Solitary confinement should end in next 72 hours..

[Doug Martin - PA]

Good old Buddy just went through another extended severe cold/snow wave. Since Friday temperatures and winds have been absolutely brutal. Finally today we should crack 40 degrees.

He has continued to only come out briefly to eat a few crickets and then back in the gourd for the past few days. This morning he was singing in the cold sunshine at less than 20 degrees. Back out and about.

Migration will really open up the next several days. Winds will come in strong from the south and temperatures will sail into the 70's. This should bring a handful of his colony mates north finally.

He has made it 3 weeks now ahead of the rest of the crew. Endured a lot of snow and bitter cold. He will be happy as can be to have some new Martin company, and warmer temperatures.

Doug

[Birdiegirl]

I really enjoy reading about all the landlords that use supplemental feeding for their martins. It is amazing to me how some birds catch on, while others don't. Kudos to all of you for your dedication whether your birds have learned or not- your efforts are impressive! If I ever can get a colony established, I'm going to try to teach 'our' birds the drill- though I'm not sure how interested they'll be in mild conditions. While not quite a bad as PA, we've had temps below 42 the past three days in central KY. I can certainly see this being an issue in future years.

We have tried for two years now to get wintering bluebirds interested in mealworms- no luck. Hoping to try again this summer so they will remember the feeding location in winter. I don't like finding dead bluebirds hunkered down in nest boxes- it's heartbreaking. :(

[C.C.Martins]

Doug,
My hats off to you and your martin. Thanks to you his efforts to get home safely were rewarded. Supplemental feeding will get them through cold and end of summer drout, like to read the sucess stories like your guy. Good lesson for us.
Glad he's served his time and gets some shaved off for good behavior.
Tom

[cransy]

Keep up the good work Doug. Thanks for saving our birds up north.

[deancamp]

Hey Doug, quite a bird Buddy is! His prison guard is pretty loyal and committed to his safety as well! They are always happier when there's more than one. Thanks for telling your incredible story.

[Doug Martin - PA]

Thanks for your replies and best wishes.

Here's another interesting thing about Buddy. In years past he has spent time time begging for food at the site just below me as well. So far they have not seen him there this year.

Yesterday was a cold sunny morning about 25 degrees at a bit after 10:00 am. He had been acting kind of bored investigating a few other cavities at my site and practicing his flight in and out and chirping.
Before I left the house I called and whistled for him but he was not around. Hmmmm where would he go when it's this cold?

Well when I drove down the road past the neighboring site I thought I saw him on the top perch of their lowered T-14. I thought to text them but did not. About a half hour later I got a text from them that they had just fed a Martin 6 crickets. It had flown up to their sun room. I answered back that it was likely Buddy as he was acting quite bored at his own place. lol

So you see this bird "Buddy" is also resourceful enough to go to the neighbors and grab a few crickets as well. That is both interesting and a bit comical to me.

Hoping later today or tomorrow he gets some company. He will finally find his own live insects again. It's warming up here in PA and more are on the way!

A lot of new purple dots will hit the map in PA.

Doug

[C.C.Martins]

Resourceful and not shy about asking for handouts. Sounds like he is looking for company too. I find buddy to be fascinating, the fact that he made it up to you, terrible weather, but he had food you gave him and selected his spot and survived; honestly believe you should at least capture the story and submit for martin land lords in PMCA magazine.

Shortly they will be arriving.
Bored out of his skull in that prison system you have him in, poor old guy. probably find days marked off scratched into the gourd, graffiti everywhere....may want to check.

[Kegger]

Thats some Buddy you have Doug, You are quite a Martin man yourself. You have inspired me to try to feed a few of the
small young ones that don't always get fed in the beginning days. I am going to try giving them mealworms to catch them up.

[Doug Martin - PA]

It’s officially over!!!! Some of the other clan showed up yesterday. Should be more today. Good cup of coffee this morning watching the excitement. Spring has sprung here!

[C.C.Martins]

Good deal! Bet he does it again next year

[flyin-lowe]

I thought our little bad weather spell was going to end yesterday. It did get warm but winds were 20 plus mph sustained with gusts over 40 mph. Wind damage is being reported locally. Today it is in the mid 40's which when I first looked at the forecast I figured they would feed today but right now winds are still over 20 mph and the wind chill is in the 30's so I am guessing they will not be able to feed again today. I flipped them about 50 crickets yesterday and will likely grab some more today. I am sure they can get buy until to morrow but it won't hurt to give them a little snack this afternoon.

[Doug Martin - PA]

Well he lived to try again next year! So he probably will. lol

Good to hear from you flyin-lowe. Great job supporting folks on this forum. You're holding down the fort for many years lol

Be grateful you don't have a colony up here. It's quite a job keeping them alive here. Our weather stinks for Purple Martins.

Luckily my wife has pitched in on feedings now that the kids are grown. lol

Doug

[flyin-lowe]

Thanks Doug, I can’t recall what part of PA you are in. I am in central Indiana so depending on how far north you are we probably have similar weather overall.

[Doug Martin - PA]

Western Pa about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. It is common to get upper level lows that seem to hang over our area with no sun for days.