Martins in Illinois!!!

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Frank Hargis-IL
Posts: 121
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 5:22 pm
Location: Illinois/Flora

You are not going to believe this!! We had two (a pair) show up this afternoon! This is the earliest we have ever had martins. And also the first time we've ever had a pair show up together. Once, when the weather had been warm for several days we had one show up on March 1st. The weather has been cold for several days now and today's high was probably about 30 degrees. The low tonight is supposed to be about 10 degrees.
Anyway, I looked out the back window and there they were. Sitting on the feeder. As soon as I walked out the back door they were both diving me begging for something to eat. Fed them by both flipping and putting mealworms in the feeder. They were coming down right in my face when I was throwing the worms.
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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.

Oh my! Illinois?! Makes me want to run outside right this minute!
Deb

Great going with those precious ones, boy aren't they lucky?
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
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Ed Pace
Posts: 680
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:31 pm
Location: NY/Jamestown

Frank: So glad that the martins know you will feed them when its cold and they came home way to early. Its the kind of post I have been waiting to see. That's Great!!!! Good Luck

Ed :lol:
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

Frank,

That is amazing! They likely had some cold battling to finish their trip home. Sounds like they couldn't be in better hands.

Good luck and please keep us posted daily on your temps and their condition.
I find it fascinating they can be pulled through such cold weather. Sure is a lot of work.

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Craig Haddox
Posts: 444
Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 5:13 pm
Location: Missouri Washington

Frank, good luck with your pair of martins. My martins are also trained to eat. It makes it a little easier on the martins and landlord knowing they will accept our offering's. Good luck.
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phldave
Posts: 528
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:44 pm
Location: Iowa/Pleasant Hill
Martin Colony History: Started trying in 2012 and still trying

Holy cow their in Illinois! They are really impatient this year. I guess maybe that's what I need. Hope they find and settle into my place this year.
2012 late start
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Yikes! I sure hope mine don't show up early. We still ahve a good 2.5-3 feet of snow on the ground & more expected. I can't even get to my houses right now.

Got 5000 crickets in the freezer so if they do show up early they will get full tummies :) & hand warmers to keep them warm.

Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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jr 2
Posts: 749
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:20 pm
Location: ohio,proctorville(just across ohio river from huntington,west virginia)

just wandering if theses birds that are showing up early in indinia and illlinois are from larger and older colonies ????? jr2
PMCA member; s 2011 2 pair fledged 3; 2012 3 asy pair,4 sy pair,2013 8 asy pair,6 sy pair;2014 19 asy pair,2 sy pair
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Ed Pace
Posts: 680
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:31 pm
Location: NY/Jamestown

jr2, That could be the case that they may have many birds. It seems that all three landlords have been entering scouts for a number of year,according to the scout report. It would be intersting to here more about them, at least they are vetren landlords. Best of luck to them. Ed.
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2441
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged

jr 2 -- I think you are right. Most of the early reports in my area come from very large and older colonies.

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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Frank Hargis-IL
Posts: 121
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 5:22 pm
Location: Illinois/Flora

These are not real good but you can see the birds using the feeder.
Attachments
Female on wire waiting to be fed.
Female on wire waiting to be fed.
DCP_0002 copy.jpg (144.95 KiB) Viewed 7701 times
Male on feeder
Male on feeder
DCP_0003 copy.jpg (187.81 KiB) Viewed 7671 times
Male on feeder -2
Male on feeder -2
DCP_0005 copy.jpg (183.13 KiB) Viewed 7686 times
Male going into feeder
Male going into feeder
DCP_0006 copy.jpg (180.35 KiB) Viewed 7734 times
Both on feeder
Both on feeder
DCP_0007 copy.jpg (188.79 KiB) Viewed 7785 times
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DornCounty
Posts: 2169
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
Location: Rural SE Kansas
Martin Colony History: .
.
Trio-Jedi

good luck... I'm afraid these two are going to need it.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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Tim Mangan-Kansas
Posts: 1728
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:25 am
Location: Kansas, Pittsburg
Martin Colony History: 2016 - 22 Pair

Frank:

You know they are yours when they see you coming, take flipped food and head for the feeder trays. I hope they survive the next week or so.

Tim
Licensed Bander
2015 - 14 Pair - fledged 68
2014 - Moved to Kansas - 7 Pair, 35 eggs, 28 fledged in first year
2010 Thru 2013 - Moved-Tried to start new colony
2009 - 46 pair, 217 eggs, 178 fledged
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

Good report and photos Frank.

Way to go! They still look fine.

Any heat for the cold night?

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

Good job, Frank - those martins are already lucky - they have you for their landlord. Your forecast for the next 10 days (same for the landlord in Trafalgar IN, who is also feeding his early return) look like the feeding will have to continue for these birds to survive.
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jr 2
Posts: 749
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:20 pm
Location: ohio,proctorville(just across ohio river from huntington,west virginia)

thanks for the update and pics on your early birds;;looks like they are in good hands;;;is that a homemade feeding tray??don't look very high;;;any idea's on making a cheep feeding tray in case mine get here early;they got here april 1 last year;;;jr2
PMCA member; s 2011 2 pair fledged 3; 2012 3 asy pair,4 sy pair,2013 8 asy pair,6 sy pair;2014 19 asy pair,2 sy pair
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Ed Pace
Posts: 680
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:31 pm
Location: NY/Jamestown

Thanks Frank for the photos and up date of your early birds,that is good news.

Also thanks Louise for the word on the IN. birds, it's good to know that at least they have a chance. It is forcasted to get down to 10 - 15 below tonight (thurs.pm.) It's already 4.5 below now at midnight. Should sleep good tonight hearing that news!! Ed
Last edited by Ed Pace on Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
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John Miller
Posts: 4863
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

Frank

This is amazing and no, I didn't believe or it or, yes Lord had some doubt, until you posted the photos. Must be one of the -- if not the earliest ever -- at this latitude.

Last year in St. Louis Forest Park we did have a pair show up March 4 -- earliest for me -- but hopefully none there now. Some of that housing is open for shelter, just in case.

All the best to you this season,
John Miller
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klcretired
Posts: 2174
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
Location: Grand Prairie,Tx

Frank
Congrats on the arrival of your martins and thank you for taking care of them, hope you get a break in the weather soon
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.

Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,

K.C.

[email protected]
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Glen Webb Jr
Posts: 478
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:03 pm
Location: Illinois/Stewardson

Frank, as always I'm envious. I'll never get my martins to feed like this. I hope they stay away for weeks. I fear we're in for a nasty start to spring. It's crazy your birds showed up so soon, but they are certainly in good hands. I remember your stories from a year or couple years ago about the martin swooping down by your door, impatiently waiting for his "cold weather" meal.
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