Bad News

[Darryl Sparlin]

After checking my birds this morning I find they have not been eating
any of the crickets or eggs that I put inside or on the porches. I found
2 that were dead. 1 on the ground under the house, and 1 inside. Several
of the holes have 5-6 birds in them. They will fly out and sit on the perch
but if you try and get close enough to flip a cricket at them they just take
off flying out of sight. I give up!!! They have another very cold night to get
through and at least till Thurs before it warms into the 50's I don't see how
they can possibly make it that long. I counted at least 25 birds sitting on the
power lines at one time. Actually more here than I thought there was. I hate
this nasty weather!!

[Tony Lau]

Darryl, the trick to flipping crickets is not to flip it "at" them but near them so they don't feel threatened. Hopefully they don't feel threatened by you and you can try again, get near them and flip up and away from them so they can get a look at the crickets and hopefully one will figure it out, after that the others should follow suit.

[John Miller]

Daryl

I understand your disappointment. these past few weeks I've tried to keep four alive with crickets and mealworms in compartments, but not eating like past years. I have reviewed my notes from previous seasons to convince m yself this technique did work for me in the past.

All posters here can do is say what is working for them, but I will tell you that I understand that every site is a little different. Some colonies are much more flighty than others and won't stay nearby for flinging crickets -- or you and I are just not pretty. who knows. Try Tony's idea if the martins stay put all all.

Do the best you can. These birds have been experiencing this kind of mortality for thousands of years. If these don't make it, many more are on the way and we'll try to enjoy those that do well, and maybe harden our hearts just a little for those that don't, despite our best efforts.

John Miller

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I spend a lot of time working in the garden right beside them. They will usually not fly away when I walk up to them. If they are afraid of you, it will be more difficult to teach them to catch food. Sorry, wish I could help someway.

[JL Murray]

Darryl i am very sorry to hear of the losses at your colony too, i just hope that with the changing climate that this weird weather does not become the norm.

[DebA]

I know you won't give up but can understand why you want to. I cannot imagine the frustration as you try everything and watch helplessly. We are routing for you/and them.
Deb

[CHenry]

I share your frustration. Here in south central OK we got no snow but the wind and temps have been brutal. I mounted an aluminum pie pan to my gourd rack arms and filled it with crickets and scrambled eggs. I checked it last night and some of it was gone but I dont know if they wind blew it out or if the Martins ate some. I tryed flipping crickets and at one point, one martin did dive and catch a couple but the others never caught on and I ran out of crickets. I then went and scrambled more eggs and tried to flip that but the only ones eating the egg was my dogs as the egg hit the ground.
This morning just after sunup, I didnt see any martins flying so I hope that was just because they were grouped up inside keeping warm.
Is it possible they would fly back south a couple hundred miles to warmer temps?

[Louise Chambers]

Glad you included the photo, good work on your part to feed them, too. I'd suggest cutting the eggs up a lot smaller, closer to same size as crickets, and try again. Many landlords have observed that large egg pieces haven't worked, but were successful when they tried smaller pieces. and maybe keep the dog inside when you try

[DornCounty]

hang in there guys.. keeps trying if you save even one it's worth it.

[Doug Martin - PA]

Hey Darryl you get an A for effort.

The only thing I can suggest is to get some crickets pull up a chair in their area and don't look at them.

Whistle and flip with a large black cooking spoon. Start flipping with the crickets they did not eat that you set around on porches. DON"T LOOK AT THEM!
Just go about your business.... they are hungry. The whistle will make them curious.

Whistle flip, same whistle flip, over and over. Shoot them as high as possible that is why you want a heavy large plastic spoon. Shoot them near but not at them. You only need one bird to start. peek to see who might make a slight move when you flip. That is the one that will give in. Once they get started there is no stopping and you can substitute egg.

I even pretented I was eating them!! They are smart but easily spooked right now. Get them used to you sitting in that chair close to them.

Good luck and nice effort. I have never tried the cavity or porch feeding method.

Doug

[birdy girl]

Darryl,
Just keep trying. Doug is right, they are hungry. Don't get real close to them and fling crickets a high as you can. If you can get one to eat, and they will, the rest will start eating also. Fling pieces of egg if you don't have crickets. Even when weather is warmer,like on rainy days, fling crickets. Important to get them eating because we all will have rainy days and cold spells in the future days and years. On rainy days when our martins have young, I have seen many of the parents feed their young from our feeding trays. Just keep trying, they will catch on because they are hungry if you have already had 2 die.

[Terry]

Darryl.
How many day's has it been since they ate?
If more than 3 and they won't eat, Most probably won't make it.
You might want to try finding a rehabber that can take them and try to care for them.
It may be their only chance.

[RC Moser]

Only thing I can add if you find them on the ground to weak to fly might try putting them into cardboard box with roost stick across few inches off the bottom, bring them in where it warm, put towel over the top and put crickets, scrambled eggs or meal worm in the box... I did this few years ago with four I found and after they warmed up they started pecking and eating. I had good idea how many I put in there so I knew if they was eating any of them. After couple days they got stronger and the weather broke and I let them go.. Thats the only way I even had any luck saving them. I got 13 last count and it's third day not getting over 40 or just above it. Down Hear they do go out in late afternoon looking of something.

[Darryl Sparlin]

Terry,
I do believe this was their 3rd day since they could
of possibly had anything to eat. I've gave them crickets
and eggs for the past 2 days, but they will not eat them
as far as I can tell. I walked out of my garage about 30
minutes ago and there were 3 dark males sitting on the
perches . I had my spoon and was going to try and flip some
crickets. I didn't get within 50yds of them and they took off
like I had shot at them or something. I'm thinking from the way
they acted they don't belong here. I watched and they have not
returned. They took off flying towards the North, so they could very
well be some that are heading to someone else. They have a frigid
north wind to fly against. Mine are all huddled up in bunches in the
houses. The weather is not supposed to warm up into the lower 50's
until Weds or Thurs I pretty well have excepted the fact that mine are
not going to make it. But strange things can happen!!! Good luck with
your birds.

[CraigMo.]

Darryl hopefully some will make it. TWC says 42 tomorrow so maybe they can find some warm spots. But Wednesday is 56 . I think you might make it. You said they were singing yesterday I think , so let's hope they will. If not you did what you could. I give A's for effort
Please keep us posted. I am still feeding mine and all 6 were still alive today. 46 here on Wednesday and 56 Thursday . I can only feed them once or twice in the evening now that i am back to work. I will feed them here for the 2nd time tonight in 10 minutes, if they come out.
Craig

[Keith]

Darryl, I too lost a male this morning and very likely soon to be a second, a female. These two would completely ignore the flinged food and set right on the same perch rod with the other male that would grab food about every time I tossed. These two also would set on the platform feeder right next to the other bird that ate from the feeder and never would take a bite. They just watched him eat. I am really puzzled that they did not follow the example, because in years past I did not experience this. I tried at least. Warmer weather needs to come soon.
Keith

[Darryl Sparlin]

Keith,
I'm just about sick of thinking that theses birds may not make it
through the night. But I also expected to find more birds dead this
morning than there was. I just cannot get them to eat what I put out
there. This evening I took my big spoon back out to try and flip some
more crickets to them. There were 3 black males sitting there on the
perches. I didn't even get within 20 yards of them and they took off
into the air. I watched and never did see them return. I think they were
looking for a place to stop over, on their way to some other place. I had
holes with as many as 5-6 birds bunched up together. Maybe they will be
able to survive the brutal cold tonight. But it is not supposed to get above
42 deg tomorrow. Wednesday is going to be in the 50's I hope there are
still some alive then. Good luck with your martins this year. I have a brother in law that lives just off of C highway there by Norwood. I love that area down there, it is beautiful.
Darryl

[Ed Pace]

Darryl, Even if these birds have never eaten eggs or crickets before, you might put in some grit with some very small smashed egg shells and crickets. All martins would reconize grit of some kind, if they feel comfortable pecking the grit they may try a small peise of cricket or egg,cut them small. If the birds are to week, as you may suspect, then they will not try. Good luck.

[ToyinPA]

It took me 3 years of trying to get my colony to catch crickets. I do like Doug, whistle, flip, whistle flip & watch for one that seems interested. Then flip in that direction. Try to get the cricket as high as possible. Once one goes for a cricket the rest willl follow. Soon they'll line up & wait for them.

Place a lawn chair close enough you can flip the crickets near them. Let the chair there so they get used to seeing it. I sat out last year in my winter parka, hood up, blanket on my legs flipping away while the snow came down

Good luck.

Toy in PA

[tonyg]

Sorry to hear of your dilemma Darryl...I flipped crickets for the first time 2 yrs ago..I had to flip about 20 before one finally flew off the perch and got it..I fed Friday, but we got six inches of snow Saturday and the wind has blown 25 mph plus the last two days with cold temps..I have seen a couple come out and fly to my pond to drink ..hoping to feed tomorrow and hope I'm not to late..I have 15 here..hope things turn out for you..