She Lives! Supplemental feeding success

John Miller · Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:36 am

Will post a good news note and sign off for the weekend.

For the past six days I've worried about a lone ASY female that arrived early last week at a park site I manage, before winter returned. We have not had temps above 50 for six days. I've been putting thawed crickets in compartments (cleared the front floor of nest material) about every other day. Last I saw her was Thursday evening -- marginal day. Yesterday was dismal with snow flurries and I didn't visit the park. This sunny Saturday morning as I walked to the house she was flying strong about the house and chirping. I was thrilled. She quickly left and I lowered the house and found she had indeed been eating crickets - so I tossed some new ones in those compartments.

Tomorrow a warmup in temperatures begins.

Supplemental feeding works! No way she could survive 6 days of no or barely marginal feeding otherwise. A martin friend, Leverett Doehring who has a big colony south of St. Louis, posted here he's having luck tossing. Every site is different and I chose the compartment route, but feeding does work and it's a relief to know that with modest effort we can save these very early arrivals.
John Miller

Craig Haddox · Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:55 am

John, I am in Washington about 50 miles West of St.Louis. I had an ASY female arrive March 10th. She has been alone until 2 day's ago when an ASY male arrived. I have also been putting crickets in her gourd and she has been eating all of them. Today they are out flying so hopefully they will find something to eat. I am only about 5 block's from the Missouri river and there is also a lake nearby. I believe they are in those areas looking for food. Good luck this year.

Leverett Doehring/Mo · Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:51 am

Good new to hear from you guys, I have been feeding every morning for a few days. Still the birds seemed healthy and were also leaving every day to feed or whatever. My only concern is there were 17 showing up the 1st days, last couple of days the has been bout 10 so I guess they are finding food, I do not suspect they died cause they were healthy. After breaking plastic spoons and the slowness of a sling shot I begged, borrowed, (stoled from the kitchen) a cooking spoon made for no stick pans, @ 12" plus long made from black nylon with vents in the spoon area, works GREAT.

roblrich · Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:55 am

Don't assume they are eating the crickets just because they are gone. Mine have spit them out just to clear their gourds of them. And it's been cold here in Kentucky. I actually watched one female with binoculars pick the crickets up, fly out of her gourd then drop them in the yard. But I guess the martins here are getting enough to eat "at the van down by the river". If you aren't SNL fan's, you won't get that van down at the river comment.

I'm going to thaw and warm up some more crickets today, and see if they take them. But after that, they are on their own. Weather is suppose to turn warmer starting tomorrow.

Guest · Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:08 pm

Rob,

I know about the "van down by the river". We lost a great comic when we lost Chris Farley. I think I'm going to the van down by the river to see if that's where my martins are hiding out.

Sheila

Guest · Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:17 pm

John, Congratulations on your success! I've never had to do that and hope I never have to but I will if it is called for. I really admire those who take such good care of their purple martins. Have a great year!

Sheila

Guest · Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:17 pm

John, Congratulations on your success! I've never had to do that and hope I never have to but I will if it is called for. I really admire those who take such good care of their purple martins. Have a great year!

Sheila

EaglesWing/South Jersey · Sun Mar 26, 2006 9:20 am

Thank you for the useful tips! But I still have a question. You speak of frozen crickets, but I'm able to get live crickets. Should I have to resort to supplemental feeding for a few days, if I take off the back legs and put them in the gourd do you think they will eat them, since they will still be alive and able to crawl about? How about the soft-bodied wax worms? I've fostered and fledged dozens of baby birds in my lifetime and they've all done well with the cricket, wax worm and fresh-killed meal worms but I'm curious if anyone has tried this with adult PMs? Sure would like some input, because the weather here has not produced many flying insects yet and I expect the return of a scout in the next few days.

Bob Buskas · Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:09 am

Way to Go Guys! It's great to hear your feeding is a success. I hope more landlords give it a try. Just think how many Martins that could have been saved over the years had we been feeding them. Knowing we can keep them alive is a very good feeling isn't it. As for the crickets, all you have to do is cool them down and they will go dormant. At 50 degrees they won't move much at all. Freezing is good if you want to keep them for another cold spell.