This is a request for *all* Post-Katrina and post-Rita sightings of Purple Martins throughout the species breeding range in eastern North America. Daily doppler radar images and anecdotal evidence on several forums suggest that Purple Martins not killed by Hurricane Katrina, may have been pushed further inland by the remnants of the Tropical system as it passed through the Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes region.
For example, post-Katrina roost images from the Philadelphia doppler radar site show a literal explosion of roosts starting on 02 September. Note the number of roosts located in eastern Pennsylvania, as identified by doppler radar:
26 Aug - (4)
27 Aug - (2)
28 Aug - (-) no images downloaded, on the road returning from AOU meeting in CA
29 Aug - (2) Katrina landfall on Gulf coast
30 Aug - (0) Katrina in northeast Mississippi
31 Aug - (0) Katrina in northwest Pennsylvania
01 Sep - (-) no images downloaded, on the road returning from Gulf coast
02 Sep - (9)
03 Sep - (12)
04 Sep - (11)
05 Sep - (-) no images downloaded, no internet access on the Gulf coast
06 Sep - (-) no images downloaded, on the road returning from Gulf coast
07 Sep - (10)
08 Sep - (10)
09 Sep - (7)
10 Sep - (8)
11 Sep - (9)
12 Sep - (-) no images downloaded, on the road returning from Gulf coast
13 Sep - (0)
14 Sep - (0)
15 Sep - (0)
And there are similar roost ?explosions? in several other states also not directly in Katrina?s path.
Katrina made landfall in southern Louisiana early-morning of the 29th, moving into northeast Mississippi early Tuesday as a Tropical Storm, and into the Great Lakes region as a Tropical Depression on Wednesday, the 31st (see KATRINA Archive Graphics for animated graphics links of Katrina?s storm path and other archived graphics).
The following information is requested:
- Date seen
- Number seen
- Age and sex, if noted
- general comments such as ?later than normal?, ?latest sighting ever?, ?unusual numbers?, etc.
Please post your sightings and comments below - even if previously posted, so we can piece together a picture of the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Hurricane Katrina/Rita impacts - PLEASE POST SIGHTINGS HERE
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Guest
The reason I have asked that everyone post their sightings within a single thread, is becuase it becomes difficult for anyone to locate all the possible comments being posted in the various related (and unrealted) threads, about these post-hurricane sightings.
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hi Keith.
I saw 6 Purple Martins fly over my house near Houston, Texas on Saturday evening around 6:00 pm 9/24/05.
I saw 4 more on Sunday evening 9/25/05. They were flying over heading South and casually feeding as they went along.
I've been trying to watch the Sharpstown Roost on the radar. Before Rita it was still clearly showing activity. I haven't checked it after the storm; until today and there is too much cloud cover to see it.
I saw some strange activity in the Dallas area. Check it out... Could those be Purple Martins???
I saw 6 Purple Martins fly over my house near Houston, Texas on Saturday evening around 6:00 pm 9/24/05.
I saw 4 more on Sunday evening 9/25/05. They were flying over heading South and casually feeding as they went along.
I've been trying to watch the Sharpstown Roost on the radar. Before Rita it was still clearly showing activity. I haven't checked it after the storm; until today and there is too much cloud cover to see it.
I saw some strange activity in the Dallas area. Check it out... Could those be Purple Martins???
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
Thanks Laverne!
I was hoping for much more participation, given prior posts and fact that roosts are still showing-up on radar to the Canadian border.
I was hoping for much more participation, given prior posts and fact that roosts are still showing-up on radar to the Canadian border.
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hi Keith.
Yes, I was hoping for more reports from others here on the Forum, too.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I am still seeing Purple Martins at my house. Yesterday, Sunday, October 2, 2005, I spotted one flying over. I called to it. I do a very poor whistling mimic of a Male PM - however, the birds in my colony have always responded to it and this migrating PM turned and swung back around to check me out. Within a minute there were ten (10) PMs circling in the sky overhead. They were all feeding and hung around for at least 15 minutes. It was somewhere around 6:00 pm. They flew to the west when they left and I am sure were heading to "a" roost. I haven't been back to the Sharpstown Roost to check for activity. If anyone in the Houston area has been to the Sharpstown Roost lately, please let us know if it is still active. Thanks.
Because these PMs responded to my very poor imitation of a male PM, perhaps playing the Daytime Chatter CD would bring down any PMs migrating through your area and then we can give Keith a good idea of the location and numbers of PMs after the hurricanes.
Thank you in advance for your efforts.
Yes, I was hoping for more reports from others here on the Forum, too.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I am still seeing Purple Martins at my house. Yesterday, Sunday, October 2, 2005, I spotted one flying over. I called to it. I do a very poor whistling mimic of a Male PM - however, the birds in my colony have always responded to it and this migrating PM turned and swung back around to check me out. Within a minute there were ten (10) PMs circling in the sky overhead. They were all feeding and hung around for at least 15 minutes. It was somewhere around 6:00 pm. They flew to the west when they left and I am sure were heading to "a" roost. I haven't been back to the Sharpstown Roost to check for activity. If anyone in the Houston area has been to the Sharpstown Roost lately, please let us know if it is still active. Thanks.
Because these PMs responded to my very poor imitation of a male PM, perhaps playing the Daytime Chatter CD would bring down any PMs migrating through your area and then we can give Keith a good idea of the location and numbers of PMs after the hurricanes.
Thank you in advance for your efforts.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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abernathys
- Posts: 220
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:40 am
- Location: maxwell/texas
Hey Laverne--I had about 6 to 10 PM's flying high and about 200 barnies flying low over our fields this weekend. I sure do enjoy seeing them.
Our wintering Marsh hawk arrived yesterday and the Krestrels have been back for about a week now.
Take Care!
Sandy
Our wintering Marsh hawk arrived yesterday and the Krestrels have been back for about a week now.
Take Care!
Sandy
PM lover
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hello Keith and Sandy.
Reporting in again... Tuesday evening a frontal system was moving from west to east through South Central and SE Texas. It fizzled out before it got to Houston; but, it brought Purple Martins, Barnies and Chimney Swifts to my area in Alvin. They were all busy feeding. Counted 12 PMs around 5:30pm CDT.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005. Between 5:45 and 6:00 pm, we were visited by 15 PMs. They were feeding and hung around for about 10 minutes before disappearing to the west. There were 3 or 4 ASY males in this group.
I am thoroughly enjoying these last minute feeding visitations. I am convinced these birds are moving on to "a" roost. They may still be occupying the Sharpstown Roost. I've got to get over there and see...
Reporting in again... Tuesday evening a frontal system was moving from west to east through South Central and SE Texas. It fizzled out before it got to Houston; but, it brought Purple Martins, Barnies and Chimney Swifts to my area in Alvin. They were all busy feeding. Counted 12 PMs around 5:30pm CDT.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005. Between 5:45 and 6:00 pm, we were visited by 15 PMs. They were feeding and hung around for about 10 minutes before disappearing to the west. There were 3 or 4 ASY males in this group.
I am thoroughly enjoying these last minute feeding visitations. I am convinced these birds are moving on to "a" roost. They may still be occupying the Sharpstown Roost. I've got to get over there and see...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
I am so-o excited!
Yesterday, October 13, 2005, at 6:30 pm CDT, 15 - 20 Purple Martins came to the air over our property and fed for about 15 minutes. Age and sex could not be determined. I did not see any ASY males in this group. There are many dragonflies at my house and apparently an abundance of other insects flying overhead. Surely, it is the insect activity, and not Laverne calling to them and whistling at them, that was holding them in my area.
First, there were three... and then they just started dropping out of the sky. They must have been flying over at a very high altitude. But, something brought them down.
It was great to see them.
...and Keith - this has got to be "the latest siting ever" for us!
Yesterday, October 13, 2005, at 6:30 pm CDT, 15 - 20 Purple Martins came to the air over our property and fed for about 15 minutes. Age and sex could not be determined. I did not see any ASY males in this group. There are many dragonflies at my house and apparently an abundance of other insects flying overhead. Surely, it is the insect activity, and not Laverne calling to them and whistling at them, that was holding them in my area.
First, there were three... and then they just started dropping out of the sky. They must have been flying over at a very high altitude. But, something brought them down.
It was great to see them.
...and Keith - this has got to be "the latest siting ever" for us!
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
I attempted to report in on Monday - but, the Forum was "down"! I hate when that happens...
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (October 14, 15, & 16) between 6:15 and 6:30 pm CDT, we saw approximately 20 Purple Martins each day. They were feeding and we watched them until they flew off into the sunset.
Monday - there were none. Tuesday, I saw one - I guess they are finally moving on. The overnight lows are in the 60s and the dew is heavy each morning. I believe that could be the deciding factor in their leaving this area.
So, Keith, I don't know if I am the only person who has still been seeing Purple Martins. But, there's the latest from SE Texas...
I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather. I pray Wilma fizzles before she makes landfall. We've had enough hurricanes this season to last 20 years.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (October 14, 15, & 16) between 6:15 and 6:30 pm CDT, we saw approximately 20 Purple Martins each day. They were feeding and we watched them until they flew off into the sunset.
Monday - there were none. Tuesday, I saw one - I guess they are finally moving on. The overnight lows are in the 60s and the dew is heavy each morning. I believe that could be the deciding factor in their leaving this area.
So, Keith, I don't know if I am the only person who has still been seeing Purple Martins. But, there's the latest from SE Texas...
I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather. I pray Wilma fizzles before she makes landfall. We've had enough hurricanes this season to last 20 years.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne