Texas arrivals

[G Saner]

Like most of us, I check the arrival page to see if martins are back in my area. They first arrive in Florida then Louisianna. After that, martin reports come in from East Texas and move slowly west and even north.

I am 60 miles northwest of San Antonio. Yesterday, my first martins arrived. This pattern makes me believe that the earlier martins cross the Gulf and mine fly up the coast of Mexico for a more leisurely trip. What do you think?

[Dave Reynolds]

.. Congratulations to you and your new arrival…. Enjoy

Dave

[C.C.Martins]

Gary,
Congrats on your arrivals! Well id imagine some do take that over land route, it makes sense. I asked the same question you have to Mr Barrow just a few days ago. He did some of the geolocator studies at his colony and another here in corpus. Some surprises for me!
After retrieving the data, looks like some (those heading to corpus) will fly straight across the gulf to the Mississippi from the Yucatan, then down south, some went to the Brazos River from the Yucatan and others straight across the Yucatan to landfall in Mexico then north to corpus. Seems like the long way, a hard journey, but thats what the data shows.

Hope you have a bang up season Gary!!!
Best,
Tom

[Phil01]

Congratulations on your new arrival Gary! I hope you have a great season!
That’s some really interesting data from Mr. Barrow Tom! I was surprised when you told me!
Wish I had “real time” Geo Locators on mine so I could see where the heck they are? Haha

Again congrats Gary,
Hope everyone has a perfect season!
Phil

[C.C.Martins]

Congratulations on your new arrival Gary! I hope you have a great season!
That’s some really interesting data from Mr. Barrow Tom! I was surprised when you told me!
Wish I had “real time” Geo Locators on mine so I could see where the heck they are? Haha

Again congrats Gary,
Hope everyone has a perfect season!
Phil

Hey Phil! My martin brother in Florida! I was too, we talked about it, right and a whole lot of other stuff while we not so patiently wait. I coulda swore it was an overland route!
Yeah it would be nice to know where they are at right now, thinking of making a night operation and kidnap one of mr barrows.

[G Saner]

Tom,

Very interesting information on the arrivals since it is fact not theory. It is as if they get over the gulf and then recalculate.

Here is another issue for your comments. On Wednesday, I had 3 males going into the gourds about 20 minutes before sunset. All three left and could be seen feeding above the gourds. At dusk only 1 returned to roost. Who were the other two? Here are the possibilities.

Two were from a neighboring colony and only visiting my colony to see who was back.

The other two were on their way north and only visiting.

The other two were mine but roosted in trees like they had been doing for six months.

What do you think?

[C.C.Martins]

Gary,
Sorry for the delay. Been looking in vain for one. Single. Martin. Lol

I think any of your theories are spot on and I'll try, you are a quite experienced landlord! Even if they look like vultures sometimes! Haha!
Maybe: Migrants brought in by a resident bird, stayed the night and headed home. Or could all be your resident birds, you know as well as I they are now transitioning from trees to nest sites. Some are just not in a rush.
Maybe too, their local home isn't up and ready yet and they do live close.
I feel like I just echoed your thoughts...if I had to guess, your resident intercepted them and brought them in but they continued on. Had a male bring in a female last year, very early on...she stayed about an hour, went into his gourd but eventually left.
Tom

[G Saner]

Tom,

A few years ago, I too had a resident male try to attract a female that was passing through. I could tell she wasn't mine because she could not navigate the owl guards and the male could do so at high speed.

I have often wondered if returning martins transition quickly from tree roosting to housing roosting when they return. Some might take a day or two. Anyway, four returned tonight.

[C.C.Martins]

Wait, I was wrong? Again! Do not tell my wife please.

Great, so they all got tucked away! Thats good, nice and cozy for the night. The owl guards do seem to throw some off for a bit, but they do like to land on them and perch. And use them to drop on the porch.
I think if she were a resident, and even if they were new, her determination would make short work of them.

[sonja8582]

Tyler TX - there were 2 people in east texas that noted martins before I did and I have my trendsetter now ready! And… just a few days ago I heard the song of a Martin high up in the air! Did not get a visual- but then I heard and saw him!!! A scout singing loudly as if to say “I’m back and I am announcing my return to the world!!!!!”

So excited - one of the few things that makes me feel like a kid again