More Purple Martins Arriving?About 100 So Far
For the last few days we have had strong southern winds. When purple martins migrate north to their breeding grounds, they will often ?ride? the winds. Many folks will see more martins arriving after low pressure systems pass with their associated stormy southern winds.
As of March 1, we now have probably close to 100 martins in residence between our two colonies: Bob probably has around 60 and I have about 40. Males tend to outnumber the females. Both males and females are fighting to claim their nesting sites.
With more pairs in residence, the male martins are engaging in significant nocturnal vocalization behavior during the early morning hours. It is becoming louder and more frequent.
In the early morning, I enjoy watching the martins depart in a staggered fashion and climb rapidly high in the sky. Martins may do this to minimize the chances of successful Accipiter hawk predation. These hawks will stake out a martin colony and try to catch the martins as they leave early in the morning. Our colony sites are completely open and I can see all around the area. The martins will fill the sky above our sites.
Because our colonies are so open and surrounded by large pastures with small ponds, the martins tend to stay around our sites for long periods of time during the day. The martins can feed all around and keep a watch on their nests. I often watch the martins feed low to the ground and over the nearby pastures.
By the end of March nearly all the ASY and SY martins that nested here in 2005 should have arrived if they survived migration. We should pick up MANY ASYs during the first, second and third weeks of March. The first SYs tend to arrive in late March with most coming during April through May.
Our satellite martin colonies are picking up residents, too, and one had about 10 the other day.
It is still too early to tell if Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had an adverse impact on the martins in our colonies. If the expected ASY arrivals do not materialize, then it is possible these hurricanes did reduce the martin population in our area.
Wishing everyone a great martin season in 2006.
Steve
More Purple Martins Arriving...About 100 So Far
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Dick Sherry
- Posts: 774
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:30 pm
- Location: Tulsa, OK
Steve, it sounds like you and your neighbor are off to a great start. I was glad to read that your birds made it through the cold and lousy weather. Have a great martin season and keep letting us know about your building super colony.
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Guest
Hi Steve, that is good news. We are right on schedule here, have about 30 birds back this morning. Keith
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Steve Kroenke
- Posts: 4342
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Logansport
Craig,
Your martins are on their way I'm sure! Good luck.
Steve
Dick,
Yes, so far so good! We have even more martins now and many arrived today. No losses from the cold weather we had earlier. I talked with another colony landlord today and his martins survived, too. I will keep folks posted on the status of our colonies. Good luck.
Steve
Keith,
Sounds like your colony is doing well, too. Another group of martins arrived today! Good luck.
Steve
Your martins are on their way I'm sure! Good luck.
Steve
Dick,
Yes, so far so good! We have even more martins now and many arrived today. No losses from the cold weather we had earlier. I talked with another colony landlord today and his martins survived, too. I will keep folks posted on the status of our colonies. Good luck.
Steve
Keith,
Sounds like your colony is doing well, too. Another group of martins arrived today! Good luck.
Steve