A high temperature of 42° for three days

[Ed Svetich-WI]

Martins continue to amaze me with their resilience. With lows in the 20s and 19° overnight last night, my martins have survived and are just now leaving for the day. They are out feeding all day over the past three days only to return just before dark. We are rural and I have observed early martins and tree swallows feeding around feed lots during our cold springs. The lake often has insect hatches even as the temperature is hovering near 40°. Tree swallows and martins can be seen feeding on these insect swarms. I assume that is where they found insects.

I have lost a few returning martins over the years but those deaths have occured when cold temperatures are accompanied by snow or rain for several days. If you are able to feed your martins, I encouage it but martins have dealt with cold temperatures for many years and have dealt with it successfully. Are northern martins hardier than those in the southern part of their range? That may be but I still hope for later arriving martins every year. As you know, a week or more can make a huge difference. My first arrival was 10 days later this year. Arrival dates have rarely affected the date of egg laying by more than a day or two. Early arrivals make me nervous.Waiting for that first late returning martin can be nerve wracking but it has advantages.

Raise as many fledglings as possible. Check nests frequently.

Ed

[Archer]

Small town often have a sewage logoon near them that is teaming with life. They support wildlife in bad weather events. Ducks, geese, shorebirds and songbirds gather there to tough it out. Since we have no small lakes nearby, the lagoon is an resource most people do not think of in that light.