Scout Reports after June 1

Russel Loire · Thu May 28, 2015 5:17 pm

I would like to start this thread to help keep track of migration for some of us more northern folk after June 1. I see many folks reporting asy and subbie arrival in the mid-west. For wannabes like myself, here in Western Canada the asy have been back about a month now and our subbies have only just started arriving. Please post here with any news!

Cheers
Russ Loire

madattiver · Thu May 28, 2015 10:55 pm

As soon as I can confirm one up here I will let you know Russel. SY birds are just starting to arrive here in Saskatoon.

phldave · Fri May 29, 2015 2:45 pm

I 2nd that Russ. Please keep those SY movement reports coming so we wannabes know what's going on. You've got to know that this time of year we are crazy with anticipation. For those of us experiencing this sickness, I feel your pain. Been doing it since 2012, and I don't know how much longer I can take it. Pretty hard on a 60 year old poop like myself.

Russel Loire · Fri May 29, 2015 2:56 pm

I've had my house set up since August of 2012. I know the anticipation you speak of.
2013 was my first possible year for Martins and I only witnessed a few visitors for mere minutes.
Didn't see a thing last year. Martins up high feeding is all.
This year i had one buzz the house about a week ago at around 5:30am. Sadly it never landed.
I find my neck getting sore whenever i'm in the yard, constantly looking towards the sky. I live in an urban neighborhood, and don't really have the ideal yard to attract them, but i can always hope!

Peter Alberda · Fri May 29, 2015 3:20 pm

I saw three ASY martins on May 1. Yesterday I saw a SY male sitting on a pole by the houses but he buzzed me then left. I saw him two more times yesterday and twice today. It appears my adults from last year didn't make the migration, so I'm starting all over again. It's a killer!!

Russel Loire · Fri May 29, 2015 5:40 pm

Adam, I hope your pair brings home some neighbors!!

Dave, I wish you the best! I hope all those subbies we see reported make a stop at your place.

Peter I feel for you. I'd be anxious every time I heard them call as they did a pass! I wish you all the Luck Keep us posted!

Are any of you playing the Dawnsong or Daytime Chatter?

Jose Rodriguez · Fri May 29, 2015 9:16 pm

My heart goes out to the folks that are still waiting. Especially to the folks that had a pair the previous year and have no shows the following season. I would have been devastated if mine did not return. I consider myself very lucky that they did. I want to wish everyone the very best of luck. Never give up! It is so worth all the work envolved in trying to attract these fasinating birds!

phldave · Fri May 29, 2015 9:50 pm

Russ,

I have my pc set to turn dawnsong on @ 4am and off at 8am. My new strategy this year I continue to play it low volume all day til dark then start over a 4am. My speaker is mounted on the roof of the martin house and I pointed it straight up this spring so not to disturb the neighbors so much. I see the occupants of other colonies feeding, soaring and such but nothing is stopping by at my place. Just drives me crazy. I am using ALL the attractants there are in the book. My wife is pretty sure I have gone off the deep end by now. I am beginning to think she is right. Well two or three more weeks this year will tell the tale.

Dave

Russel Loire · Sat May 30, 2015 9:30 am

Dave,
I am ever conscious of my songbird magnets volume. It's at about 25% volume only. Mine is mounted about 8ft up on pole aimed upwards as well. If my set up afforded me the luxury of mounting it on the roof I certainly would. I would think things look good for you if at least you see them in the air. I've only seen one other swallow in the area near my place, but it was some distance away. We have 5 species I'm aware of here. Martins, Barn, Tree, Bank and Cliff. I think the one I observed was a Tree Swallow. I'm holding out hope that I get a few visits anyway. My only solace for birds this year is the little bird with the big voice (house wren) will find himself a mate!

Peter Alberda · Sat May 30, 2015 10:56 am

I play the dawn-song for the first three or four hours, then switch over to the chatter CD. I've done about everything they suggest so all I can do now is wait. It's raining this morning and I haven't see anything. I have barn and tree swallows that use the flyway I made over my house so there's that. I also have bluebird and tree swallow nests with chicks I can watch by the housing. I built an area near the houses that used to have trees into a little nature area. I've planted about fifteen different berry producing bushes so that is nice to observe as I wait.

Russel Loire · Sat May 30, 2015 11:53 am

Having that natural area bodes well for multi species attraction. Giving the Barnes and Tree Swallows a place to live is a great thing. I love to watch them fly. Martins are amazing to watch fly as well. My observation time for Martins is far less then the other swallow species so I'm very intrigued by then and their social interaction. I wish you luck in all your efforts

Archer · Sun May 31, 2015 7:55 am

Sub Adult male has made himself known at my place yesterday. I welcome him but the local pairs are a bit annoyed, as he keeps poking his head into their nest compartments. Several sub adult females have paired up with ASY males as well.

Last year sub adults continued to arrived till the later days of June.

Here's hoping everybody who wants some, gets some.

Russel Loire · Sun Jun 07, 2015 12:38 pm

I'm pleased to say I've had a sym visit 2 days in a row now. Yesterday he only flew by. Today, he landed and inspected a few entrances. Then, sadly a male HOSP shooed him off. Thankfully he returned about 15 minutes later. He didn't inspect but sat on the roof perch for a few minutes. I won't be home for a remainder of the day. Hope he comes back. I've since .177'd the hosp

phldave · Sun Jun 07, 2015 3:02 pm

Everybody,

We are still getting new SY reports here in Iowa, so I muddied up my site again after having a heavy rain last night and added green leaves and stuck pine needles in the fresh mud on some of the porches.

Guess I'll keep trying hard. Things continue to seem slow this year.

Dave

Peter Alberda · Sun Jun 07, 2015 3:06 pm

It appears that my asy pair from last year has perished so I'm starting over. Again. Yesterday I saw a pair fly by with wings locked but they didn't stop. Today I had a sy male sitting on the wire, houses and gourds. I believe I've seen him before but he is getting braver than earlier. He may be a bird from last year's batch. It's late so he better get a move on.....

This is a tough passion to have.

Russel Loire · Sun Jun 07, 2015 3:48 pm

I'm wishing everybody good luck. I'm hopeful but realistic. My site is heavily treed. I wish those who have had birds and no returning this year that a pair or 4 come your way!

Russel Loire · Mon Jun 08, 2015 4:00 pm

Day 3 and he's been back off and on all morning and twice this afternoon. Best News is he brought what i can only assume was a lady friend on his last visit!!

He landed on one of the porches and began calling frantically. I ran outside to watch what all the fuss was about. "she" eventually landed on the perching rods on the roof and he quickly jumped into the hole in front of him. it sounded like he was cooing to call her inside. She only just peeked in several times. She left and circled and returned to the house several times. They then both sat on the roof for about 5 minutes and off they went!!

Here is a quick video of "him" Confirmation anyone?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IhYTA6 ... sp=sharing