Perplexed in SW Ontario

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KBoothby
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:05 am
Location: Ontario/Langton
Martin Colony History: 2021: 46 pairs
2020: 39 pairs (24 gourds added for total of 54 cavities)
2019: 22 pairs
2018: 19 pairs
2017: 25 pairs (condo predators - steps taken)
2016: 22 pairs
2015: 17 pairs
2014: 9 pairs
2013: 7 pairs (12 gourds added for total of 30 cavities)
2012: 1 pair
2011: 1 pair (first year: 14 rm condo/4 gourds)

I hope someone can enlighten me on PM behaviour at chez Boothby. It's been quite cool all day (barely reached 10C) and two cold nights also. Today quite a few of our martins have been sitting in the corn field, others are gathered together and sitting atop our bluebird houses. Is this normal behaviour? I've been feeding them morning and afternoon over the weekend because of the weather. I''m a bit concerned about them sitting in the open. We're expected to have another cool night here. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks. K.
Happy Trails. Kathryn (PMCA Member & Nature Lover)
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mike2656
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2016 10:07 am
Location: West Grove, PA
Martin Colony History: 2013 1 Breeding pair, eggs pinned by HS. And the war began!
2014 Nothing
2015 1 Breeding pair. 4 hatchlings
2016 Cold wiped out Martins
2017 Nothing

Are they taking the food? Are they avoiding your housing?

Martins will huddle together when distressed.
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KBoothby
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:05 am
Location: Ontario/Langton
Martin Colony History: 2021: 46 pairs
2020: 39 pairs (24 gourds added for total of 54 cavities)
2019: 22 pairs
2018: 19 pairs
2017: 25 pairs (condo predators - steps taken)
2016: 22 pairs
2015: 17 pairs
2014: 9 pairs
2013: 7 pairs (12 gourds added for total of 30 cavities)
2012: 1 pair
2011: 1 pair (first year: 14 rm condo/4 gourds)

Yes, they are taking the food (crickets and scrambled eggs). I just went out a few minutes ago and they have now all returned to the housing but they were exhibiting this behaviour for quite some time.
Happy Trails. Kathryn (PMCA Member & Nature Lover)
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Could be they were soaking up sun/warmth. I would think if they returned to the houses all is well. Have you lowered the houses & checked them?

I've seen mine sit on power lines to do this. Late day as the sun is going down they keep moving into the sun to get the last rays they can.

Temps here went from 48 to 40 back up to 46 today. Windy, rain showers, with a few rare peaks of sun all day. Supposed to have possible frost tonight. I flipped crickets this morning & will flip in about an hour, so they are fed up before they tuck in for the night. They sure have taken a pounding this season so far.

Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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Archer
Posts: 786
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
Location: Manitoba/Altona
Martin Colony History: six pair in 2014, have grown to 52 pairs in 2017.

Yes, as above, sometimes the ground is warmer than the air, they will also do this on the warm side of a house roof.
2011- first year trying, a few visitors.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
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KBoothby
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:05 am
Location: Ontario/Langton
Martin Colony History: 2021: 46 pairs
2020: 39 pairs (24 gourds added for total of 54 cavities)
2019: 22 pairs
2018: 19 pairs
2017: 25 pairs (condo predators - steps taken)
2016: 22 pairs
2015: 17 pairs
2014: 9 pairs
2013: 7 pairs (12 gourds added for total of 30 cavities)
2012: 1 pair
2011: 1 pair (first year: 14 rm condo/4 gourds)

Aha! Thanks. They were on the lee side of our ravine - a sheltered spot from the NW wind that was sunny. I'll check to nests when the sun warms tomorrow to ensure all is right with my clan. Thanks all!
Happy Trails. Kathryn (PMCA Member & Nature Lover)
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Insectivore Villa
Posts: 131
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 4:55 pm
Location: Blenheim, Ontario

Happens here too..have had 25 PM's all sitting in a line on our bridge handrail, in the sun and out of the wind. Yesterday we had barn swallows sitting on cat tail reeds right at the water, getting sunlight, heat from the pond, and no wind where they were at. Wish I could train them like the martins to eat from feeder or flipped crickets. It has been a weird spring to say the least.
Henry W.
2015, 28 pair, 102 fledged
2016, 39 pair, 154 fledged
2017, 44 pair, 164 fledged
2018, 68 pair, 218 fledged
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KBoothby
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:05 am
Location: Ontario/Langton
Martin Colony History: 2021: 46 pairs
2020: 39 pairs (24 gourds added for total of 54 cavities)
2019: 22 pairs
2018: 19 pairs
2017: 25 pairs (condo predators - steps taken)
2016: 22 pairs
2015: 17 pairs
2014: 9 pairs
2013: 7 pairs (12 gourds added for total of 30 cavities)
2012: 1 pair
2011: 1 pair (first year: 14 rm condo/4 gourds)

That's reassuring. Thanks. Yes, a weird spring for sure. We had snow today!
Happy Trails. Kathryn (PMCA Member & Nature Lover)
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