Late Arrival

jaceman · Tue Mar 03, 2026 2:10 pm

Anyone else seeing a later than usual arrival at your colony? Mine usually show up around the second or third week of February. This time it was close to March 1st.

Jace Stansbury
Nederland, TX

C.C.Martins · Tue Mar 03, 2026 3:36 pm

Yes sir very late. End of jan last year, 14 feb this year. Next year I don't know what to shoot for so ill be ready Dec 26th haha.
Got to the point I was wondering if I had more predators! But they missed some cold snaps and have since made up for it nicely.

jaceman · Tue Mar 03, 2026 6:33 pm

Thanks C.C.!

Jace

Harold Green · Tue Mar 17, 2026 10:27 am

I have had martins for the last 20 years and they have always returned about last day or two inFeburary. and now it the middle of March and not one has returned, can anyone help me undrstand , i didn't see anything unsual happen last year.
Thanks in advance

Jeff Robinson · Tue Mar 17, 2026 7:56 pm

Similar slow migration here in SW Missouri, Harold. For the last two or three years, I had early female scouts in the last few days in February to the first few days in March. I normally have a dozen or two by mid March.
This year had a lone male scout come in on 3/5 and have another male scout hanging around (I think from the other side of the tracks) since 3/7 - Not a peep otherwise.
I read something here recently that approximately 52% of colonies in Louisiana and Texas suffered major losses in the early February freeze, with an approximate 27% loss in breeding population. I have nothing else to validate those numbers - just something I found when I did some research. Good chance a lot of our early birds, resting on their way to us, may have been caught up in that freak of mother nature.

Good luck!

dsonyay · Wed Mar 18, 2026 7:04 am

For me it was a few days earlier than last year. Early February … two or three of my friends had tje same experience… a bit earlier. But for the most part .. not much different than last year.

To the people with nothing yet— Have you even heard or spotted any somewhere in the vicinity? Some people only report when their martins return to their address.. even though they are seeing them in the sky for many days (or weeks).

glfriend · Wed Mar 18, 2026 6:55 pm

I'm in Central Virginia ...last year lone scout came March 8th then several followed . Normally by March 15th I had at least 10 . Thus far none. Another landlord has reported 2 later than normal. Another who had some February 27th last year has none yet. Not sure whats up

Garry

flyin-lowe · Wed Mar 18, 2026 8:40 pm

Harold, with a colony that age I would guess they are just a little late this year. Mine had been earlier than ever the last couple years (used to always be after April 1st) and recently it was later in March, last year March 11th. I haven't seen anything yet and I am fine with that.We had warm temps in February but had snow and sub freezing temps all this week. I haven't even seen any tree swallows yet and they are usually 3 weeks or so earlier than the PM's. I typically see them mid to late February.

tsmith437 · Thu Mar 19, 2026 9:16 am

We've had a huge colony for many years. Saw first scout March 5, which is normal, and then saw 4 a few days later. Since then, have only seen one or two sporadically. This has never happened. And ideas?

C.C.Martins · Sat Mar 21, 2026 4:26 pm

2025 was very early for alot of us, 2026 they are coming late. No idea why. Dont know if its a need for worry, even the hummingbirds are slow this year.
The ones that are here are healthy, guarding cavities now. More males vs females. Would imagine the subbies are going to be late too.

Dave Reynolds · Sun Mar 22, 2026 8:33 am

.. Yes they are a little late this year, but only because they had a very early date last year.. March 19 was very early for me last year, so I'm not sure if they are late until after the average date of April 5th..

Dave

Harold Green · Wed Mar 25, 2026 3:49 pm

As I posted earlier they are 30 days late and now two males just showed up . they are usually here about last few days of February
and now it's 25 th day of March which is very strange after 20 years.

Prison police · Thu Mar 26, 2026 3:24 pm

I am in Central Ohio and still waiting. Last year my female scout arrived on a rainy March 20th day., The map for Ohio definitely does not match last years. I still see some pretty good sized colonies still not on the map but strangely see some way north of me and the others. Mother nature is definitely messing with our birds. Ill keep watching and like the others , pray everything works out

kborder · Thu Apr 09, 2026 7:14 am

We are in southeastern Ohio, landlords for 30 years. About 35 nesting pairs last year. I am so worried about the lack of Martins this spring! We have never seen this. Had 2 on March 31, only one adult male hung around. Had a female for a few hours that didn’t stay, then a second adult male. Weirdest part….. we had a subadult male last evening, no females and only the 2 adult males. Crossing fingers for arrivals soon. Just glad to know it’s not just our colony, but still a worry.

Habsboy · Thu Apr 09, 2026 8:26 am

no worries....birds know when the proper time is. All these migrations are weather dependant and they will be here when the time is right. Each spring and different weather patterns, cant seem to base the returns from year to year.