Hey you...you guys clear up north

[DebA]

Hello. I haven't seen too many active posts from states up north or Canada and have been wondering when their season ends since they start behind me.

I know a lot of people have dropped off the forum with their season over but I figure things are still going on in the northern regions. Just wondering.

Deb

[StillwaterMartins]

I live up in Minnesota, and our season is just winding down. We had 2 SY pairs that laid 5 eggs each. All 10 of our babies fledged at the end of July/beginning of August.

A few of them have been returning to the nest at night a couple of days ago, but we haven't seen them since then.

Carol

[DebA]

So the majority of ours are in sync on times even though you are further north. My last late nest fledged and left a little over a week ago too.

Interesting.

Thanks!

Deb

[Trishy]

I had 15 pair. My last nest fledged about 2 weeks ago. I still had 2 babies coming back to spend the night 3 days ago, but they are not returning anymore. I get some visitors every now and then, but it is pretty quiet here. I cleaned my gourds out and hung them back up. All I have to do now is take them down in a couple of weeks and put them away until next year. It was an awesome season for me. I miss them already.

[Ed Svetich-WI]

Great year for martins here. 21 pair fledged 99 young. Last nest fledged July 27th. Still had a nestling banded here back one month after fledging. Now only daily vistors, 20 two days ago, three yesterday and none seen today. Season is quickly winding down.Interesting thing is that we are just now getting summer temperatures in the 90s. I wonder if that will keep some around longer.

Ed

[DebA]

This has been a weird year for weather. My birthday is mid July and it is always hot. Not this year. Mid 80's. It was wonderful.

This morning I walked out my door to go do chores and there it was. A martin giving the warning call as it swooped over my front yard and house. Such a distinctive call and one I didn't think I'd hear again this year. This lone martin was going the wrong direction when I saw it. Heading north for the moment. Maybe it was flying back to its colony saying, "You should get a look at that setup! Now that place is something!"

Gosh I love these birds and miss mine too.

Deb

[phldave]

Deb

Even though I am not officially a landlord yet, hear are my observations for what they are worth. For the past month there has been no activity around my area. Then all of a sudden for the past week martins have started showing up again. From the time I get home from work until about a half hour before sunset, I observe martins flying to and fro. I have been playing the dawn song and they seem curious but not interested. Maybe it's because their mating mode is switched off at this time of year? Just hope they remember my place next year.

Dave

[Curtis Reil]

Hi Deb. The bulk of my colony was fledged and vamoosed by August 13th. Had 2 nests left and once they were on the wing on the 15th they only hung around for 3 days. There was a few strangers that were stopping in and checking out the houses but the last Martin I saw was on the 20th.

[Dave Duit]

I still have two baby martin left that just fledged, so they will be gone in about 7 to 10 days. 191 babies this year and 45 nesting pair.

[Martin man RI]

The last pair fledged 1 wk ago. Last martin seen 08/22 there gone
and moving threw mid atlantic states. Produced 368 chicks for Rhode Island
towns of Barrington & Westerly. And 178 chicks for Rehoboth MA.
They will continue grow and spread out there colony's in 2014 into towns
where they have not been seen in over 100 years Many more units are
going up and many more new landlords will follow. I will have over 100
units in both MA and RI to Manage in 2014 and will not take on any more.
I probably manage the most of any one in the six state region. Units many
have been donated. And kind residents have bought them and I manage
the birds for them. That way there not homeless anymore. And get the best
care.
Ray

[~Ray~Gingerich]

I see that Maine didn't have any scout reports this year but looks like a single purple dot along the coast, in previous years there were several reports.

[Martin man RI]

There are some 20 plus Martin Colony's in Maine. The sad part is many
are old school farmers and have no computers. And still many have the
birds in small units. They have Martin colony's not to far from Baxter state park in northern Maine. So there well spread out. I have been to some.
Not so sure they would be open to change or i would spend a few days
and visit with them in the off season If gas were not so high and my toyota
did not have over 120,000 miles. There are many more Martins in Maine than most people imagine there just well hidden and off many main roads.
The state of New Hampshire is down to three colony's but they did find a
rare nesting pair in a wooden box in Portsmouth so residents and the seacoast Audubon are getting funds together to place a rack where they
found the only nesting pair of Martins in Southern NH. To help bring them
back. (its a start) Portsmouth,Rye,Hampton are all prime open swamp lands with the right direction they could have a super colony in the next
few years i have offered to advice But have not heard anything.
CT,RI,Southeastern MA are all doing excellent, Plum Island (north of Boston) Has removed all out dated wooden box's and now is all gourds
its been a 8 year war with one person who finally gave in. I never thought
i would see the day. I am very confident the martins now will grow in that
community. Now that residents will see the birds in Gourds will make a
perfect example to the community. And these are all public sites on Plum
Island.
North Western VT i have spoken to a person there and the birds
are doing well More gourds are needed but hands are tied for many.
With little funds. 11 active colony's in north western VT only.
Many more new sites will be started with almost perfect weather this season.
Ray

[~Ray~Gingerich]

Leaving all my houses and racks up through mid September...those northern martins will have a place to rest up if needed.

[barry resvick]

Hi Deb!
We live west of Didsbury. Alberta and although our season ended about July 28th,a good friend and supper colony landlord Bob Buskas had birds until about a week ago.

[DebA]

Is it cooler up north? HOT in KS City today! I'd hate to be migrating today.

Ray, 120K...that's a young one. My pickup just turned over the big 200K.

[Martin man RI]

Weather here stays warm till mid September. Daytime highs in low 80s
low's in the 50's some nights. Days are much shorter and many birds are
on the move south. Last tree swallows leave here by Oct 31 but can be see all year along the ocean where there are bayberries that they feed on and
hold up in cedar tree's Flocks of thousands build up and move threw the state any time now birds from Canada. I enjoy this time of the year
its nice to get back with friends and normal things in life. Will miss the martin flocks till there return in early april.

Ray

[barry resvick]

The temps up here in the great white north have been very warm as of the last few weeks but have been very wet and cool all summer long.

[lynnh]

Hi Deb had a 5 count on HY birds last nite,still had 17 a few days ago so its just about over for this year

[Bob Buskas]

Same here as Curtis, August 17th was the last night I had any return, they moved out the next morning, then had 2 make a fly by on the 19th but all quiet now We ended up with a pretty good year this season, despite the slow start, they all left strong and healthy.

[rickluc]

Just had my last nest of 2 fledgings leave the nest yesterday.