VA big wave hitting with arrivals.

[Jones4381]

First bird showed up Feb 28th and to our pleasure a second March 3rd. Counted 9 yesterday up from 4 last week and 5 two days ago. It appears they're pouring into the area. The scout arrival study is always appreciated as I look to it often this time of year to see those days where 'first sightings' have 4+ arrivals. It appears the last 6 days have seen a big influx into the Virginia area...right on time

[C.C.Martins]

Good!! Let it rain migrating martins! Be good to hear your updates and observations this season, always look forward to those.

[Jones4381]

Good!! Let it rain migrating martins! Be good to hear your updates and observations this season, always look forward to those.

Thanks, I've been more preoccupied than ever this off season with my war on invasive trees and plants. The current war is Tree of Heaven, Bradford Pears, English Ivy, Chineses Privit, and Chinese Fire bush. Once you've been shown these plants you just can;t unsee it and as you wake up and observe the more and more of it is there and everywhere. You begin studying it and asking Chat GPT questions on it, then you become educated on how destructive it is to our native habitats and residents. I've cut, split and now stacked up to 10 cords of wood from the war and a little ice storm damage and I'm finishing up with wildflower plantings and some grass along with fence building (natural dried logs again) to make these sites of the war torn yard and field areas from all these invaders and it's becoming more appealing and pleasent for my little area of the world. TBH I'm just tired and feel overtaxed with the enormity of the problems of it all. But staying positive, the good news is we now have 9 Giant Sequoias thriving, 8 Ash (Green and White), 16 American Chestnut (playing the immunity lottery with this majestic functionally extinct species but I have hope - 12 new ones this spring). 5 new fruit trees apple, cherry, and peach. Need to plant 2 more pears but where's the time go. Most excited about the 5 new Bald Cypress we planted by the pond adding to the 3 done last year. Oh and I've added 3 Osage Orange trees from the megafana era along a hedge row that was overrun by privet and TOH trees (really excited about that too), harvested a bunch of staghorn sumac seeds up in PA over the winter and been spreading it where we took out over 80 tree of heavens for a native border with benefits to the birds and wildlife for it's seeds they consume and the privacy it will provide us, 8 resident deer are everpresent now, Spring Turkey was gobbling yesterday morning (amazing sound to hear coming from the woods, its hard to explain how special that sound really is) on my morning walk with the Golden retrievers.

Now we transition back to the Martins, TS, and BB that bring more peace and perspective to the overall design. The 9 I saw last night as the wind subsided and the sky was greying, the martins were all becoming accustom to one another as some type of orchestrated dance and order was being established as they circled and let out relaxed (to them) chirps to decide who would descend first at dusk...as we all know, after about 10 minutes it was all settled and in for the night....I thought, yeah, I'm tired, I'm going to shut down too, we humans just don't do it with as much flare but we all find satisfaction and contentment in going into our own gourds for the night....Made me thankful that I have a place and happy that I'm providing a chance for so many wonderful species....I felt connected with it all...if only for a quick minute...I think that is what draws me to Martins, they teach me retrospective insights to my actions and purpose, wish I knew why but that brings me satisfaction and peace.

The good news is I've opened up around a 1.5 acres of open space for better fly ways, increased pollinators (food source), and even though the wife can't see it yet, a much more grandeur design that will marvel here, me and others in a few months and/or lifetimes when she/me/ and others can only then see the final product. It's a reason i enjoy this forum. I find real peace reading others battles and wins when they share it. We are all on our "Last march of the Ents" when we pause and reflect, it just seems I find that there are other good people out there like me in here. The secret is sharing the story so others can learn and reap the same blessings....keep it up Tom and the many others in here (My favorite is Buddy up in PA that arrives first - I love that one . Most of the times I think no one cares about the trees, birds, bees, you know, the living things...then I come back to these small little forum and I get revived as there are others out there that are doing good too....so i say keep of the fight Jones...you have an army out there doing the same things...you're not alone...then one thought seeps into my brain as I'm sure it does with all other enthusiast...what If I quit and others quit too...then the Purple Martins would die off and the joys and majesty of them would be lost forever...that won't happen when I come here and read the stories...keep it up folks and share with your friends and neighbors too.

Back in reality world, the other great benefit of this seasons toils around the property (knock on wood) is I've not see one HOSP in over a month...I'd like to believe they've moved on due to my efforts and I've defeated another invasive species but reality tells me far different as they will be back...the battle is never-ending but it's for a great cause with HOSP's and invasive plants/trees in my area. Look forward to jumping back on the site in a few weeks as I wrap up this years "Winter War" as I've called it. Peace everyone and march into the next war this Spring as it thaws our lands and brings new hope, life, and excitement for us all...we can do this. Monday dawns...I'm going outside to watch some Martins

[Birdiegirl]

What a beautiful place, Jones! It's always lovely hearing your updates.

You are way ahead of me this year- we just got our first birds (two weeks early!) on March 14th. This morning, I counted 8- 6 males and 2 females, so they must be trickling in here too. Thankfully the weather is mostly cooperating- lots of mid 50s, fairly windy at times. We're having a typical Kentucky spring... a cold yucky day interspersed among some beautiful 70 degree sunshiny days. So far I think the returnees are finding enough to eat. If not- I'm ready with crickets and my long handled spoon.

So fess up- that patch in the foreground of your photo looks like you've sowed new grass... but I bet that's really nesting material for your martins.

[Phil01]

Gorgeous site Jones, absolutely beautiful! As always, very well written post! I always enjoy reading your observations and perspective on nature!
Good luck this season, hope you fill up.
Phil

[brent]

Awesome!!! I wish we were neighbors. Just a beautiful place. Great read. Very happy about your arrivals. Lucky Martins, BB and TS to have such a nice place. It’s peace and harmony.

[C.C.Martins]

Wow, yes id say. Peace and harmony about sums it up. Lots and lots of work to get it that way, well done sir. Very well done, and well written.

You have an oasis!!

[Jones4381]

Kind words and thank you all. Funny how when you need that little lift - it's provided...much appreciated as it's just what I needed today...

[Thomas Maddox]

Jones, you are a good man. Fight the Good fight! I want more pictures! For some reason, I really like those side walk lights.

[C.C.Martins]

Jones, you are a good man. Fight the Good fight! I want more pictures! For some reason, I really like those side walk lights.

I do too, wow do they look good.

[C.C.Martins]

Delete, duplicate.

[Jones4381]

Jones, you are a good man. Fight the Good fight! I want more pictures! For some reason, I really like those side walk lights.

There pretty simple and inexpensive as they fit between any pavers with 12v wire daisy chained and run to a master controller. These are called Integral pavelux and get sealed with the polymeric sand once sprayed with water. Thanks for the compliment.