Typical killing upper level low in PA

[Doug Martin - PA]

Just when you think you will have a non-kill year in this area it strikes..... By Wednesday the accumulation of days of 40 degree weather and cold rain and snow will take it's toll once again.

Seems every year this happens. It appeared this year we would escape it. February was better weather for Martins.

Luckily my birds are well trained to eat from a platform because it is almost futile to try and flip crickets to a hundred birds. However some will be lost regardless. They are passing by to areas further north and some refuse to eat. I still do my best to toss crickets for those that prefer that method.

So far about 6 pounds of freeze dried mealworms and Nekton powder and 3000 crickets have been consumed this year. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so when the weather gets marginal they get fed.

Good luck to everyone in the northeast in keeping their colonies afloat throughout this upper level low lingering in the area. If you live north of me just know I am doing all I can to keep this huge gang alive. Many are migrants. I will send them north on Thursday.

PS. Buddy is doing great! He is still the leader of the pack and has his mate back for the season. He is missing his middle tail feather so he is easy to keep track of.

Doug

[Thomabear]

Sorry to hear that, Doug. We went through the same scenario in Louisiana and Texas a couple of years back with late, back-to-back fronts hitting the upper teens and low 20s. We lost many birds, but our colonies were backfilled that same year by the 2nd wave of arrivals. It's very sad and frustrating. Good luck with getting past this weather event. Wishing the best for you all.

[Dave Duit]

Living up north makes preparation for martin survival a little different from down south. With the increase in erratic weather patterns and wild fluctuations in temps, years ago I decided to take drastic measures in helping my colony survive these changes. I have a set of four metal grandpa style metal houses that were enlarged to 12 inch depth. I call these four houses my four plex. They are mounted on angle iron with a space of 5 inches between the sides and 12 inches from the backsides.
In this 12 inch slot space behind the metal houses I built a black metal open sided box that will slide into these two open spaces behind the houses. I use a ceramic heater which is suspended near the middle of these boxes and the electric outdoor extension cord goes down the pole and I plug it into my shed outlet. The back of the metal houses have 2 inch aluminum round vents. When the temps drop below 50 at night I simply plug in the extension cord into the shed outlet. The radiant heat from the ceramic heaters flows into the back of the metal houses and the 2 inch vents. The martins can't get burned this way. I will post pics someday. On the topic of feeding platforms to place my crickets and no oil prepared scrambled eggs I built a one of a kind raised platform feeder with a 24 X 24 inch square floor. 4 x 4 square posts make the corners. The posts are 16 inches in height. I drilled holes exactly 1 and 3/16 apart going up the sides of the posts near the interior edges. Driveway markers are slid in the drilled holes all the way around the feeder. The top is capped off with a black painted roof to absorb heat. Robins were stealing my crickets left and right, that is why I built such an elaborate feeding station. Martins like the wide open view from the sides, while the robins can't get in the martins quickly learn they can easily slip in between the rods (yellow driveway markers. I will post pics of this feeder someday.

[cransy]

Thanks Doug for feeding the birds passing threw. I'm sure you saved a lot of birds for the northern landlords. I'm in New York Watkins Glen and I have been feeding my birds for 7 days straight. I have about 40 martins and I've lost three so far. I'm sure some of my birds will be moving on also. Keep up the good work! Dave

[flyin-lowe]

I had my first ever losses due to weather this year, it was one ASY male and 3 ASY females. Ours wasn't as bad as yours. Day one it was pretty cold out but they were not hungry enough to take flipped food. A couple of them ate some but most just stayed huddled up on the shingle roof of my house taking the warmth. By the second day it was windy, rainy and cold. Many of them were not out of the houses and winds were close to 40 mph and no success flipping. The third day it warmed up and I wasn't sure what to expect. I had to work early and when I got home I saw no martins. I wasn't sure if they were all out feeding or all dead inside the housing. I found a couple dead and one ASY female on the ground too week to fly. I tried to force feed her some of the bee larvae I typically flip them and could not get her to open up. I put her in a gourd and loaded a bunch of them up in the cavity and thought them moving around might kick in her instincts to eat. I went out about an hour later and she had jumped from the gourd and was dead, must have been very week to go that quick. Hate to lose any but all and all only losing a couple is not to horrible. Today was in the 70's and a lot more activity...

[Martintown33]

I use the same method as Dave Duit. Ceramic reptile heat elements , are the way to go. Mine is encased in flashing metal and hardware cloth, and can be put inside an empty compartment of the Martin house.. I installed a dimmer (rheostat control) in line, so I can control the amount of heat, and turn it on and off , from my patio.. the ceramic heater radiates warmth throughout the Martin house, without giving off any light to disturb the martins..
Rob