My colony got wiped out in 2015. Never did figure out what happened. I suspect it was either owls or hawks. I have moved the Trendsetter closer to the house, higher elevation to make easier for PMs to access Trendsetter, great view of the pond and more clearance from large trees. If they were attacked by owls or hawks, I am hoping this will increase their survival chances. Considering adding a owl cage on the Trendsetter if (when) the PMs start to return and settle in.
I have started to play the dawnsong at the base of the Trendsetter pole on a Panasonic stereo system that has a CD player with an on and off timer. Plan to have it come on at 4:20 AM and turn off at 6:00 PM until the PMs start to visit and settle in. Considering running it 24/7. Any thoughts on this strategy?
Does anyone happen to know what time of day/night migrating PMs travel north during the spring time? Do they travel during the day or at night (like geese and swans)? Thinking about running the dawnsong 24/7 to inform the PMs of my site? I thinking that if they are migrating at night it could not hurt as they might stop by for a visit. If they are roosting or nesting at another site, then no harm as they are not flying around at night anyway. Can't really see the downside of 24/7 dawnsong. Thoughts?
Migration..Day or Night? 24/7 Dawnsong
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WanderingPM
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:05 pm
- Location: Virginia, Clifton
Love all things flying - except sparrows and starlings!
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Martinfarmer
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 6:33 pm
- Location: Guthrie KY 42234
- Martin Colony History: 2015 put up a S-k house, visitors but no takers
2016 homemade Martin condo (40 nesting boxes) several visitors no takers
2017 changed crescent openings to Troyer Conley 2 openings and installed 4 super gourds with Conley2 adapters and 12 vertical Troyers.
Several nests and eggs. Hopefully will exceed one hundred eggs this year.
6-21-17 nest inspection 68 chicks and 26 eggs
6-30-17 inspection 90 chicks and a new nest with 4 eggs.
8-30-17 successfully fledged over 85 martins.
Wandering PM, if it's no trouble set your timer to run until 8:30 pm. My martins start coming in at 7:30 and turn in around eight
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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.
Sorry you lost your colony.
I would guess you may get SY's still migrating into mid June. They mostly migrate during the day. They normally show up early morning up to just before dark.
Toy in PA
I would guess you may get SY's still migrating into mid June. They mostly migrate during the day. They normally show up early morning up to just before dark.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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WanderingPM
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:05 pm
- Location: Virginia, Clifton
Great suggestion - I will extend it until PM bedtime (8:30 PM)Martinfarmer wrote:Wandering PM, if it's no trouble set your timer to run until 8:30 pm. My martins start coming in at 7:30 and turn in around eight
Love all things flying - except sparrows and starlings!
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WanderingPM
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:05 pm
- Location: Virginia, Clifton
I think you are right.ToyinPA wrote:Sorry you lost your colony.
I would guess you may get SY's still migrating into mid June. They mostly migrate during the day. They normally show up early morning up to just before dark.
Toy in PA
Some of my successes in the past were with birds that showed up after the first week of June. We have had an unseasonably wet and cool spring this year in Northern Virginia. Fingers crossed for some "very weather smart" PMs looking for a late spring migration place to live for the summer. In doing some reading on the forum today sounds like the migration was later than normal and possibly with greater numbers. Perhaps the conditions were right for a higher than usual migration survivability of PMs? As you have suggested, I will keep an eye out for morning and evening arrivals! 
Love all things flying - except sparrows and starlings!