Just a quick update from a fairbury,Ill landlord. I have three pair and one or two other martins here. The three pair are asy males and pretty sure asy females. This morning while having coffee out on the patio, I noticed two of three pair started bringing in nesting material. I watched them as long as I could, they were hitting the shredded corn stalks from last years field pretty good.
I counted 10 yesterday flying above just before roosting. I couldn't see back of housing so not sure if all went in. Tonight I did see a sy male sitting on top of house after the martins went in. On the light colored breast feathers there were large purple spots all over. Right before dark he took off. Hoping he will be back.
Things are starting to look up after a slow start. Wishing you all the best memories with your Purple Pals.
Birds are building huge nests this year, despite the fact that I had already been more than generous with my pre-built nests. Some of the nests in the Troyer horizontals look like nothing but a sparrow could get through. They are built so high to the ceiling of the gourd and the birds keep bringing material in. I'm glad to see it of course, makes me laugh more than anything. Lots and lots of mud-damming in almost ALL of the round-entranced SuperGourds. THis is the first year at this colony that more than two or three females added mud. I'd say almost a dozen of the round-holed females are adding mud. No constant green leaf plucking, but it is slowly picking up. I'd say first eggs will start being layed around May 17th-20th, which is average anyway.
And the subadults sure are here. My first subbies were reported in mid-April and then hardly anything for the last couple of weeks. Maybe one or two migrants here or there, but man oh man they are here now. I must have AT LEAST 20-30 birds sitting around wanting a room. There are still ASY birds wanting a place and I only have two empty gourds left. But I am amazed at the number of subadults hanging around. Looks like all that dawnsinging is paying off, but sadly these new birds have no place to call home at my site.
It's funny, no farther north than you are from us - we had 20 nests with eggs at our last nest check three days ago. The first two were both started April 20th and several more the next few days.
Bad thing about this is our birds will be leaving just that much earlier than yours!!
I think you two are usually the first to report scouts in Illinois I think. I saw my first martin on april 7th this year. A few days later he had a mate. But in one of my post "DID I BLOW IT". I tried to secure a tether line to my house in leu of a 70 mph storm coming through. They took off and was back next day, but didn't want to hang around to much. Then my first pair that stayed was april 25th. The 28th had two pair. And as of today Three pair and maybe a couple others sneaking it at dark. Just saw a sy yesterday follow the martins to house before dark. He hung around for a little bit and took off.
It was Tuesday morning of this week. When I left for work there were several SY males and females hanging around, but when I returned in the evening on Tuesday, man oh man subadults were everywhere. Fighting with the ASY males and all that jazz. It's been like that ever since, except today as it is a bit windy and cool and all the birds are off feeding.
I have three pair and one or two other martins here. The three pair are asy males and pretty sure asy females. This morning while having coffee out on the patio, I noticed two of three pair started bringing in nesting material. I watched them as long as I could, they were hitting the shredded corn stalks from last years field pretty good.