So four tree swallows finally arrived back home up in Northern Minnesota
They are late as expected with the cold weather, the frost is still deep and my Martin setup is almost ready, once the ground thaws I’ll be pouring concrete and putting my first pole up.
Even if they don’t show up this year I’ll be ready for the next year , or the next year , or the one after
Either way, the first day the swallows return marks spring for me. I’ll log it in the book as usual!
I had tree swallows show up today, first thought they were martins until i seen their white chest, I closed the holes and hung a bird house about 30 feet away about 6 feet high. Do they live in colonies like Martins cause they were at least two pair going to and from the martin gourds,
Thanks
2018-14 Gourds First Year 0 Martins
2019- 14 Gourds Lots Lookers
2020- 6 Gourds had one male stay 3 weeks.
2021- TBD
2022 First Pair 5 Fledged
Martin Colony History: 2016 6/1 Pole put up late due to HOA . Had visitor birds but no pairs that stayed. 2017 3/1 visitor birds but no pairs that stayed. 2018 3/1 visitor birds but no pairs that stayed. 2019 3/1 visitor birds but no pairs that stayed. Brothers Martins didn’t show up at all at his pole 10 miles away. 2020 7/30 Had 3 pairs, 1st- 5 eggs/ 2nd hatched 2 fledged, 2nd - 5 eggs/ 2-5 hatched fledging. 3rd formed late July and no nest built. 2021 3/1 no pairs returned. One lone male hung out few days then left. Weather was bad. 2022 6/1 one pair all four eggs that hatched fledged. I’ve had 6-8 visitors. 2023 6/15 Eleven pairs 4-6 babies per nest. 51 babies total hatched. Will start fledging July 4th until end of July. I am in total shock.....Wow
I finally saw some tree swallows and a swift of some kind on Friday once it got up in the 50s. I am not 100% but I thought I saw 2 Martins come in and circle and then take off as well. So, I am hoping this next week of warm weather brings the sub adults in through my part of VA. My step brother got his Adult Martins in only around the 15th of April and he normally gets them much sooner by two weeks or so. I wish the best for all of us and good luck with getting some Martins!
As I was putting the finishing touches on my martin housing this morning, the first 4 tree swallows of the year finally arrived at my place in north-central South Dakota, as well. They had one of their relatives in tow...a single barn swallow. The tree swallows arrived only 5 days later than the 10-year average first arrival date at my place, whereas the barn swallow was a week earlier than first arrivals for my 10-year average. Hopefully the martins will arrive at my place soon - they have arrived at other sites in northern, SD within the past week. Most of the snow at my place has finally melted, but the area lakes still have 2.5 feet of ice on them. I might go ice fishing one more time tomorrow and then start getting the boat ready. Hopefully the ice will be melted by the first of May.
We got our Tree Swallows about two weeks ago,, They are already remodeling the nest and bring in new material for this year.. So far they have stayed away from my gourd rack.. Now the blue birds have just showed up.. Hopefully they will behave...
still no tree swallows this year I wonder if its because I got so many pms early
2015 69 pairs 418 eggs 396 fledged
2019 I have 148 openings now
2016 100 pairs 600 babies fledged added another t-14 and have 126 openings now
2015 Jun 24 360 babies and 58 eggs also found one that had died
2017 632 babies 11died and 20 were killed by hawks
2015 74 pairs and 9 eggs 5/14
2010 3pairss
]JOINED PMCA JUNE 6,2018
2018 651 babies 5 hawk kills 11 floater kills 25 died in houses and 610 fledged
We usually get Tree swallows before Martins too. I have none so far and landlords are reporting Martins all around us. Ours should be coming late next week. Just weird that we have no Swallows yet.
We had a fly by yesterday by one. Today I saw one on a power line out on our road. Patiently waiting for the Martins. The last two years were on the 5th and 6th. So hopefully by the weekend.. Reports are all around us.
Gun wrote:We had a fly by yesterday by one. Today I saw one on a power line out on our road. Patiently waiting for the Martins. The last two years were on the 5th and 6th. So hopefully by the weekend.. Reports are all around us.
Glad to hear that you had a Fly by of a Tree Swallow.. Your right ,, the Martins will be right them.. Good Luck this first week of May..
Gun wrote:We usually get Tree swallows before Martins too. I have none so far and landlords are reporting Martins all around us. Ours should be coming late next week. Just weird that we have no Swallows yet.
I think my TS finally left, maybe I will have some PM looking this week.
2018-14 Gourds First Year 0 Martins
2019- 14 Gourds Lots Lookers
2020- 6 Gourds had one male stay 3 weeks.
2021- TBD
2022 First Pair 5 Fledged
Lots of Swallows yesterday and today. Our Martins showed up today!! There is a pair of Swallows already staking claim to the house by the Garden between the Martin Houses. Looks like the Wrens will lose out. Looking forward to a fun summer of bird watching!
