Starving Martins.
-
Don Ricketson
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2004 7:46 pm
- Location: Texas/Llano
Wondering how many Martins were lost during the recent week of cold weather. I had several come by and go inside the houses. I'm sure they all probably perished somewhere, but I only found 2 dead in the Trio Houses
Have two Trio Gramma (T8) Modified aluminum houses and a 4 Nature Gourd Rack about 40 ft. from my back door. Use S&S sparrow trap.
Landlord since 1999.
Landlord since 1999.
I'm South of Austin, Tx about 32 miles and first scout arrived on Feb 9th.
Found a dead ASY male in one of the gourds the birds were communal roosting in yesterday.
I have 17 healthy looking birds here now and have fed close to 300 crickets on each of 3 really bad days so far - still have 60-80 of the first 1000 left.
The were able to forage Tuesday evening when it warmed up to mid 60s and most of Wednesday which got up to 72 here and brought in a few more birds!
The weather warmed up to about 48 here today but will freeze hard tonight.
I didn't feed them today as they seemed full and spent quite a bit of the day selecting gourds and finding mates so they don't seem to be too worried about foraging.
I have a fresh crate with another 1000 crickets and will be flinging a bunch tomorrow.
It looks like if we get thru tomorrow, the weather will get better and should have 50+ degree days for a while with a warming trend.
Fingers crossed for better weather as it's been tough so far!
Found a dead ASY male in one of the gourds the birds were communal roosting in yesterday.
I have 17 healthy looking birds here now and have fed close to 300 crickets on each of 3 really bad days so far - still have 60-80 of the first 1000 left.
The were able to forage Tuesday evening when it warmed up to mid 60s and most of Wednesday which got up to 72 here and brought in a few more birds!
The weather warmed up to about 48 here today but will freeze hard tonight.
I didn't feed them today as they seemed full and spent quite a bit of the day selecting gourds and finding mates so they don't seem to be too worried about foraging.
I have a fresh crate with another 1000 crickets and will be flinging a bunch tomorrow.
It looks like if we get thru tomorrow, the weather will get better and should have 50+ degree days for a while with a warming trend.
Fingers crossed for better weather as it's been tough so far!
Cheers,
Joe
2015 - 40 cavities - 37 pair - fledged 172
2016 - 40 cavities - 38 pair - fledged 192
Hosting Purple Martins since 1976...Managing since 2006.
Joe
2015 - 40 cavities - 37 pair - fledged 172
2016 - 40 cavities - 38 pair - fledged 192
Hosting Purple Martins since 1976...Managing since 2006.
-
eyeamtheman
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 3:21 pm
- Location: Quitman, La
- Martin Colony History: Super colony
10 or 11 here.
Johnny
-
Don Ricketson
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2004 7:46 pm
- Location: Texas/Llano
I guess there wasn't as many birds died from the cold weather as I thought. It was in the 30's and 40's for six days in Llano. We are about 70 miles northwest of Austin. Good for you Vern1 for being able to feed them. That has to take lots of patience and work. Sorry for your loss, eyeamtheman. I know the sad feeling.
Have two Trio Gramma (T8) Modified aluminum houses and a 4 Nature Gourd Rack about 40 ft. from my back door. Use S&S sparrow trap.
Landlord since 1999.
Landlord since 1999.
-
birdy girl
- Posts: 1179
- Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:09 am
- Location: Mississippi/Dumas
We lost 2 :(