I thought we were pretty good at roost hunting, but I guess not. Our last resort is to ask the managers of some of the taller buildings (which are hospitals and hotels) and ask if we go up on their roof!
Veronica
do all roost sites move around as much as ours?
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Veronica G
- Posts: 338
- Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:36 am
- Location: Texas/Edinburg
Hi everyone. My husband and I have been very frustrated trying to find our local martin roost this year. It has been at 3 different locations in the past 4 years, and this year, we just can't find it! The roost site has moved around, but it's always been within about a mile or two of the previous year's roost site. We have gone out of the "zone" by several miles (literally driving in circles) for a few weeks already, but have had no luck. The staging area is still in the same spot, though. We just can't tell where they're going from there. Too many buildings and traffic lights in the way! And the birds won't tell us - I've asked
I thought we were pretty good at roost hunting, but I guess not. Our last resort is to ask the managers of some of the taller buildings (which are hospitals and hotels) and ask if we go up on their roof!
Veronica
I thought we were pretty good at roost hunting, but I guess not. Our last resort is to ask the managers of some of the taller buildings (which are hospitals and hotels) and ask if we go up on their roof!
Veronica
I participate in Project Martin Watch!
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lauriefoss
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2013 8:53 am
- Location: TX/Austin
Veronica,
Our Austin roost has been in the same location for decades, so I don't have first-hand experience. What I can offer is that the characteristics of most roost sites that I've been able to find out about are similar - large open area (parking lot, etc) and well-lit. If you can find such a location that also has 8-10 trees of a size suitable to large numbers of birds, check there.
Our Austin roost has been in the same location for decades, so I don't have first-hand experience. What I can offer is that the characteristics of most roost sites that I've been able to find out about are similar - large open area (parking lot, etc) and well-lit. If you can find such a location that also has 8-10 trees of a size suitable to large numbers of birds, check there.
Laurie Foss
Austin, TX
Austin, TX
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LarryL-MN
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 2:08 pm
- Location: Minnesota/Brainerd
- Martin Colony History: Built first house in 1972 and have had Martins ever since. Became an active landlord in 2002 after finding the PMCA web site.
We usually have 2 good size roosts in Minnesota each year. One is very consistent and located in a large corn field near Willmar. The second is very unpredictable and seldom uses the same roost site 2 years in a row. It can very in distance up to 60 miles (as the martin flys). We have seen staging areas as far as 5 miles from the roost. We are lucky to have many suitable roost sites but it proves to be a real challenge finding them some years.
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Veronica G
- Posts: 338
- Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:36 am
- Location: Texas/Edinburg
Thanks for your replies. We finally found the roost about two weeks ago. It was only about a mile (as the crow flies) from last year's site! I can't believe it was so close yet it took us so long to find it 
It's in a very quiet area of town. Very different from all previous sites. We kept looking in busy areas, as those are locations they always chose. Gotta love these birds. They made us work for it this year 
Veronica
It's in a very quiet area of town. Very different from all previous sites. We kept looking in busy areas, as those are locations they always chose. Gotta love these birds. They made us work for it this year Veronica
I participate in Project Martin Watch!
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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
Our Houston roosts move around a whole lot. One is in a 4th location in the past 6 years. (SW freeway near 610., Galleria area, Brown & Root facilities, and now at Stafford).
Sometimes shopping malls don't want the mess associated with them, so they cut down the trees, and that makes the roost move.
I don't know much about the location of the hugh roost on the N side of town
Sometimes shopping malls don't want the mess associated with them, so they cut down the trees, and that makes the roost move.
I don't know much about the location of the hugh roost on the N side of town
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps