Midwest landloards--
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Bob Rogers
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 6:48 pm
- Location: Arnold, Missouri
I have never observed a PM roosting in a tree. I'm wondering if they choose low brushy trees/shrubs, large dead tree branches, high thinning pines or what. I've seen numerous roosting photos from different areas of the country and South America, but none local (Missouri). I know that fledling PM's will often land in any tree/shrub they can make it to when 1st learning to fly, but, that's different. I often observe early spring PM's leave the colony just before dark, but again they fly out of sight so I never observe the size/type of roost tree they prefer.
Bob R.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Bob
I've wondered the same and don't know the answer. I will add that in Forest Park I've been observing martins often using high dead tree limbs as daytime perches, because there are no powerlines or antennas in the park. It's nice to see them in a natural setting right here in the big ole city. But when they fly off into the night, I too wonder where they roost.
John M
I've wondered the same and don't know the answer. I will add that in Forest Park I've been observing martins often using high dead tree limbs as daytime perches, because there are no powerlines or antennas in the park. It's nice to see them in a natural setting right here in the big ole city. But when they fly off into the night, I too wonder where they roost.
John M
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CraigMo.
- Posts: 1480
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 12:30 pm
- Location: Missouri/Lone Jack
- Martin Colony History: Active since 2003
I see them in trees a lot, mainly on dead branches or branches without leaves, I don't know if that is considered roosting though. Is roosting where they spend the night or just take a break? I see them on roof tops of houses in my neighborhood also.
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kimball911
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:33 pm
- Location: Kansas/Iola
I've seen mine fly up to the neighbors tree and rest a few minutes, not very long, but it seems to be when the males are fighting and the loser doesn't want to give up yet. I've never seen them spend time after it gets dark in the trees.
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Glen Webb Jr
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:03 pm
- Location: Illinois/Stewardson
Yeah, I have seen them use tree snags quite a bit. There are a couple of large, old oak trees near my colony and the birds sit in them quite a bit. I've seen extra birds roost in the high treetops as well during the spring and summer months.
Large roosts form in the fall, They will use large trees as well as buildings. I sure they roost in the spring also before the nesting season starts. IMO they only use the cavities for nesting prior to babies fledging IMO they show little interest other than house hunting. Trees are natural roosts for them in South and North America along with some man made structures IMO.