OH, OH Scouts in northern Il.

Mike E · Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:25 am

I hope they don't head into So. Wisconsin for at least a month to 6 weeks. We still have 18-24 inches of ice on Lake Wisconsin, 30 mi. north of Madison. This picture was this morning. Winter is getting to long and to ugly.

tlragsdale · Tue Mar 25, 2014 11:05 am

Ditto, of course, for far western WI…..near zero lows the past couple of days, and highs only reaching the 20's. Supposed to warm slightly by the weekend.

Come-on, spring.

Annie G · Tue Mar 25, 2014 11:13 am

Hey Mike! Glad to see your post and your right...burr! The river just opened up over night in front of us, if u can believe that. Really hope the purple beauties stay south for awhile. Good luck to you this season! Keep us posted!

nbaum · Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:40 pm

I have a real problem with that much ice. My best housing on Whitewater Lake is on the end of my pier. The pier is going to be on shore for a while yet with that much ice. I do have a T-14 on shore that I can raise. It had several nesting pair in it last year. I had 5 pair in the pier housing. The two housings are about 20 yards apart. Since they were both occupied last year I'am hoping if I can't get the pier housing up the martins will move into the T-14. I would prefer them there anyway. Much easier to administer to. After trying for so many years just to get some I don't want to lose any.

Dave W · Wed Mar 26, 2014 8:14 am

I thought we would have to wait until ice out but I'm expecting birds any day now. We have a little pond behind our house that is still frozen over and I doubt our bigger lakes ice out until mid April. My housing is ready to go regardless...Good luck y'all!

Mike E · Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:25 am

nbaum wrote:I have a real problem with that much ice. My best housing on Whitewater Lake is on the end of my pier. The pier is going to be on shore for a while yet with that much ice. I do have a T-14 on shore that I can raise. It had several nesting pair in it last year. I had 5 pair in the pier housing. The two housings are about 20 yards apart. Since they were both occupied last year I'am hoping if I can't get the pier housing up the martins will move into the T-14. I would prefer them there anyway. Much easier to administer to. After trying for so many years just to get some I don't want to lose any.

Just curious about the housing on the end of the pier. Do the PMs mind the people/activity on the pier. I thought about doing that to deter the hawk attacks but our pier is quite busy in the summer time with boats and people. My pole is 12-14 feet tall. I usually put it up in the water 50-60 feet from the pier.

Thanks
Mike

Hey Annie did you draw any PMs in last year?

Annie G · Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:31 am

No nesting pairs but almost! Also had a sub adult male here all summer but he couldn't find a mate.

How did you do?

Mike E · Wed Mar 26, 2014 11:25 am

Annie G wrote:No nesting pairs but almost! Also had a sub adult male here all summer but he couldn't find a mate. How did you do?

Had approx. 3 pair. Down a little from year before. I had a pair of tree swallows move in about a week ahead of the martins and they were extremely aggressive. They would ride the backs of the martins right down into the water. Luckily I had a second house about 50- 60 away that the martins could use. This year I am not opening up until I see the scouts buzzing around the housing then I will pull the plugs.
Good luck this year. Catch you at Sunset one of these days.

Mike

Annie G · Wed Mar 26, 2014 12:31 pm

Mike, those tree swallows can be a hassle. Maybe put a swallow house up just for them 30 or 40 feet away from your martin house. Hopefully they will use it. Keep your martin houses plugged until they start nesting in it.
As for you putting your house on your pier I know alot of people do that. It sure would make nest checks alot easier. They say martins love people and activity.
Hopefully someone else will have more advice for you.

Good luck!