Martin Roost In NE Kansas

[Guest]

After monitoring the radars and searching for several days I have FINALLY located a good size roost here in NE Kansas, just outside of Lawrence. What is strange to me about this roost is they are not roosting in trees, or in a city with lights, they are roosting out in the open country in complete darkness, in a cornfield. Yes, a cornfield! I have been visiting the roost in the evenings for several days now and it appears it is increasing in size every day. Any of you local landlords want to check it out, don't hesitate to contact me. I would be happy to meet you there one evening.

[Steve Kroenke]

Hey Brad,

Thanks for sharing that information about the pre-migratory roost. At my boyhood colony in Havana, Florida, I remember large numbers of martins roosting on the corn tassel tops in nearby corn fields. I guess the martins were using the corn plants in the same way they would roost in reeds in marshy areas. Martins can be very adaptive at times in both nesting and roosting.

Steve

[Guest]

Brad are they roosting on the corn or on the lines I saw in the one picture? I have been trying to find roosts in my area also. Living in a rural area I would of passed up the cornfields so thanks for sharing your find! I wish I were closer to come see this one.

[Guest]

Pen,

They are roosting in the corn. The martins approach the area from all different directions in the evening and hang out on the lines until it's almost dark....then they swarm just above the corn searching for a spot.....drop down in....and disappear.