Where are the Martins?

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Don~VA
Posts: 391
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:01 am
Location: Virginia/King George
Martin Colony History: Had a colony many years ago which dwindled over a couple of years and then did not return. Kept trying each year for almost 20 years and finally had a small success in 2011 with two pairs nesting. Colony has grown slowly each year with 22 pairs in 2015. In 2016 my gourd rack of 18 gourds filled up so I added 4 more gourds and then put up a small rack of 6 gourds. All of those were claimed within a few days so I believe I have at least 25 pairs this year.

Hi WanderingPM, just did a nest check last evening and 3 nests have 2 eggs each. There were 3 other completed nests with green leaves but no eggs so our martins just started laying this week. :grin:
Don~Northern Neck of Virginia-PMCA Member
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WanderingPM
Posts: 158
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:05 pm
Location: Virginia, Clifton

Don,

Thanks for letting me know - very glad to hear that yours are actively producing eggs. My PMs seem like they are a little behind yours - it has been high 60s during the day and 50s at night here. Other great news - another adult pair showed up and built a nest over the weekend. I will do a nest check later today (my regular eviction of the stuborn HOSP) and check for eggs.
Love all things flying - except sparrows and starlings!
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LeslieH
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon May 05, 2014 6:50 pm
Location: VA/King William

OK, here's my theory on why no martins here. By the way, the hummingbirds we had have left too. Because of the cold nights, there aren't many mosquitoes, and since martins need them to survive ( and they need a bunch ) the martins haven't arrived.

They will arrive when they are abundant.

I hope. . . . :shock:
Country Boys Can Survive!
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WanderingPM
Posts: 158
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:05 pm
Location: Virginia, Clifton

Leslie Horton Sr wrote: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.
Leslie,

I know you were very concerned that your birds were not going to return last year. Did they finally show up or did you loose your Colony? Have you seen any PMs this year?
Love all things flying - except sparrows and starlings!
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