they are stopping off to feed on their way to me. Oh yeah...the world doesn't revolve around you, Deb.
Have a great day!
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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John Miller
- Posts: 4867
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
I'd guess two things. There's a larger colony nearby and they consider your house the satellite... I observe this behavior at scattered housing in an urban park here. or...as said, they are coming in at very last light. If you can really stand back and scan the skies about 30 minutes before dark, you may be able to spot them feeding high up in the sky. then at very last light, they may drop down and zoom right in.... it's what I see early in the season when the day starts off cold, but then warms up and best feeding probably occurs late in the day. Time they come in at night will vary depending on temps and weather. John M
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Jeff Robinson
- Posts: 908
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 3:32 pm
- Location: Rogersville, Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2008 - Current
72 Cavities - 70 Pairs in 2021
PM Mentor
They're likely still out eating at sunset. All is good!
Edited: ....or what John said.
Jeff
Edited: ....or what John said.
Jeff
PMCA Member - Bedrock Colony
Thank you Jeff ,Deb,Emil and John very helpful and informative replys. I'll watch for the behavior you mentioned I was perplexed as this was new from years past. Thanks again for taking the time.
Last edited by 3wood on Tue Mar 12, 2013 1:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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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
You may have a hawk or owl that comes at night just as the martins are trying to land to go into the houses. When this happens, sometimes they leave at night and come back the next morning, or they come in right at dark
When a hawk is bothering them late in the day, they are very reluctant to land, they are afraid of being grabbed by the hawk.
When a hawk is bothering them late in the day, they are very reluctant to land, they are afraid of being grabbed by the hawk.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps