WV weather high of 36° for the next 10 days

[Andy H]

This weather really has me down... I have my T-14 under construction, and I have everything else needed for a great first year. Now If I can just get a few days of warm enough weather to thaw out the ground enough to install my pole I will be happy.

I guess I'll just focus on things that can be done in the garage until then. I did receive my PA speaker so I have that to play and the T-14 needs assembled and painted.

I have given myself until 3/10 to have everything in place, as the scout report migration chart shows April 1st as the arrival time for adult martins.

It does say for a new site not to open housing until 3-6 weeks after the arrival of adult martins to the area.

Should I hold firm on my completion date goal of 3/10 or just let things play out with the weather as long as all is in place by 3 weeks after April 1st? This would open my window up by about 6 weeks more than I had planned.

If I have to dig a hole in frozen ground although it may be unpleasant, I'm willing to do so. I've already invested enough time, effort, and sparked enough interest in my two daughters (3 and 5 years old) that I'm committed to doing what's in the best interest of making our first year successful.

You know how Daddy's are with their little girls, they'll move mountains to keep them interested in something wholesome that they'll continue to carry though their life as part of their character.

[Archer]

Just a word of encouragement. When you are working with nature, you have to work at her pace, do otherwise will stress you out. Relax, do what you can, and enjoy the ride. It might help to cover the area for the pole with some straw bales, it will prevent further freezing. If you want to get aggressive you can horde of the area with heavy tarps and get some heat going in there, personally I'd wait till the ground was thawed naturally, but that's just me. Wishing you a great first year.

Allan

[Chris Brown]

I know exactly how you feel I have everything lined up to get my first house put up here in northern Alberta. I have to wait until May for the ground to dry up enough to get into the field and drill. If you are impatient to see some results and want to have some nests to show your girls. Google treeswallow net box projects and you will find a web site based out of New York State that is a great how to resource for attracting treeswallows. You are going to need a couple boxes to keep the treeswallows out of your t14 anyway. I have build 50 of there Long Point boxes and my girls 5&6 love to check them with me and see the babies. In you area you are going to want to get a treeswallow nest established 25 feet away from your Martin house before opening any compartments any way.
Good luck

[Dave Reynolds]

Andy --- The only thing about opening up your housing earlier then the arrivals of the first Martins in you area, means that you may get some unwanted birds. Sparrows, Starling, Blue Birds or Tree swallows. You may have to keep a look out for the unwanted nest competitors. If your going to be around that will be fine, but if you are not around these other birds will keep you busy removing them and their nests before the Martins get there. Have a great year, and good luck.

Dave - in Little Hocking, Ohio