Man what a show!
I was surprised last evening. While outside by our pool grilling hambergers, I heard the familiar call of a martin. I looked up and 5 martins were passing overhead. Then another group followed. And another. I don't know how long they had been going overhead before we noticed them but we guessed 100 - 200 martins flew over my house before we finished grilling. All the martins were headed East.
Well today my coniving mind started wondering what would happen if I raised my housing and played the Dawnsong while the matins were passing overhead presumably headed for their roost. I decided to give it a try.
This evening, after I had seen a few groups of martins pass overhead, I raised my S&K starter house with 12 gourd rack sporting 6 gourds on the top level. Then I started the Dawnsong on my outdoor speakers. Within 5 mins I had martins circling my housing and pool area passing about 10 ft above our heads! Then more. Still more........and more. Some landed on the house. Many landed in a cottonwood tree near the pool. Some landed in another tree near my shop. Most just cirlcled and investigated. We guessed over 300 birds circled my house and pool area tonight! (not all at once).
I know it's kind of cheating.....but we had a blast. My brother-in-law and his family are here visiting from Littleton, CO and they got to see martins for the first time (at least first time up close). They really enjoyed it and started inquiring about the nesting range of martins. Even my mother and father-in-law had a good time.
The only one who didn't enjoy it.......my resident Eastern Kingbird. He went crazy chasing martins for over an hour. I don't think he knew which way to fly next.
I thought for awhile the birds were going to roost behind my house. Eventually, they bailed out headed east. Guess I need to figure out where their roost is.
Now, if they will just remember where my house is next spring........
My Private Roost: Hundreds of Martins at My House!
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Guest
now that does sound like a fun time.
My one pair of martins left with their 3 young on Sunday. Wonder if I should copy your idea and try the Dawnsong too. Humm....maybe tomorrow I could lure some in for a bit.
My one pair of martins left with their 3 young on Sunday. Wonder if I should copy your idea and try the Dawnsong too. Humm....maybe tomorrow I could lure some in for a bit.
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Dale Hrncirik
Hogwild,
PMCA's Project MartinRoost shows there to be an undiscovered potential martin roost of significant size very near and EAST of Springdale. I'd bet the martins you saw last night were headed to the roost. Try and scout it out if possible and let us know. Here's a map of the suspected roost. You can use the zoom feature to get a better idea of the location...but remember that the actual roost can be as much as 15 miles from these coordinates.
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?zo ... =-94.02688
Dale
PMCA's Project MartinRoost shows there to be an undiscovered potential martin roost of significant size very near and EAST of Springdale. I'd bet the martins you saw last night were headed to the roost. Try and scout it out if possible and let us know. Here's a map of the suspected roost. You can use the zoom feature to get a better idea of the location...but remember that the actual roost can be as much as 15 miles from these coordinates.
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?zo ... =-94.02688
Dale