Martins are still here?

Markansas · Wed Aug 10, 2022 10:02 am

In northwest Arkansas my martins always arrive around March 15. They leave every year on august 1, plus or minus a day. This year it’s august 10 and I have martins everywhere and I have no idea why? It’s nice to have them longer but also it’s so abnormal I wonder if something is wrong. Does anyone else out there have martins later than normal and does anyone know why? I’ve always thought they should arrive a month later and stay a month later to avoid the cold but this is strange because they are usually like clockwork. Any thoughts?

C.C.Martins · Wed Aug 10, 2022 11:18 am

You may have a roost near by? Are they looking in cavities or just hanging out? Not unusual for stop overs while they migrate, your area may just be in a good spot while they head out?
Tom

Birdiegirl · Wed Aug 10, 2022 3:02 pm

Hi Markansas,

I'm a newer landlord, so not sure what 'normal' is here just yet. I still have martins daily, though fewer and fewer each day. They show up around 9:00 am, and appear on and off through mid-day, and are usually gone by 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Up until today I thought it was mainly younger birds, but today I saw 6 ASY-M. I know that there are several large roosts still showing on radar in Kentucky. I'm curious if the birds I'm seeing are staying at smaller roosts near to me and just haven't joined the larger roosts yet. Seems like if they were using large night roosts it would be silly to overnight there and then travel here during the day as the larger roosts are at least 40 miles from me. Some of the birds I see are checking out the housing, others just fly around or roost on the power lines overlooking it. I'm with you- I like that they are still here but have no idea what they are doing. I'm enjoying it while I can- going to miss them!

Dave Reynolds · Sat Aug 13, 2022 8:02 am

... I had a few late nests, this year. I think the first eggs laid were not fertile . And she laid a few more, which hatched and fledged on August 8th. Normally they would be gone around late July. It was great to see them hanging around this late in the season.. Just had two flying around yesterday when I was mowing the grass.. Enjoy them ..

Dave

Markansas · Sun Aug 14, 2022 9:53 am

C.C.Martins wrote: ↑
Wed Aug 10, 2022 11:18 am
You may have a roost near by? Are they looking in cavities or just hanging out? Not unusual for stop overs while they migrate, your area may just be in a good spot while they head out?
Tom

Perhaps the roost is close. They are in an out of the gourds and it’s not just a few stragglers I still have 20-25 martins morning and evening. Maybe I just got lucky this year on a roost or maybe there were some late arrivals that didn’t hatch til late. I have too many to count the birds so I just count nests and make some assumptions.

Interestingly, I started with trio castle then over the years put up gourd racks. Now they exclusively use the gourds until they are full and then might use the trio. They have made it extremely clear that they prefer the gourds.

C.C.Martins · Sun Aug 14, 2022 2:10 pm

Its interesting, glad they are checking things out pretty neat. Good testimonial to the martin preference for gourds, they are the way to go. Iv a trio mini, soon as we attached troyer tunnels to the entrances, they packed it. Well give it one more season and then go all gourds.

MJM · Fri Aug 19, 2022 6:52 am

I'm in central KY and they just stopped coming by a day or two ago. I think we may be seeing some late leavers from up North just taking a break. Leaving the houses out until the end of the month so they have a place to stay on their long journey home.

Markansas · Sun Jul 30, 2023 10:07 am

Markansas wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 14, 2022 9:53 am

C.C.Martins wrote: ↑
Wed Aug 10, 2022 11:18 am
You may have a roost near by? Are they looking in cavities or just hanging out? Not unusual for stop overs while they migrate, your area may just be in a good spot while they head out?
Tom
Perhaps the roost is close. They are in an out of the gourds and it’s not just a few stragglers I still have 20-25 martins morning and evening. Maybe I just got lucky this year on a roost or maybe there were some late arrivals that didn’t hatch til late. I have too many to count the birds so I just count nests and make some assumptions.

Interestingly, I started with trio castle then over the years put up gourd racks. Now they exclusively use the gourds until they are full and then might use the trio. They have made it extremely clear that they prefer the gourds.

I had the exact same experience with the gourds. Started with a castle then added gourds and offered both. They only use the gourds until they are full then might us the castle