Essex ASY's and Juveniles Still Returning 8/24/2019

[John Balga]

Good evening,

This past week and this evening at around 8:30 p.m., two pair of ASY's have returned with their young to my colony here in Essex,Ontario.
This is the latest I have ever had martins stay . Usually/sometimes the adults abandon their young in the nest before they fledge but this has not been the case for these two pair of late/re-nesters.

While the Point Pelee Roost has swelled to 9000, I do hope that these martins make up their minds soon and join the others at the Roost. This lesson about late nesters just tells why martin behaviour still has its mysteries. Their sense of family dedication is admirable as they risk so much to have their young join them in the upcoming migration.

Has anyone else had a similar experience this year?

[Spiderman]

I had a set of 5 Fledglings that were able to all fly on August 5th. The male had abandoned the female, but there are plenty of bugs here and all the babies were fat & healthy.

She continued to bring the babies back to the Gourd rack for 18 days. So the last night they came in was August 23rd. I think she avoided the community roost on purpose until the young were very strong flyers.

I am very far south of you and typically most of my Martins have fledged by July 10th.

So yes it has been a very unique year here!

[Habsboy]

Have about 5 flying around my set up here in Lasalle ontario. Every day still hope thats a good sing for next year

[GFB]

We had a late pair that fledged 5 two weeks ago here in Ontario NY, on the south side of lake Ontario. The weather has been fantastic around here so we have small groups of visitors everyday stay the day and go on their way. I'm assuming they might be from Canada. I believe due to the cold spring we had this year some of the birds started later than usual and optimistic they will be fine.

[John Balga]

Hi All,

Thanks for your responses.You have also observed this kind of late behaviour so it seems that I am not alone with these late martins. Hapsboy, where is your site in La Salle?

Although it seems that these martins started egg laying late or even re-nested , it's time to lower the housing and get the housing cleaned and put away. I started and completed most of this work on September 4, 2019 and endured those dirty nests.

Wouldn't you know it, while walking around that evening , two SY's showed up very late looking for a cavity. The gourd locations were of particular interest to them but there were none available so they circled over a dozen times and then left.

It's definitely time for them to move on so I hope this discouragement will help them make up their minds. Holiday Beach Migratory Observatory, Amherstburg has reported large groups of martins moving through the marsh area. I do hope these martins get the idea, join a flock and move south. I will continue to monitor the situation tonight

[Habsboy]

Still have a few flying around . will leave gourd rack up and play chatter for a while. They stay around most of day but dont notice if they stay night. I'm close to river just around corner from Essex golf course.

[Habsboy]

Sept 10. I have about 30 flying around my gourd rack will keep playing chatter till it slows down . removed old castle and will add gourd rack for next spring. I cant wait till next spring

[Andrew Smith]

I also had martins today! About 20 birds here in Burford, Ontario. I haven't seen any of them land on my housing lately though. Regardless, it's really nice to watch them soaring through the sky. After seeing so many in the last month and a half I'm really excited about next spring. Going to be a long fall and winter!