This is certainly an interesting start to the season.
Weather is awful, snow is falling and Martins are still arriving daily. They are a little miserable this morning too. It's cold.
Certainly very large numbers will arrive when the weather warms this week. But this cold air mass is not stopping some brave soldiers from coming in. So far 8 males and only 1 female however.
Doug
Trickling in regardless of weather.
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
Your right Doug the same here in New Jersey the weather has been terrible this spring but in spite of that they are still coming up. I saw my first martins on the 4th and with in a couple days I have probably 20-25 martins and more now then I had this time last year. It's incredible
Brett
Brett
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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.
I had 2 ASY Males arrive. One on the 4th & one on the 6th. The one that arrived on the 6th did not come back yesterday. It's been cold & very windy. Looks like we may get some snow Monday. Temps are to remain below normal into the end of the week.
Toy in PA
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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D Little
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2014 5:31 pm
- Location: PA/Felton
- Martin Colony History: 3 T14 houses and 12 gourd...gourd rack.
2019 52 nesting pairs
I saw my first martins 4 April....27 degrees this am, i saw five sitting on the houses a bit ago and they look rough. I have food on the platform,some are visiting it but not all. Hope they can hold on till midweek...weather looks to moderate a bit.
Don't worry folks, I have at least 60 martins at my site and they will be coming your way. They just came in with the cold front and hopefully will be coming your way. I only have 24 cavities and am worried if they stay, I won't have enough places for them to stay!!
They are VERY tired and are resting. I will take good care of them until they come your way!! Good Luck!!!
They are VERY tired and are resting. I will take good care of them until they come your way!! Good Luck!!!
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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.
Hey Cransy:cransy wrote:Toy, I had my first martin arrived at 700pm on April 7th. I'm in Watkins Glen NY. Someone had to be feeding him for him to survive this weather. I thank you PA residences for the help.
I saw no sign of him yesterday or today, so I had wondered if I had one of yours stopping over. He acted a bit nervous about coming closer to catch crickets & didn't respond to my whistle tune like the other one did. He had arrived here around 6:30PM. He came in with my male & after they had something to eat they shacked up in the same cavity to keep warm. I didn't see them the next morning. I called him "Buddy". Only the first few to arrive get names. After that I lose track who's who, LOL.
If you look at the scout map I'm the last site north between my site & your site. I think I had a bunch of yours arrive at 7PM on May 1, 2016 in bad shape. They looked like they had been thru a very rough time. They were all thin & had wings drooping. I could tell they were not of my colony. It had rained that day & was 48 at Noon, never got above 50. I flipped crickets for them. 11 of them came in with my colony for the night. Sadly 2 of the females didn't make it. They spent the night & pushed on north the next morning. I presume they were yours.
My poor lonely male (Sampson) is still here freezing his tail feathers off in this ridiculous cold & very windy weather. Things look like they may improve next Wednesday. So we both should have more arriving soon. If they stop here they will get fed.
Question......Do you remember having an ASY Male that looked like he was wearing a vest or a tuxedo? I had one stop here during fall migration, several years ago, that had some white markings on his chest.
Best wishes for a great season.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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handyman315
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 11:03 am
- Location: SW Ohio
- Martin Colony History: Colony established May 20, 2017 after three unsuccessful years. Persistent and aggressive Tree Swallows plagued the site, but beyond learning - and practicing - to control them, was the return in 2017 of a 2016-SY-M previously unable to find a mate. As a handsome ASY-M, he brought along two females and a swagger that soon put the Tree Swallow issue to rest. As the anchor pair, he and his mate hatched all six of their eggs into fat and healthy babies into what settled in to be a three-pair, flourishing new colony with up to 11 birds total, including 3 SY-M trouble makers.
Interesting accounts. Thanks.
My first Martin, an ASY-M showed up here in SW Ohio on 4/6/18, fully a month and a half earlier than my arrivals last year (my first nesting year). Despite being jet-black, he shows a little wing droop. Pretty sure he is one of mine by the way he acts around me, e.g., no fear, will sit on my gourd rack in the fully-down position while I walk very close to him and do the old-guy mouth click, etc. Will not take any flipped scrambled eggs, but looks at me as if to say, "Can you fix the heat!?"
Miserable cold, and a smattering of snow overnight. He spent the night in one of my second-floor, SW-facing, 6 X 12 apartment cavities, despite a hand warmer and a dab of scrambled eggs in a gourd . . . from which an HOSP emerged this morning.
Sometimes you can't win. Will put a warmer and crickets and a few meal worms in the OTHER cavity today/tonight (where the PM spent last night).
Still looks to be a major warming trend for here on Wednesday.
Second-Year Newbie Landlord
My first Martin, an ASY-M showed up here in SW Ohio on 4/6/18, fully a month and a half earlier than my arrivals last year (my first nesting year). Despite being jet-black, he shows a little wing droop. Pretty sure he is one of mine by the way he acts around me, e.g., no fear, will sit on my gourd rack in the fully-down position while I walk very close to him and do the old-guy mouth click, etc. Will not take any flipped scrambled eggs, but looks at me as if to say, "Can you fix the heat!?"
Miserable cold, and a smattering of snow overnight. He spent the night in one of my second-floor, SW-facing, 6 X 12 apartment cavities, despite a hand warmer and a dab of scrambled eggs in a gourd . . . from which an HOSP emerged this morning.
Sometimes you can't win. Will put a warmer and crickets and a few meal worms in the OTHER cavity today/tonight (where the PM spent last night).Still looks to be a major warming trend for here on Wednesday.
Second-Year Newbie Landlord
2023-42 Nests, 197 Eggs/Babies
2022-48 Nests Fledged 203
2021-43 Nests Fledged 185
2020-31 Nests Fledged 133, three early deaths due to cold & rain
2019-19 Nests Fledged 84
2018-11 Nests Fledged 48, ASY-M Arrived April 6, Despite Snow & Cold, Joined Soon by Mate & Two Adult Pairs
2017-3 Nests Fledged 13, FIRST-YEAR LANDLORD! Resident SY-M from 2016 Returned (as ASY-M) on May 20. At Least 11 Adult Residents
2016 Late-Arriving SYs, Resident Lone SY-M
2015-14 Many Visits
2022-48 Nests Fledged 203
2021-43 Nests Fledged 185
2020-31 Nests Fledged 133, three early deaths due to cold & rain
2019-19 Nests Fledged 84
2018-11 Nests Fledged 48, ASY-M Arrived April 6, Despite Snow & Cold, Joined Soon by Mate & Two Adult Pairs
2017-3 Nests Fledged 13, FIRST-YEAR LANDLORD! Resident SY-M from 2016 Returned (as ASY-M) on May 20. At Least 11 Adult Residents
2016 Late-Arriving SYs, Resident Lone SY-M
2015-14 Many Visits
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
I just had another arrival to the T-14. Poor fella barely made it. He looks really bad.
His wings are hanging like they are ready to fall off and his body seems to be almost gone. Just a chest sticking out. I am guessing with this last cold spell digging so deep into the south some birds will not make it back to the north this year.
One more day of this extreme spring cold here. May hit 75 in Pa on Friday with each day improving till then Hallelujah! Finally they will be like normal Martins.
Think I got eight or nine now. All males and still just one female.
Doug
His wings are hanging like they are ready to fall off and his body seems to be almost gone. Just a chest sticking out. I am guessing with this last cold spell digging so deep into the south some birds will not make it back to the north this year.
One more day of this extreme spring cold here. May hit 75 in Pa on Friday with each day improving till then Hallelujah! Finally they will be like normal Martins.
Think I got eight or nine now. All males and still just one female.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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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.
Good observation Doug. I hope he has enough energy to feed. This cold deep into the south has not provided any food for them & their muscles are spent trying to get home.Doug Martin - PA wrote:I just had another arrival to the T-14. Poor fella barely made it. He looks really bad.
His wings are hanging like they are ready to fall off and his body seems to be almost gone. Just a chest sticking out. I am guessing with this last cold spell digging so deep into the south some birds will not make it back to the north this year.
One more day of this extreme spring cold here. May hit 75 in Pa on Friday with each day improving till then Hallelujah! Finally they will be like normal Martins.
Think I got eight or nine now. All males and still just one female.
Doug
They sure have had a rough time of it this spring. I expect many to be like this arriving in the northern states this week. I saw it back in 2016. Several arrived with keel bones sticking out, wings drooped, looking battered. One male didn't even have the energy to fed when he first arrived. He could barely fly. Some of my colony sat very close to him on the wires keeping him warm, until he got up enough energy to fly to the house. After a nights rest he was able to catch crickets. He fully recovered due to supplemental feeding.
Supplemental feeding is a must to keep them going during these bad times. Even tho it will warm up in the next few days those that arrive looking thin, wings drooping, etc., will need help to fully recover.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
I only have one Martin so far. He arrived April 7th. Those birds that you were talking about Toy, they probably didn't make it cuz they never arrived here. You are right about the Scout Map that we are directly in line with each other. As far as the bird that had the white marking on his chest, yes I had one here quite a few years ago. I'm afraid that our numbers are going to be way down this year due to the weather. Weather in New York this morning was around 18 degrees, high today should be around 40. Doug, keep up the good work and thanks for the update.
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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.
Doug:cransy wrote:I only have one Martin so far. He arrived April 7th. Those birds that you were talking about Toy, they probably didn't make it cuz they never arrived here. You are right about the Scout Map that we are directly in line with each other. As far as the bird that had the white marking on his chest, yes I had one here quite a few years ago. I'm afraid that our numbers are going to be way down this year due to the weather. Weather in New York this morning was around 18 degrees, high today should be around 40. Doug, keep up the good work and thanks for the update.
Thanks for the updates.
Cransy:
Sorry to hear that. I had hoped they were yours & arrived OK.
It's possible we may lose some adults this year due to the weather, but I'm hoping most are hanging south waiting for this weather to break & will return. All we can do is wait & hope they make it. I'll try to feed any that stop here & hope they make it to your site in good health.
We're at 41 right now. Not any warmer than your area. My lone male is out flying some place. I hope he brings back a friend to help keep him company. He ate well this morning & I know he'll be hungry when he returns tonight.
How many do you usually have each year? I had 17 pair last year. I have room for 20 pair.
I lost 80% of the eggs laid last year due to a cold spell. Only 18 hatched out of 83 laid & 9 of them didn't make it. So my fledgling numbers were way down. I'm hoping this will be better this year.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
Last year I had about 38 pairs, it usually varies between 35 and 50 pairs from years past. My only Martin was here this morning and eat crickets but I haven't seen him the rest of the day hopefully he'll return tonight.
cransy wrote:Last year I had about 38 pairs, it usually varies between 35 and 50 pairs from years past. My only Martin was here this morning and ate crickets but I haven't seen him the rest of the day hopefully he'll return tonight.