Hi Everyone,
I spotted my first Martins on the 5th, sent in my scout report, raised my house and they were here for three days, hunting and swooping over the lake. Since the 9th I have not seen anyone. I am confused and worried, what do you think is going on. I have never had them show up and then leave before. I heard from Larry in Virginia Beach VA also and he said the same thing.
Has anyone ever had this happen before and what do you think is going on? Thanks for any opinions or wisdom anyone may have.
Jayne
Worrying in Virginia
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Early in the season, this can happen..Of the first 20 birds that come to our place, I would say that only 5 to 10 stay..I think they keep moving, spending the night at somebodys house, then move on until they get to their home..
Sometimes you can tell that its your birds, because they come and go straight to a gourd or cavity, and refuse to look at anything else, and that makes me think that they belong here.
Sometimes you can tell that its your birds, because they come and go straight to a gourd or cavity, and refuse to look at anything else, and that makes me think that they belong here.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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robndebby
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:25 pm
- Location: VIRGINIA/POWHATAN
- Martin Colony History: Established colony in 1990
I'm in Powhatan, VA, about 20 miles west of Richmond, and I have had the same thing. Yesterday 2 males spent the night, have seen nothing this morning, but have seen them every day for the past 5 days. This usually happens and then I wake up one morning (usually the 17th of March to the day) and my houses and gourds are aflutter with 4 pairs, then gradually more each day. Don't be alarmed, they will come!
Good luck!
Good luck!
ROBNDEBBY
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Sigundo
That sounds EXACTLY like what happens every year here.. a couple martins (well, about 8 now that they're claimed the home for a second year) show up, squawk at me until I open up their rooms, then swoop and make sure that everything is where they left it.. (pond, field, martin house, my riding mower, etc etc).. then after a couple days they often leave for 2 or 3 days, THEN they come back and set up house..
Don't ask ME what they're doing.. but I go through all the "they left and aren't coming back" bit even though I know they are and they finally DO.
Martins are very weird (but beautiful) birds.. the only thing more strange is martin landlords.
Hopefully they'll be back soon and you can enjoy them (until they pull ANOTHER stunt to have you worrying).
Don't ask ME what they're doing.. but I go through all the "they left and aren't coming back" bit even though I know they are and they finally DO.
Martins are very weird (but beautiful) birds.. the only thing more strange is martin landlords.
Hopefully they'll be back soon and you can enjoy them (until they pull ANOTHER stunt to have you worrying).