Hey Wisconsin - what's up with your scouts?

[SE Wisc hopefull]

Hey WI,

I'm here in SE Wisc and put up one of my martin houses and my tree swallow/blue bird houses on Saturday. I had one lone tree swallow show up April 1. Typically I see the tree swallows around now, then barn swallows a week or so later followed by PMs.

I was planning on putting up my other house and gourds up April 15. For fun I looked at the scout report and there are reports all over WI.

I woke up to snow fall today ... how is this possible? Are they sticking around? Are you feeding them? Don't want to be late with my houses, but I can't get my head around how there are PMs here now surviving the cold. thanks - enjoy any input, as a second year landlord I know I have so much to learn.

[WI/MI Border]

Good to hear you are getting PMs. They'll survive a little snow. We have mostly snow cover but most will be gone in the next few days.

I just began building a PM house. I've no experience, and we are close to the northern limits of their range. I'm counting on getting a few in our first year as landlords but I realize that might not be in the cards. 50 miles due east of here (Escanaba) there are established colonies so I am hopeful.

https://www.dailypress.net/news/local-n ... e-martins/

The earliest I've had bluebirds is the third week of April but most arrive in May. 2025 will be my third year with two trails. 2024 results... 27 nest boxes, 13 nesting pairs, 64 eggs, 57 hatchlings and 52 fledglings. It keeps me busy so I'll put my one PM house in my yard even though it is not an ideal location.

Good Luck!

Tim

[SE Wisc hopefull]

Tim,

I'm rooting for you. I got 3 breeding pairs last year and another 3 single males after so many years. Anxious to see if I can further fill in my 26 cavities/gourds.

This is a great video on your area if you haven't seen it. Would be great to see the UP get a PM revival.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofE4pmHQ2Vo

[WI/MI Border]

That's cool. And that's Joe Kaplan. He was the one I contacted after hearing about his efforts at a Purple Martin booth at the Michigan Bluebird Association meeting in Ann Arbor last April.

As Joe says... Back in the 50s and 60s families would go to their summer lake house and "put out the dock, put up a Purple Martin House and crack a beer"... The summer "triathlon" Haha!

There are colonies along Lake Michigan (Green Bay shoreline) in Oconto and Escanaba. I'm hoping to go to the event in Oconto in June to learn more about them. I haven't found any local martin information or colonies in my area. Hoping that changes someday...

[MY FYN 79]

We haven’t seen any Martins at our house or remote site, which is where we plan to build a house in 5 years or so. Both sites are in Chilton, east of Lake Winnebago.

We did take a ride to the remote site with a cup of coffee this morning and saw our first tree swallow there. Our house has a barn and we normally have a huge amount of barn swallows. Haven’t seen those yet.

Our first scout sighting last year was April 15th at the remote site. Later at our house.

Hoping to see one any day now!!

[SE Wisc hopefull]

Keep us updated MY FYN 79 ... I'm a couple hours south, so we should see them around the same time.

This will be my first year with returning PMs (hopefully). I have always had Tree Swallows in their houses and 'barn Swallows in our barn,

Last year Tree Swallows started arriving on 4/12 then barn swallows a week later. First PM visitor was 5/15.
This year one Tree Swallow arrived 4/1 and then 4 more over the last few weeks. So far no barn swallows or PM

[Big Gar]

I"m new to the forum game and live in central WI.. I had 3 martins arrive on the 11th. I'm trying to find people in my area interested in martins. Thanks

[WI/MI Border]

I"m new to the forum game and live in central WI.. I had 3 martins arrive on the 11th. I'm trying to find people in my area interested in martins. Thanks

Hey Big G. There's an event in June in Oconto you might be interested in. I've never attended but I am going to try to get there.

http://www.wisconsinpurplemartins.org/martinfest.html

[MY FYN 79]

How’s it going Wi folk?

We haven’t seen any scouts at either of our sites, but have seen Martins at established colonies in our area.

[SE Wisc hopefull]

Nothing here yet either (SE Wisc.) .... I had 3 pairs last year and many males hanging around in the morning. They first showed up last year mid May and trickled in to mid June. Still searching the skies and have so far cleared out all the HOSPs. I'll post here as soon as I see they show.

Side note, the tree swallows showed up a few weeks ago and the barn swallows showed up this weekend. If true to form the PMs are a week or so behind the barn swallows.

[MY FYN 79]

Had a sighting!

Adult male, any guesses on the other one? They were around 5 minutes or so, then left. First sightings of te year at our house.

Think I should get the dawn song and morning vocalizations going?

[SE Wisc hopefull]

Great news ... I would think the dawn song wouldn't hurt. You have great setup and they have your address.

I had a pair show up here on Saturday morning early. The male left mid day and the female stayed most of the day. Sunday the female showed again for the morning. Nothing here today, but really crappy weather. If they show, I am going to try my hand at flipping crickets.

[WI/MI Border]

Posted a comment/question as a new thread and thought I would provide a quick link to that for the Wisco PM fans...


viewtopic.php?t=39202

[SE Wisc hopefull]

Starting to see some Martins return to the site. So far 3 pairs of adult male/females. Weather is good this week so interested to see if any sub adults show.

[MY FYN 79]

Exciting!

Getting more daily activity here too.

2 adult males around quite a bit and I think they had a lady friend here with them today also!

Wish I was better at ID’ing them.

[SE Wisc hopefull]

great ;when they have your address ... hopefully our adults call in many more.

[MY FYN 79]

There are at least two spending the nights here. We’ll see if they are freeloading or planning a family.

Anyone in Wisconsin appear to have nest building happening yet?

[MY FYN 79]

Picture of 4 messing around.

[MY FYN 79]

Gotta lower the racks, have some potential weather coming in tonight. Hopefully the birds don’t mind!

[WI/MI Border]

Interested to hear how your PMs reacted to being lowered last night. Some nasty weather south of us. Mostly just lightening and thunder and some much needed rain up here. No sign of PMs.