First Migration Report from South Texas

[John Barrow]

Hi Friends. It's been a tough day for martins in Texas. We have been feeding for the past 4 days, waiting for the clear, warm weather that was supposed to begin today. We are fogged in.

This afternoon we had over 50 new martins land on our system. A friend on Padre Island reports 25, of which two were hers. I think we are about to see our first general arrival of significant numbers of martins. They have waited long enough. Hopefully the weather will stablize with their arrrival, get warmer and push rapidly eastward. Most appear to be in fairly good shape. I just hope they can find insects tomorrow. Louise has fed crickets and mealworms throughout the day, and significantly, saw a female martin return to the Goliad with a large dragonfly. It leads me to believe we have been fogged in all day and that there is warm air higher in the sky bringing martins and some food resources.

[apundt-TX]

How exciting John. I read your post to my 2 kids to get them wondering who's gourd will get the first martin this year.

Thanks always for the updates.
A.P.

[Scully]

John, great point about higher overriding conditions. I believe it was Friday that our TV weather guy pointed out that 1,000 feet up it was actually in the 50's, while it was low 40's at the surface.

The massive Green Darner (dragonfly) migration in the late summer must surely be an important food resource, perhaps enabling those mega-roosts. I have watched martins feeding young fly up, forage high in the air above our urban colony, and return steeply down carrying a dragonfly that was surely passing through from somewhere else.

Darners migrate north in the spring too, it would be fascinating to know to what extent migrating martins depend on them.

Mike Scully

[Guest]

John...we also had about 19 migrating adults arrive last night (2/20) so add to that count from the coast.

Sue
City by the Sea, TX

[Dave S (Texas)]

Our winds will start coming out of Mexico today, so we should see more activity.

[Guest]

Good morning John!!!
I have been very happy to read your posts of the martins at your place accepting the supplemental feeding. Possibly some of those are headed for my place. Thank you for taking care of them!!!!

Those martins that are stopping over & learning to accept supplemental feeding is wonderful since some of those that will arrive at other colonies will have "learned" to accept food during periods of tough times & will make it easier for other landlords to save their martins by offering food.

Still no martins here in Kyle. I am glad they have not arrived here yet. With the cold, rainy, windy conditions it makes me worry too much. The upcoming forcast should improve greatly. Sounds like with your new arrivals I should expect martins any day now.

[John Barrow]

Angela,
Sorry, I forgot to reply and tell you they are headed your way. More are arriving daily. Migration has picked up.