The first report is in from Alabama!
Another Texas landlord has reported martins via email but did not file a report yet. Location also near Houston, from a reporter of several years standing.
Thanks for the arrival reports, and thanks also to everyone who puts up & maintains homes for our purple friends.
Vern, they often seem to arrive right in front of a front
Expecting colder, WET weather here tomorrow too, and I have about 20 monarch chrysalises getting ready to hatch out in butterfly house, which I brought inside for the bad weather.
Don, the first one emerged today, I know I will not be able to release it til Saturday due to weather - by then, it will have some company! Guess I will do some feeding All your fb posts about butterflies have helped me learn how to do a better job of being a butterfly nut.
Cool. One more day of crummy weather then 4 or 5 straight days of pleasant weather. Holding one butterfly for release on Saturday. As for Martins, I don't expect any to show up here until well after they've arrived at surrounding sites, but sometimes I might get lucky and see/hear one flying over on its way to a neighboring colony.
2016 - 6 cavities in Royal Wing/S&K house + 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches on pole 1, 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches on pole 2
2015 - new homebuilt 3 cavity house plus 3 BO9 gourds with tunnels porches on second pole, in addition to prior setup. 15 pairs, 54 fledged
2014 - 6 6x12 house cavities (plastic Royal Wing/S&K), plus 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches offered; 12 pairs, 50 fledged
This is getting exciting. I still think it's a little too early in Georgetown. After a great weekend last week and a terrible cold and wet last couple of days, it looks like the next few days look good again. Next weekend does not look good so I'm not really in a hurry to worry about my birds. I'm content to wait a little longer.