Bugs in the air

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graue
Posts: 44
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2003 12:46 pm
Location: Florida/Port Charlotte

I see martins evidently feeding most of the time at high altitudes. To see how many bugs are up there log onto http://vimeo.com/21493827 and you will be supprised
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James Strickland FL
Posts: 2249
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
Location: Reidsville NC
Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair

Now that was something I did not know. What amazes me is that it gets colder as you climb higher. So Temp does not always affect them. I was always wondering what martin were eating that high up.
PMCA MEMBER
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madattiver
Posts: 263
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:44 pm
Location: SK/Saskatoon
Martin Colony History: 12 unit North Star + 4 gourds
2014 - 1 pair
2015 - 1 pair
2016 - 1 pair + 1 sub male (until my female died)
2017 - 6 pair

Thanks for sharing that. It was very interesting!
Adam
Fifth Year Landlord
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KathyF
Posts: 3522
Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: Missouri/Licking
Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.

This is one of my favorite videos. Thanks for sharing.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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DornCounty
Posts: 2169
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
Location: Rural SE Kansas
Martin Colony History: .
.
Trio-Jedi

once you hit the stratosphere the temps climb back to almost surface temps.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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dsonyay
Posts: 1677
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
Location: Louisiana/Broussard
Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.

2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)

2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.

2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged

2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(

2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.

2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.

Pretty good dorncounty.... Im a retired meteorologist.. Where the stratosphere starts.. the temps are about -55C ( about 12 miles above), gradually warming with altitude.. At the very top of the stratosphere the max temp is just below freezing.. -2C And that's at about 30 miles above our nose. :)

I can't believe I still remember this stuff. :)
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

Some work done in OK and TX found that martins feed as high as 1 mile UP - thermal imaging and tracking devices were used by researchers from OK, who also traveled to roost sites. We shared their findings in the Update, I will see about putting it online with a link. Neat information about our birds.
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2441
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged

graue ----- Great video,,,, I always wonder if there were bugs that high.. thanks for sharing......

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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tim414
Posts: 247
Joined: Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:52 am
Location: NorthTX/Pottsboro/Lake Texoma

dsonyay wrote:Pretty good dorncounty.... Im a retired meteorologist.. Where the stratosphere starts.. the temps are about -55C ( about 12 miles above), gradually warming with altitude.. At the very top of the stratosphere the max temp is just below freezing.. -2C And that's at about 30 miles above our nose. :)

I can't believe I still remember this stuff. :)
Thanks for your post. I saw the other above it and started scratching my head. Flying at cruise altitudes FL400-450 outer temp of aircraft (minus) -50....I was wondering if global warming was kicking in LOL
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