Port O'Connor Martins

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adrianhans
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 1:15 pm
Location: Texas/Port O'Connor

The weather was horrible for the martins on the coast this past week. I flipped many eggs and kept an eye out for hawks. One Coopers?? is actually sitting under the martin housing in the morning when I scare him off. He is persistent. These martins spend long hours gliding low over the pond. I wonder if the pond is releasing warmer air or they are eating something on the surface of the water? I cannot see how any insects will fly in this soupy weather.
I hope you all get better weather soon!!
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Cold, Wet, Hungry, with Hawks
Cold, Wet, Hungry, with Hawks
IMG_0211.JPG (49.1 KiB) Viewed 2392 times
It is pitiful watching them like this.
It is pitiful watching them like this.
martin1.jpg (49.96 KiB) Viewed 2392 times
Adrian Hans
Matt F.
Posts: 3978
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Houston, TX

Great work Adrian!
Not only are your Martins blessed to have you, but the many many Martins that are still in route to their homes further north, are extra-blessed to have such a wonderful stopping point where they can eat and rest, so they may complete their journey home.
The folks like you, Louise, John, and others that are on the coast, and are providing the wonderful resting and feeding points for the Martins that have just made the grueling trans-Gulf crossing, are no doubt a huge factor in many Martins making it back home, to their eagerly waiting landlords.
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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.

^^What Matt said. 8)
Thanks for taking such good care of them. There is no way to tell just how many birds will survive migration to the colonies further north, thanks to the care the southern landlords provide.
"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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