Newbie In the chips!
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Guest
I finally have martins building nests at my site. I estimate about 6 matted pairs and some extra males. I am concerned about starting an emergency feeding program. We get nasty weather sometimes here in NW Ohio. Should I start now training the birds, or wait till next spring to start? We have had such a mild spring and some birds have been at my site since Good Friday and have never seemed to be stressed at all. I am on pins and needles till I get those birds fledged. I plan to order the feeding DVD from PMCA. I would like to do it the correct way.
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hi Don,
Congratulations on starting a northern martin colony! 6 pairs is a fabulous start! Can you post a photo of your site to help others in your area learn what is successful?
This spring has had the best weather for martins in our area since 1999.
Your weather is probably similar to mine. My colony is feeding itself just fine and I suspect yours is, too. It is difficult to train martins to feed when hunting is good. They love to hunt and prefer feeding themselves when possible.
What you could do instead is build or purchase a tall platform feeder like the Bed & Breakfast sold by PMCA. Set it up within 10' of the martin house and martins will use it as extra perching. After they start perching on it, use it to offer egg shells. Then on cool, rainy, or windy days, offer crickets on the feeder. There is a fair chance they will learn to eat crickets in this manner. The other thing you can do is leave dead crickets on their porches or in their housing while they are away hunting on bad weather days. If they return hungry, they may eat the crickets.
A great time to train them to accept food from a platform is after they have nestlings. Parents struggle to feed hungry young on cool, rainy, or windy days.
I did introduce my colony to supplemental feeding by slingshotting crickets. However, the birds were on the brink of starvation before they would accept them. After the first bird finally got curious and caught that first cricket, the whole colony joined in and BINGO they all learned immediately. But it didn't happen until they were desperately hungry.
If you do want to try tossing, I recommend you use a slingshot or flip crickets with a plastic spoon. The throwing motion of an arm can be threatening for martins not accustomed to it plus you have to get uncomfortably close. After martins understand what it's all about, the throwing motion won't scare them at all -and- they won't mind you being close.
Have a great first season,
Mary
Congratulations on starting a northern martin colony! 6 pairs is a fabulous start! Can you post a photo of your site to help others in your area learn what is successful?
This spring has had the best weather for martins in our area since 1999.
Your weather is probably similar to mine. My colony is feeding itself just fine and I suspect yours is, too. It is difficult to train martins to feed when hunting is good. They love to hunt and prefer feeding themselves when possible.
What you could do instead is build or purchase a tall platform feeder like the Bed & Breakfast sold by PMCA. Set it up within 10' of the martin house and martins will use it as extra perching. After they start perching on it, use it to offer egg shells. Then on cool, rainy, or windy days, offer crickets on the feeder. There is a fair chance they will learn to eat crickets in this manner. The other thing you can do is leave dead crickets on their porches or in their housing while they are away hunting on bad weather days. If they return hungry, they may eat the crickets.
A great time to train them to accept food from a platform is after they have nestlings. Parents struggle to feed hungry young on cool, rainy, or windy days.
I did introduce my colony to supplemental feeding by slingshotting crickets. However, the birds were on the brink of starvation before they would accept them. After the first bird finally got curious and caught that first cricket, the whole colony joined in and BINGO they all learned immediately. But it didn't happen until they were desperately hungry.
If you do want to try tossing, I recommend you use a slingshot or flip crickets with a plastic spoon. The throwing motion of an arm can be threatening for martins not accustomed to it plus you have to get uncomfortably close. After martins understand what it's all about, the throwing motion won't scare them at all -and- they won't mind you being close.
Have a great first season,
Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Guest
Thanks Mary,
I will post a picture soon. I am sure the birds at my site are from a big colony that used to be in Green Springs. The landlord passed away and the new owner didn't care to keep the housing. I will take them! These birds visited my site off and on the last seven years, attracted by the dawn song, but the females would not stay and nest. I hope other people are attracting and enjoying these beautiful birds around the area. Thanks for the feeding information, I am going to start building a bed and breakfast ASAP.
I will post a picture soon. I am sure the birds at my site are from a big colony that used to be in Green Springs. The landlord passed away and the new owner didn't care to keep the housing. I will take them! These birds visited my site off and on the last seven years, attracted by the dawn song, but the females would not stay and nest. I hope other people are attracting and enjoying these beautiful birds around the area. Thanks for the feeding information, I am going to start building a bed and breakfast ASAP.
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hi Don,
It is wonderful that some of that forsaken colony has found a great home. Your theory certainly explains why you were able suddenly to attract so many martins in an area where it is difficult just to attract a single pair. I expect that you will pick up some additional subbies - migration in our area is just starting.
I am thrilled that these birds have found a home where they will be appreciated and cared for. If you need any assistance please contact me or other experienced landlords in southern Michigan. You can find us on the Map at the Michigan Martins website: http://michiganmartins.com/
Here is an older post of mine with much more info on supplemental feeding of martins:
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic ... ght=#57516
Please keep in touch, Mary
It is wonderful that some of that forsaken colony has found a great home. Your theory certainly explains why you were able suddenly to attract so many martins in an area where it is difficult just to attract a single pair. I expect that you will pick up some additional subbies - migration in our area is just starting.
I am thrilled that these birds have found a home where they will be appreciated and cared for. If you need any assistance please contact me or other experienced landlords in southern Michigan. You can find us on the Map at the Michigan Martins website: http://michiganmartins.com/
Here is an older post of mine with much more info on supplemental feeding of martins:
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic ... ght=#57516
Please keep in touch, Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"