Where are the Martins?

[LeslieH]

Live here in central Virginia and this is the latest we've ever waited for our Martins. Saw a martin land on a box about a week ago and he has left and that's it.

All around me is the same. I go to West Point, Virginia frequently and none there either ( about 20 miles SE of me).

We've had humming birds for about 3 weeks now, but, the Martins are very late. We did have a cooler than normal winter here.

[Mike R/IN]

I'm feeling your pain. I'm trying to get a new setup here in Indianapolis going and I'm not seeing anything . Getting concerned. I keep telling myself I need to be patient and hope its not to late yet.......... MikeR

[Louise Chambers]

It's sure not over yet! Our martins are still dawnsinging mornings; subadults still moving through. A neighbor landlord a few miles away called yesterday evening to say he had a big arrival, over 100 martins, at his site - many roosted in big oak tree for the night - and they probably headed north early the next morning.

Martins can arrive and nest up until mid to late June, even in southern states. The next 4-5 weeks will hopefully see many of the waiting landlords welcoming some martins. After that, there is still time, but odds decrease.

[MamaBruff]

Same here. Starting to wonder if I should have bought several nice trees with all the money I've spent on martin paraphernalia!

[phldave]

I hear that Mary... Exasperating isn't it?
For the past 4 or 5 days I have been watching martins soar the sky's to the south of me, but nothing around my place since the 28th of April. They fly over my house, so I am pretty sure they know my set up is there, but these birds show no real interest. I tell myself they belong to another site, and they are probably ASY birds that are satisfied with where they are. Wish I could figure out where they live, but it is so conjested in this residential area, I haven't found it.s
This 90 degree day we are having today will surely push some SY birds north.

[avesrun]

same thing across town over here Dave. lots of flyovers that look like adult males.
tim

[Tye Stone]

Hi Leslie, I'm sorry to hear that you are in the same shape as I am here in No. VA, near Dulles Airport. I had PM's in three houses last season, but nothing yet. I saw one about mid April but that's all. I'm beginning to think that something happened at their winter home.

Thanks for your post. I will let you know if any stops here.

Tye S.

[LeslieH]

Tye, I'm thinking the same thing about something happened in their winter home or maybe while in flight to that home.
Too many folks experiencing the same thing.

Here it is 5/14 and no martins. Hard to believe an established colony has gone.

[Louise Chambers]

They are running late this year - geolocator studies are showing us more about their travel routes and timing. Our martins are not all in the same place at the same time, except during the nesting season - so it would be hard for something to happen during non-breeding season that would impact an entire colony - more likely something happened during nesting season. But we will learn more, and share info in the Update.

They are still traveling north - we had a group of migrants show up yesterday evening, along with a flock of chimney swifts that kept diving in & out of our chimney.

[taxidermy lady]

Hay guys this is suppose to be the best time if martining! Waiting for them to come !! I have been told this by people on this forum! So if we think that, it won't get to overwhelming Make this a calm, cool, casual thing. I am having to think this away so I stay focused on, it will happen one day. You don't want to give up because that will just make declining numbers. If all the landlords that have martins right now would have stopped putting forth effort when they had no martins, then no one would have any martins. like Mama says BEAK UP stay focused and let's enjoy this hobby!!!

[MamaBruff]

That's encouraging news, Louise! I am hoping and praying that the late migrants will make it north in time to nest before the blazing heat sets in. Who knows, as cool as it has been so far, it may be an interesting summer weatherwise... Farmer's Almanac mentions a lot of unsettled weather for the heartland. So we shall see.

Like many others who are waiting, I must admit I'm having a hard time keeping my beak up, staying optimistic, battling the constant parade of S&S for 2 months with no rewards... (except to decrease their numbers)... and hearing that some landlords who DO have martins are having to supplement feed even yet- worries me as well.

Keep the faith everyone; Our Martins ARE Coming!! (I think I will have to write that on a sticky note and put on my bathroom mirror... Daily Affirmation for a Crazy Bird Lady)

[Connie]

Same here. Starting to wonder if I should have bought several nice trees with all the money I've spent on martin paraphernalia!

Now Mama, I know you don't mean that! I know you are not seriously having second thoughts. Keep that martin chin up. What would everyone do if even the "Crazy Bird Lady" got down? Go put that note on your mirror right now!!!

[Connie]

Same here. Starting to wonder if I should have bought several nice trees with all the money I've spent on martin paraphernalia!

Now Mama, I know you don't mean that! I know you are not seriously having second thoughts. Keep that martin chin up. What would everyone do if even the "Crazy Bird Lady" got down? Go put that note on your mirror right now!!!

[april57]

Please keep the beak up!!

PLay your dawnsong 24/7. In canada very far north all our martins are arriving. So it doesnt seem to be less at all. Actually we have more now as they filled our condo later last year.

I am very persistent and never let down. Just took huge patience.

So very grateful for all the supplemental feeding and rest stops to get the birds here. Very gracious. As it is a lot of wing flapping to get here from Brazil.

[Roymg]

I think the absents of Martins in your area is due to the late winter we had this year. I say this because I have about 8 pair and a couple weeks ago about 2 dozen eggs have hit the ground. I have assumed the eggs became bad because of our late cool spells we had here in the South. For now they seem to be back at it and I've noticed no more eggs on the ground. I see that they are still adding to their nest. That I have watch them do for over 3 weeks. Maybe soon we will have some chicks. They have now become aggressive with other birds around their house.

[Hoosier]

Hi folks, first time poster, long time lurker. My dad has had martins for over 20 years. He usually has around 20 pairs. He has been very discouraged this year. He saw a couple scouts in late April, but nothing since. Well he called me last night and said there were a bunch flying high in the sky above his place. He is happy as a pig in , well you know.

I just started last year. Put up four gourds and got two pairs who successfully fledged. But so far, nothing. Lets hope this weekend as it warms up in the midwest, they all start to return!

Cheers!

[Don~VA]

Hi Leslie - Welcome to the forum. Happy to see another Virginian posting.
I had the same experience many years ago when my colony did not return with no reason I could find. Finally 4 years ago a few martins nested here. This year I have had 8 ASY martins and just last week a SY male showed up. The next day I had 10 martins. Just in the last two days I have 12 martins but have not been able to confirm they are SY's. I have martin friends in Richmond and southern VA who have not seen the large influx of SY's they usually see so I'm hoping they are still coming north. Hope your colony arrives real soon..... Best of Luck!

[LeslieH]

Well, none here yet. I saw yesterday a few at some locations in West Point, but still most colonies empty.

[Laverne]

Hi folks, first time poster, long time lurker. My dad has had martins for over 20 years. He usually has around 20 pairs. He has been very discouraged this year. He saw a couple scouts in late April, but nothing since. Well he called me last night and said there were a bunch flying high in the sky above his place. He is happy as a pig in , well you know.

I just started last year. Put up four gourds and got two pairs who successfully fledged. But so far, nothing. Lets hope this weekend as it warms up in the midwest, they all start to return!

Cheers!

Hi Clyde. Welcome to the Forum. Did you make note of the date your first birds showed up last year? We always post our scout arrival here on the PMCA website. They keep these records for us and the information is very valuable. Anyway, I am confident your birds will be back. You are expecting them too early. Generally, they will show up a week or two earlier than last year. Eyes to the skies til your neck aches. Watch for returning birds as the sun approaches the horizon in the evening. You have to be on time or you will miss them.

[WanderingPM]

Have a Trendsetter 12, got a pair that fledged 3 last year. That was really exciting! This year the male showed up on 4/7 and the female on 4/12 this spring. They have built a nest of twigs with a mud damm. They attracted some other visitors (adults) but they come and go. The pair generally are around in the AM however later in the day and sometimes for days they are gone? It has been unseasonably cooler here so I guess they are waiting for it to warm up before getting down to egg production business. Based on what I have been reading from others on this forum (thanks other VA posters) it would seem that PMs in Northern Virginia typically start producing eggs in the third for forth week of May?