ARE MY SCOUTS WALKING???

[Guest]

Hello All,

I live here in central Illinois. Last year I had 7 pairs that fledged young sucessfully. Out of that 7 Pair, 4 of them were asy males and I believe 4 were asy females.

As I look at the migration map, with all the scouts that have been passed my area, I can't help but to think mine are "walking" home.

Counting the ones that didn't pair up, I had around 22 martins staying full time. I have counted as many as 40 hanging around. I just can't help but to think they must still be coming?

I wouldn't think that all 4 asy scouts would have not made it. Let alone the rest that were living there. I was wondering if anyone in central Illinois had scouts last year and they haven't showed up yet.

Has anyone had 4 pair of asy martins that never returned. They were never attacked and all fledged, except for a gourd with four eggs. The mother left on day and never made it back The male did pair up with a sy and had 4 that fledged.

Could some of the scouts that are being reported, maybe come through a little bit earlier because they travel a longer distance north??

Just curious to where they might be...Its warmed up some in the last week or so, maybe thats what they were waiting for??

Thanks for any info!

Craig

[CraigMo.]

I bet they will come, they just like watching you sweat, I think they are running a little behind this year.

[Guest]

Craig,

Thanks for the reply!

I thought I usually see the barnies a little before the martins arrive. I haven't seen any of them either. It's suppose to be fairly nice the rest of week.

Maybe I just had things ready a little earlier this year.....it just makes it seem longer

Thanks again!

Good luck!
craig

[John Kendall]

I am a martin landlord, in N. Indiana , north of you and read the same map and have the same question and worry. I had my first 4 martins last year (subbies) and although the immature eggs failed, I think they will be back.
1. Our colony is on a 500 acre, clear water (warms slowly) lake. I noticed that the other colonies on the lake have not arrived by boat survey and a drive., so not to worry. Farm-based colonies are not here yet, either.

2. I am an avid birder, and I noticed today that a rare bird in this area, a cinnamon teal (migrates with blue-wingeds) has stuck around this latitude for over a week and the birds aren't moving. In fact, we had 400+ greater scaup on our lake the past few days, and they like to move on. Normally, by now, the big waterfowl "push" would be thinning down, but, it hasn't happened yet. So, migration is about 1-2 weeks "late" up here.
Truth is that migration is never the continuous movement that our calendars, statistics and migration sightings maps suggest. The birds move in sudden "bursts" with favorable S or SW winds that blow for more than just a few hours. Birds will often move several hundered miles in one day after being bogged down for a week or more at one location.

Hope the info helps--one caveat is the hurricane effect which will be interesting to see how reports fare as we get into June when migration is completed.-

[Guest]

jk,

Thanks for your reply. It is some what comforting. We have had some terrible weather in the southern part of state. It has been cold here too. It started to warm up here a few days ago. Friday I has an asy scout land on my houses. I thought great at least one of them is back. I went out to raise the houses up all the way. He flew to the middle house and was watching me. I thought maybe he was waiting for me to get the houses up. He stayed for a minute or so then flew off. I have seen him come back a few different times over the last couple days. he just does his fly bye and he gone again. Nothing more that that. So still waiting!

Thanks again for the info!
Good luck!
craig