Snow Gourdes
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wildcatervin
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:14 pm
- Location: milford,de
Well this is what my setup looks like after 4+ in of snow overnight.As of last Monday I had 2 martins.Where they are at now ,who knows?If they are in the houses they cannot get out as all the holes are covered up,Also I don't think they can handle this cold weather.Supposed to get down to the 20s tonight.Hope they had enough sence to go someplace else.
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- This is what the Martins see.
- IMG_0136.JPG (131.99 KiB) Viewed 7700 times
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- where are my birds
- IMG_0139.JPG (101.22 KiB) Viewed 7729 times
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- Snow Gourds
- IMG_0137.JPG (102.33 KiB) Viewed 7765 times
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
You might want to check the gourds today - your weather should be good enough for the martins to feed tomorrow. The martins may be waiting out the bad weather in a gourd; they can survive 3, sometimes more days, of no feeding, if they fed well before the bad weather set in.
You could use a long pole with something fastened to the end to push snow away from all the entrances - though today they probably will not go out at all. They have been seen flying off in low 40s and even upper 30s if it's sunny, presumably knowing where to find food under poor conditions.
You could use a long pole with something fastened to the end to push snow away from all the entrances - though today they probably will not go out at all. They have been seen flying off in low 40s and even upper 30s if it's sunny, presumably knowing where to find food under poor conditions.
With the cold. Don't know where they would go? Have you tried to feed them? Put crickets on their porches?
2008 1 pair
2009 3 pair
2010 7 pair
2011 20 pair
2012 44 pair 280 eggs 210 fledged
2013 67 pair.
2014 67pair
2015-2022 67 pair
2009 3 pair
2010 7 pair
2011 20 pair
2012 44 pair 280 eggs 210 fledged
2013 67 pair.
2014 67pair
2015-2022 67 pair
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wildcatervin
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:14 pm
- Location: milford,de
Louse,Right now the wind has came up and the snow is being shook off,and ChickadeeLI feel better not to disturb them if they are in the holes.Heard about the feeding bit but never did try it.Hope tomorrow will be a little better,but think Friday will get warmer.
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wildcatervin
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:14 pm
- Location: milford,de
Today
Mar 26
Partly Cloudy / Wind
36°F
21°F
Partly Cloudy / Wind
Chance of precip:0% Wind:NW at 24 mph This is what I am facing for the next 2 days
Mar 26
Partly Cloudy / Wind
36°F
21°F
Partly Cloudy / Wind
Chance of precip:0% Wind:NW at 24 mph This is what I am facing for the next 2 days
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Weather report I checked said 46 tomorrow and 60s after that. IF the weatherman is right, they could get out and feed tomorrow - here's hoping!
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wildcatervin
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:14 pm
- Location: milford,de
Yes you are correct Louise,But keep in mind only 2 types of people can tell the untruth,Politicians and weather people.Lets hope this time its the politicians,bet TX is nice this time of year?
I can sympathize with you. Same here but 2 inches of snow wind gust 30 plus mph 25 degrees. I have 2 pair since 3-23. Putting Crickets on inside porch,8 dozen so far. They left this morning about 8am, seam to be ok. The only real problem is that the darn starlings are trying to get the Crickets too, have to keep chasing them away 
Oh well things will get better 
Dave
starlings are trying to get the Crickets too, have to keep chasing them away Oh well things will get better Dave
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Actually, weather here has been cloudy and cool for quite a long time, and with drizzle some days - we fed martins the other day but they are able to feed most days, and it's improving. And we always welcome rain here!
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~Ray~Gingerich
- Posts: 2122
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: Delaware/Dover
I can't believe the snow is melting so fast, the 2- 1/2 inches we had this morning is 80% gone. I guess the strong winds make it feel a lot colder than what it is.
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
I have one Martin female that returned on March 24th and stayed in all day the 25th (cold) and will today (cold winds over 20 and 35 degrees). Future weather doesn't look promising either. I hope she has lots of fat stores and remains cozy in her igloo. I am 30 miles south of Wildcatervin 
In my many years I have come to a conclusion that
one useless man is a shame,
two is a law firm and
three or more is a congress.-- John Adams
one useless man is a shame,
two is a law firm and
three or more is a congress.-- John Adams
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wildcatervin
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:14 pm
- Location: milford,de
Dang CMF,your snow picture is better than mine.Thanks to both of you DE guys we will raise a lot of Martins this year.Both of you shoud know Dave A as he lives down there also.
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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.
I had these conditions last year after 20 martins arrived. Maybe a little more ice. First thing in the morning I removed the snow and ice so they could get out of the compartments. Then I fed, fed, fed for several days. My beloved birds survived.
Please don't wait to try the feeding bit. Also don't expect their fat reserves to last more than three days. They don't have much fat. Their bodies will start to break down nutrients from their breast and organs and they succomb quickly.
There are a lot of things to do for them that will help them thrive.
Deb
Please don't wait to try the feeding bit. Also don't expect their fat reserves to last more than three days. They don't have much fat. Their bodies will start to break down nutrients from their breast and organs and they succomb quickly.
There are a lot of things to do for them that will help them thrive.
Deb
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
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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Ladybug
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
- Location: Indiana/ Jamestown
- Martin Colony History: 2005-2019. Lots lookers, 2 successful nesting's.
2010-1 pair nested, 4 eggs destroyed(Wren).
2012- 1 pair nested, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2019- 1 pair nested, 4 eggs, 4 fledged.
2021- 10 pair, 40 babies fledged.
2022- 17 pair, 10 eggs not hatched= appxy. 57 fledged.
CMF::
WOW, Now that looks just like January. Gives me a cold CHILL.
Hope your Martin does OK.
We are anxiously awaiting ours but Don't mind if they wait a few days until the weather is warmer. ALL day rain to start in 24 hrs. UGH.
Temps.* 25 this AM.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR MARTINS.
PMCA MEMBER.
BJ Hoover.
WOW, Now that looks just like January. Gives me a cold CHILL.
Hope your Martin does OK.
We are anxiously awaiting ours but Don't mind if they wait a few days until the weather is warmer. ALL day rain to start in 24 hrs. UGH.
Temps.* 25 this AM.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR MARTINS.
PMCA MEMBER.
BJ Hoover.
Joanne