Nest building began this weekend in Plano

[Whippy]

Everyday I watch birds come and go doing their thing. Up until yesterday it was all about home selecting and mate selecting. I finally saw one female bringing leaves into her new home in the T-14 yesterday and this morning. In addition to this female bringing in leaves, I saw another female bringing leaves into one of the gourds on the gourd rack this morning. I expect other pairs to begin following accordingly as the season progresses.

I mention this as I believe others may be curious and/or putting together a timeline of sorts with regards to late activity in certain areas and how this may compare to activities in the US as a whole.

Coolwhips

[C.C.Martins]

Thanks whippy, should help to answer questions. Its not all doom and gloom, birds will be fine i trust. Like the initial migration, we always wonder there they are but they show. Sounds like life is good! Glad to hear it!!

[Spiderman]

I’m due east of you about 130 miles, same things are happening here.

[Whippy]

Just as suspected. More birds joined in on the materials gathering this morning. They select a spot to pick things up and they all start going to the same place.

I have one industrious pair building in 3 cavities of my T-14. They have taken over one whole side of the condo and will fight off any other Martin that dares land on any of the porches. On the exact opposite side I have 3 pairs, one pair each in a cavity. Then I have 2 pairs in each side of the 4 cavity towers. Good thing I added this as an overflow opportunity for the gourds since the gourds are about 80% occupied. I have two or three pairs in my Trio Wade with one pair building. Once things settle down and they each stay put I'll get an accurate count. But for now half of the colony is building nests.

Coolwhips

[C.C.Martins]

hey whippy, try putting down tamale wrappers. Cut them into 1 inch wide 2 inch long. Martins love them. Fun to watch, got a chance to see them snatch them up at mr barrows place.

[Whippy]

hey whippy, try putting down tamale wrappers. Cut them into 1 inch wide 2 inch long. Martins love them. Fun to watch, got a chance to see them snatch them up at mr barrows place.

I'm on it tomorrow.

That'll be cool to watch. It's the little things in life that bring us so much pleasure.

Thanks C.C.

Coolwhips

[G Saner]

Whippy,

We are experiencing similar late activity here in Kerrville. Yesterday's nest check found only 2 eggs. Last year on May 6th, one pair had already hatched their eggs and 22 other pair had laid over 100 eggs. I guess my colony is about two weeks later this year. I think the females have delayed egg laying due to the cool weather.

I found one dead female on the nest yesterday. Another good reason for doing nest checks. I also lost 8 martins to the deep freeze.

[Whippy]

I got to watch the martins come to roost tonight. As I watched half of the gourd occupants all came home but left about twice as many in the air circling. Then more came into roost but again still left many in the air. I got to thinking that I don't have enough gourds for all of these Martins. Finally, as it got later, 3 Martins broke away from the pack and came into their gourd for the night leaving 21 Martins circling above. They would leave then come back several times when finally they gained altitude and moved off to the North.

I don't suspect they'll be back here tomorrow so I'm guessing somebody up north of Plano will be getting some Martins tomorrow they haven't seen in a while.

Coolwhips

[avesrun]

hey whippy, try putting down tamale wrappers. Cut them into 1 inch wide 2 inch long. Martins love them. Fun to watch, got a chance to see them snatch them up at mr barrows place.

I'm on it tomorrow.

That'll be cool to watch. It's the little things in life that bring us so much pleasure.

Thanks C.C.

Coolwhips

Agreed Whip! I use cut up corn husks/leaves and the martins love them; they're also water-resistant which is good! Nesting activity is about the same here in central Iowa although cavity check the other day showed more green leaves in a few cavities than I was expecting. Still haven't observed any sy martins though and winds have presently shifted back from southerly to Northerly. We've had more north winds this spring than any other spring that I recall......take care
TimG

[Ed Pace]

Hi Whippy, good to hear that your birds are doing well, our birds are doing fairly good this year a little on the slow side we're still waiting for our first subs to return should be within the next week. I don't know if you have red pine trees in Texas the needles are extremely good for laying on the ground and letting the Martin's use them for nest material they are like the white pine except more Woody and longer and they just work really good for that purpose ,if you have them give it a try Ed.

[C.C.Martins]

Whippy,
I put out a bunch this morning, came home this afternoon and most gone. Figured wind took care of some but had to look...of 12 gourds checked in front 5 had tamale wrappers in the nesting material! Didnt check all houses but sure would have been fun to watch.

[Whippy]

I did a quick check yesterday evening to see if they were bringing the pieces in but they were not. I did find 5 eggs in one gourd though. I will do a thorough nest check Sunday and check all gourds and houses.

Coolwhips

[C.C.Martins]

Dang, hoping you'd enjoy the show. I put out a whole bunch this morning just blowing everywhere.