My Martins Have Learned How To Flip Crickets And Eggs!
Yep,My Martins Have Learned How To Flip Crickets And Eggs! They eat all they want and then sit in the feeder and flip them up in the air. I will explain how I got them using the feeder if anyone is interested.
T. Seber
-
Guest
Congratulation on getting your martins to eat crickets and eggs. Tell us all about it. Henry
I trained my colony to feed last year by flipping crickets and scrambled eggs in the air. This year, they remembered the drill and started right back doing the same. Many others have trained their martins to do the same thing, it can be a little difficult to get them started the first time, but is worth the trouble.
I decided this was the day I would get mine eating from a feeder and it worked for me. Here is how I did it.
I started walking them over near the feeder, flipping crickets and whistling for them as I went. When I had them feeding over the feeder, I started flipping crickets lower and lower until they were catching them no more than a foot above the feeder.
I then started throwing crickets over in the feeder by hand. I would throw a handful about a foot higher than the feeder and let them drop in the feeder. the martins were all over the place trying to catch them. I flipped a few more just barely above the feeder, and repeated the procedure a couple of times.
Then, I poured the rest of the crickets in the feeder while they flew just over it. I stepped back out of the way and they covered it up.
This is their new favorite perching spot. They get inside it and flip the eggs and crickets around or just sit on the side and look around.
I decided this was the day I would get mine eating from a feeder and it worked for me. Here is how I did it.
I started walking them over near the feeder, flipping crickets and whistling for them as I went. When I had them feeding over the feeder, I started flipping crickets lower and lower until they were catching them no more than a foot above the feeder.
I then started throwing crickets over in the feeder by hand. I would throw a handful about a foot higher than the feeder and let them drop in the feeder. the martins were all over the place trying to catch them. I flipped a few more just barely above the feeder, and repeated the procedure a couple of times.
Then, I poured the rest of the crickets in the feeder while they flew just over it. I stepped back out of the way and they covered it up.
This is their new favorite perching spot. They get inside it and flip the eggs and crickets around or just sit on the side and look around.
T. Seber
-
roblrich
I honestly didn't think my martins would go for this cricket flinging. But I went outside when two males and a female had just returned from the van down by the river, and I tried it. The female went for the very first fling. I was in shock, but man, did my enthusiasm sky rocket! The female must have caught a dozen or so and ate them, and a male caught a few. One male didn't even make an attempt, so I don't think he was that hungry.
When I ran out of crickets, I went back in to thaw out some more, but when I got back outside, only the single male was still there. He went for about 3 or 4 crickets, then he had enough and stopped flying. He started preening his feathers and gave us an occasional glance like we were crazy. The sun had came back out at 5:30 pm, so I think the ASY pair had darted back to the the river where I suppose the rest of my martins were to try their luck.
I'll try again tomorrow. But it just nice to know that the martins tried, were successful but weren't that interested. That means they are doing ok.
When I ran out of crickets, I went back in to thaw out some more, but when I got back outside, only the single male was still there. He went for about 3 or 4 crickets, then he had enough and stopped flying. He started preening his feathers and gave us an occasional glance like we were crazy. The sun had came back out at 5:30 pm, so I think the ASY pair had darted back to the the river where I suppose the rest of my martins were to try their luck.
I'll try again tomorrow. But it just nice to know that the martins tried, were successful but weren't that interested. That means they are doing ok.