Tree Swallows AND a Purple Martin!

[Birdiegirl]

Some brisk winds this morning brought a lot of bird activity on the farm. We had our first pair of tree swallows arrive this morning and they are busy checking out boxes. And....... had our first martin of the season stop by- an ASY male. Not sure if he is 'ours', perhaps just passing through.

So a question since I'm still a somewhat new landlord- what qualifies a purple dot on the scout arrival map? Does he need to stick around or is the sighting itself enough? He did check out a couple gourds, and I think entered one of the barn apartments. We only had a couple open when he arrived but have since lowered and opened up several more.

[mwren]

As of this morning, (March 25) there have been 26 arrival reports in Ohio so far. There have not been any reports around Athens where I am located. There have been some reports within 35 miles, so I am watching closely. I have not seen any tree swallows down in the field below my colony. They usually arrive
a few days ahead of the martins, or up to two weeks ahead , so I am getting anxious! I had a difficult year with Sharp Shinns and Coopers hawks last year. I am beginning to worry that maybe the daily attacks we had to witness may have had the ultimate negative affect as the martins were working hard to fledge their young. I hope my worries are not going to come to be! My inventory of Mighty Mealies are safely in the beer refrige in the garage, so I am ready to welcome birds home with "Flipping" supplemental feeding if need be! In the meantime, the bluebirds are enjoying the meal worms. It is amazing how great their eyesight is and how they can either catch the flipped worms out of the air, or how they can follow the worm to the ground and pick the worm off the ground. The bluebirds are pairing off, and the young females have learned already to beg for worms from their more experienced mates. It gives me something to do while I wait for the return of the Martins!

"Bird"

Good luck to Martin Landlords everywhere!

[flyin-lowe]

Here are my thoughts on the scout report. The purpose (as I understand it) is to track the migration of the martins. The fact you saw a martin means it should be reported. I don't think it should matter if it is one from your colony, or just one passing through. Either way, it is martin that is migrating through your area. I know some people have said on here in the past they only report martins they "know" belong to their colony. While that makes in handy to go back and look at your arrivals from year to year, I don't think that is the purpose of the research.

[Jones4381]

Congrats on the arrival Birdie! When it circles, observes your housing, or takes peeks inside, or stays is all the same to me. Its very exciting to 'hear' or 'see' the first of the year around your housing. Report and color the map imo. Good luck this year and looking forward to hearing your stories around the farm.

For me, BB's are nest selecting from their 6 options and seemed to be poised to go first just ahead of the TS that are 4 (hopefully 2 pair) that seem to busy flying, eating, and buzzing the towers... Vinicius has stayed 5 of the 7 nights and brought by 2 other ASY males but they have not stayed over to my knowledge. He mostly stays gone all day and shows up at 7 and into the gourd at 7:31pm.
Interstingly enough a large colony was not put back up about 6 miles away that housed about 30 pair for many years...maybe he is from there but it's sad to see that housing not put back up... Don't know why but expect age was probably the reason...I stopped in 2 years ago to introduce myself and ask questions but no one came to door so I left matters be. Should be another interesting year....I'm curious to where they go all day while they await the large numbers to show up around here. Good luck again.

[scottfreidhof]

I think that counts as a purple dot for you. I remember reading somewhere that they might not stay the first night(s) in favor of a tree roost somewhere else. I hope he returns again today.

[C.C.Martins]

Yep, Laura; purple dot! Hope he comes back just watch close at evening time.

[Birdiegirl]

Appreciate the replies- my dot is recorded! I’m not sure if he spent the night, but he was here bright and early this morning- with another ASY male too. They have been sticking around most of this morning- so I am going to claim them as ours.

[Sharon - Central TX]

Mike,
We had a lot of hawk attacks last year as well and when the martins didn’t show up on my timeline this year I was concerned they might have abandoned the colony. However they did show up and added to their numbers daily. Now we have a full house but unfortunately the attacks have already started. Most I’ve not seen other than feathers which could have also been from a large owl that hangs around. I did observe from indoors a couple of days ago a large hawk that came from out of nowhere (as is their normal behavior) grab a Martin that was halfway in the entrance of a Troyer tunnel. It happened so fast I barely got out of my chair and he was gone. Nor was I able to identify what kind. Such a terrible thing to watch.
I’ll bet your birds will be home soon in spite of last year’s attacks just like mine came back.
Good luck.
Sharon in TX

[mwren]

Sharon,
Thanks for the encouragement! I had 4 arrivals yesterday evening , and there were 3 more birds flying with the original 4 this morning! I think that the earliest birds that arrived are from my colony because the majority of them caught the first Mighty Meal worms that I flipped in their direction! Looking closely for leg bands to help with identification. My orinthologist /banding friends from Ohio University band my baby birds each spring before they fledge. I trade for the banding by allowing the university people to use my colony site for some research projects on cavity nesting birds that their students are doing. Interesting and fun to help with the banding!
I will be doing my best to keep a close watch on the colony to discourage the Sharp Shinns, the Coopers, and even the slower Red Tails, and Red Shoulder hawks.
Good luck with your colony this season!
"Bird"

[Birdiegirl]

Wow- that's great that your site is contributing to martin research and gives you the opportunity to learn more about your birds through banding! What a win-win! Best of luck to you and Sharon with the hawk issues. I do love raptors too- I dread their potential interest in my small colony. Right now there's a flock of red winged blackbirds that escort any hawks to another area.

The lone martin that has returned this year has already been challenged by nosy starlings and one English sparrow. So we'll be busy evicting those invasives while waiting for our other martins to arrive. At least the tree swallows and bluebirds seem to have chosen their nearby nest boxes, so we are enjoying them too.

Best of luck to all this season!

[CTMartins]

I had a pair of Tree Swallows this Saturday in Connecticut show up too. By evening the pole and gourds were up and song playing !!!