Are most landlords #s low

[jhcox]

Are a lot of landlords reporting lower numbers of matins so far this year? My binders are still a bit low from this time last year maybe there just a little slower getting here this year not sure just wondering if it’s the same for most landlords or not. Have a good season all and god bless.

[flyin-lowe]

My arrivals were the earliest I've ever had so for this time of year I am at higher numbers then I ever have been. I have about 10 ASYs here right now. Normally I don't have any back yet or they are just returning. Weather is going to be tough for them the next week or so in my neck of the woods.

[Dave Duit]

It appears as if my numbers are lacking. But, they will probably increase as time goes by.

[Jim Rockford]

I've seen virtually none in my little corner of North Texas for about 6 years after attracting martins every year for about 5-6 years before the "dry spell". I suspect some kind of local problem or issue -- maybe predators -- because I've seen reports of normal numbers of martins not too far from me.

[C.C.Martins]

Just my 2 cents,
Have good numbers here in corpus an increase of 10 pairs. Visitors come in almost every night, large groups of sub adults now. The martins arrived 10 days early this year.
Neighboring martin houses look good, more than last year...BUT our satelite site continues to lack martins and its only about 1.5 miles away.
Its a waiting game.

[Whippy]

I've seen virtually none in my little corner of North Texas for about 6 years after attracting martins every year for about 5-6 years before the "dry spell". I suspect some kind of local problem or issue -- maybe predators -- because I've seen reports of normal numbers of martins not too far from me.

Jim,

That is strange. This is my fifth year here in Plano. Today I am watching about 20 or so flying around trying to get settled in my gourds and my Trio. This is the most I've seen in the 4 previous years total. I've been up to the dam at lake Ray Roberts a few days ago and saw about 40 or so feeding.

I wonder why they chose to ignore your little section of Texas.

Coolwhips

[Jim Rockford]

I wonder why they chose to ignore your little section of Texas.

Coolwhips

Thanks for the reply, Coolwhips. I wish I knew why they seem to be ignoring this area. I made a separate post on my experience in an effort to solicit replies from others nearby but there haven't been any. I'd chalk it up to my own poor land-lording but I had martins for several years prior to the current "drought" using the same setup as I have now. Moreover, my wife and I walk in a local park with a couple of ponds and we used to see many martins feeding on insects in the area. I haven't seen more than a couple -- one or two -- martins in that park for years.

I chatted up a guy who runs a local store a couple years ago (I bought my Trio setup from him). He used to have a lot of martins himself but they suddenly quit showing up so he just took his house down. He blames peregrine falcons which took up residence in his area. I don't have peregrines around me, but I do have Mississippi kites that have been hanging around for a few years -- perhaps coincidentally starting about the same time the martins stopped coming around.

Good luck to you this season!

[jhcox]

Thanks everyone for your replies. It kinda looks like a mixed bag of answer some have more some less. Maybe with this warmer weather and a few sunny days ahead they will start moving into my neck of the woods more. I did see a couple Subadults reported on the migration map today in Tennessee so that’s a positive note. Have a great season everyone.

[PMDavid]

JH , this is my second year having birds. I live in central Louisiana. Last year I had 6 pr and this year I have at least 12-14 pr maybe more. Some days they all gang up at once to come in and some days it’s staggered. Two days ago was a gang up day and between pairs and sy singles I’d guess I could say the count was in the mid thirties. So no shortage here. Good luck on more arrivals.

[Brad Biddle]

I can't say for sure that my numbers are low, but I think they are lower than normal for this time of year. I have had very few if any arrivals in the past week too. I put up a new gourd rack a week ago, in between two racks that have been at or near capacity for 15 years. I have yet to see a Martin spend the night in one of those gourds. It should be covered up.

[M.Stephens]

Got plenty here. This was a week ago.

https://youtu.be/t6FjeIIIUzI

[jhcox]

Thanks guys for the up dates. I hope that a few more adults move in before the subadults get here just so they can get a gourd picked out. In 2018 I had one nesting pair and a single adult male that never paired up. Last year I went to 10 pairs. I was really hoping for a good increase like last year. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and keep hoping that it get more here soon. Good luck everyone

[tor]

They came about a week earlier this year here in north-eastern SC. Numbers are the same, about 70 pair.