how about a John Barrow report

[apundt-TX]

I see that Texas should have strong southern winds all week with some rain this weekend. Keep us posted John on the status of the coastal migration.

A.P.

[John Barrow]

Hi A.P.
Migration is still slow along the coast, with only a few groups of martins showing up. In Port O'Connor, I had my first martin on Jan 28. There were only 26 martins in town on the Feb. 11--14 at my colony, 9 at Ed Adams and 3 at Gosnell's. There are other large colonies that have no martins yet. This past weekend I had 24 come in on Sat. I believe some of those were migrating through, but only 3 or 4.

In Corpus Christi, had the first arrival on Jan 31 in the morning, and had him come back with 6 others that afternoon. I now have 9-a very small increase for nearly two weeks. My friend Jeff Webster who also hosts about 40 pairs had first arrival on 2/1 and now has 2 martins.

So there has been just a dribble of martins arrivals to date--hit or miss for most folks. But there will be significant arrivals any day and others will follow in rapid fashion. I expect that my two colonies will come close to filling in the next month. And most Texas landlords who have hosted ASY martins should see a return of all or most within the month. Then, the peak of SY migration should begin around April 10-15.

I will post any significant arrival that I see.

jb

[apundt-TX]

Thanks for the update John. I have not seen any arrivals yet around Dripping Springs. I have about 3 colonies in the neighborhood that I keep an eye on for any martin activity. Winds sure look good this week for arrivals:

This Afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. South wind around 5 mph.

Tonight: Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 42. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high around 74. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.

Tuesday Night: Areas of fog after 4am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low near 56. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Wednesday: Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 10 mph.

Thursday: Partly cloudy, with a high around 78. South wind between 10 and 15 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. East southeast wind around 10 mph.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 59. East northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph.

I have a couple holes opened on my colony at the house and at my parents gourd rack. Not expecting any takers until around the first of April like you said.

A.P.

[Davlyn]

Hi John, I hope that's what is up over here in south georgia, I have seen
none until this morning and the only way I saw those was I drove to a
large colony right out side of town about 5 mile's from me and I counted
about 9. Last season I had 5 pair and they were all successful and I had
one bachelor so I thought they would be back by now but I have not seen
or heard the first martin here at my place. Should I be worried are am I
just impatient?

[Guest]

Hello Apundt TX,

I've had just 5 martins since last week with the sixth arriving Saturday. Last year at this time I had 11 martins so I agree with John Barrow, it seems to be still slow trickle of migrating martins. Wish you best of Luck for new 2006 Martin Season.

George Lewis
Victoria, TX

[John Barrow]

A. P., Louise Chambers is doing a program at Fredericksburg tomorrow evening (see events link on the PMCA homepage) and I am going to accompany her. If you can make the short drive from Dripping Springs, I would love to meet you.

eboy, glad to see your post. I am beginning work on a newspaper article commemorating your Dad, to run in Victoria's paper soon. Hope I can contact you if I need assistance. (George's dad, Charlie Lewis, was the voice of KNAL Radio broadcast out of Victoria, Texas, for nearly 50 years. He enlightened the hearts of many during this era of radio, he made people happier about themselves and their future, and he had a passion, conveyed to many, about purple martins. Charlie passed away in late 2002 leaving a thriving colony of over 60 pairs of martins which George took over as a testament to his father.)

One of my regrets in life is that I never got to meet Charlie Lewis. Although we communicated via email from time to time, and discussed an eventual get-together, it never happened before I was sadly informed by the family one day of his death. I can only hope that I achieve in my lifetime as much to help our friends the martins as Charlie Lewis did in his. Thank you eboy for your efforts to continue the work of a great ally of the martins.

John Barrow, Corpus Christi, Tx

[apundt-TX]

I wish I could John. Tuesday and wednesday nights my wife has night classes at Texas state in San Macos. Those nights I watch my 3 and 5 year old. Thanks for thinking of me though.

A.P.