The landlords in the upper midwest that are caught up the that stationary storm stuck up around Chicago, if you have the means to feed your birds I recommend you do so. I found a dead bird on the ground this am, no visible signs of damage including starvation. The behavior of the birds have been setting in the box, setting on the east side of a roof of a metal building, ( winds up to 40mph from the west /northwest for @ 3 days now)setting on 4' high fence and setting on the ground. I was lucky I had about 1200 crickets in the freezer, they ate all of them.
I've got a dozen eggs if someone can tell me the best or a way to scramble them for feeding -- thanks.
upper midwest, birds hungry
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Leverett Doehring/Mo
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2004 12:04 pm
- Location: Villa Ridge, Mo
- Martin Colony History: 1st birds 1990. 1 12 room metal house, colony started.
current 2 tr14s, 1 tr18, and 56 gourds, usually average @ 70 pair. 102 rooms available.
above mounted on 4 structures..
itsjustLEV
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
read this thread for instructions:
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2742
Good luck, Mary
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2742
Good luck, Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Leverett Doehring/Mo
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2004 12:04 pm
- Location: Villa Ridge, Mo
- Martin Colony History: 1st birds 1990. 1 12 room metal house, colony started.
current 2 tr14s, 1 tr18, and 56 gourds, usually average @ 70 pair. 102 rooms available.
above mounted on 4 structures..
Mary thanks for the info, works great. The birds were still just setting around after feeding the 1200 crickets so this eveing I went out with @ 70 meal worms and 2 scrambled eggs, I don't think any of it hit the ground. So I came back in and fixed 4 more eggs and went back out with the wife in tow, same results, I guess I'll feed eggs again in the morning.
itsjustLEV
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Bob Flam
Yep my birds are full,
I saw them starting to communal roost today in one compartment. They was all in it with tail feathers sticking out.
I thought I'd try eggs today since I'm out of crickets also. Something I've never really done. Figured I would toss some egg and put some in the B&B with the crickets. The crickets were gone!
But the egg was a smashin success. I went through 4 eggs worth and they wanted more, so I did 4 more eggs worth. They is FULL with some in the B&B for those who want em later.
Tossing egg is much more rewarding for them than crickets or meal worms I believe. As far as more birds getting some per toss. And the pieces that fall to the ground even had a couple getting them there. If the dog didn't 1st
They are sitting on the perchs shaking their feathers in the light rain and talking...it's been awhile
bob
I saw them starting to communal roost today in one compartment. They was all in it with tail feathers sticking out.
I thought I'd try eggs today since I'm out of crickets also. Something I've never really done. Figured I would toss some egg and put some in the B&B with the crickets. The crickets were gone!
But the egg was a smashin success. I went through 4 eggs worth and they wanted more, so I did 4 more eggs worth. They is FULL with some in the B&B for those who want em later.
Tossing egg is much more rewarding for them than crickets or meal worms I believe. As far as more birds getting some per toss. And the pieces that fall to the ground even had a couple getting them there. If the dog didn't 1st
They are sitting on the perchs shaking their feathers in the light rain and talking...it's been awhile
bob
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Great job, guys!
The message is.....
Train your colony to accept food from you by feeding crickets or mealworms, then switch them to scrambled egg when they are so desperately hungry they will try anything.
Martins need about 1/2 an egg a day apiece to meet basic calorie needs. So, if you've got 24 birds in your colony expect to feed a dozen eggs a day to keep them healthy through long no-hunting spells.
I have fed about 15 dozen eggs over the last 4 days.
It's not all going to the martins - Robins, Blue Jays, Blackbirds, and Grackles are eating it. A few weeks ago a Bluebird was eating it, too.
MARTINS LOVE SCRAMBLED EGG ONCE THEY LEARN TO EAT IT!
Given a choice, my colony chooses egg over crickets - hands down!. Eggs are so much more available and so much cheaper!
The message is.....
Train your colony to accept food from you by feeding crickets or mealworms, then switch them to scrambled egg when they are so desperately hungry they will try anything.
Martins need about 1/2 an egg a day apiece to meet basic calorie needs. So, if you've got 24 birds in your colony expect to feed a dozen eggs a day to keep them healthy through long no-hunting spells.
I have fed about 15 dozen eggs over the last 4 days.
It's not all going to the martins - Robins, Blue Jays, Blackbirds, and Grackles are eating it. A few weeks ago a Bluebird was eating it, too.
MARTINS LOVE SCRAMBLED EGG ONCE THEY LEARN TO EAT IT!
Given a choice, my colony chooses egg over crickets - hands down!. Eggs are so much more available and so much cheaper!
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
Hi Mary I put crickets in the T-14 at the nature center and it did not work.They must be getting bugs some how being by the marsh. but mine is eating just fine and singing well,almost out of crickets though. Hopefully they will be here Monday. Tony
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Donnie Hurdt MN
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
- Location: North Prairie, MN
This afternoon it turned a bit nicer around here I saw some chimney swifts and tree swallows feeding late this afternoon and while at my parents place I saw a pair of martins feeding too.
PMCA member and Martin fanatic....
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
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Bob Flam
It was lousy here almost all day. About the time it seemed it might give them a chance to go out...it'd rain more. I don't think mine would have come out all day if it wasn't for me taking food out.
When I gave them the second batch of egg, they got full and quit chasing it. I left some in the B&B for them. They sat on the perchs and flew around a little. They even actually started going back to their perspective rooms and gourds to hang out. Only a couple seemed to use the B&B though, which caused me some concern.
So at around 6:30, between rains, I went back out and lowered the B&B. Stood by it and took egg from it to toss. They all started to eat again from the tossing. It didn't last as long and they seemed to get full again.
By this time they were getting active again finally Not getting wound up at all but flyin about...talking...cruising the area for short flights...checking out gourds and the housing. Wasn't any fighting at all...they have seemed to settle into a nice community of martins because of this.
At about 7:30 I saw several sitting on the B&B eating egg. They have figured it out
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
A huge thanks to the PMCA and all the Landlords that share their wealth of knowledge, time, and help for these birds and fellow Landlords!! You people on here make me proud to know you...even if it is just an internet forum
One of these years I'm going to have to get to Martin Fest to meet ya all.
God Bless,
bob
When I gave them the second batch of egg, they got full and quit chasing it. I left some in the B&B for them. They sat on the perchs and flew around a little. They even actually started going back to their perspective rooms and gourds to hang out. Only a couple seemed to use the B&B though, which caused me some concern.
So at around 6:30, between rains, I went back out and lowered the B&B. Stood by it and took egg from it to toss. They all started to eat again from the tossing. It didn't last as long and they seemed to get full again.
By this time they were getting active again finally
Not getting wound up at all but flyin about...talking...cruising the area for short flights...checking out gourds and the housing. Wasn't any fighting at all...they have seemed to settle into a nice community of martins because of this. At about 7:30 I saw several sitting on the B&B eating egg. They have figured it out
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
A huge thanks to the PMCA and all the Landlords that share their wealth of knowledge, time, and help for these birds and fellow Landlords!! You people on here make me proud to know you...even if it is just an internet forum
One of these years I'm going to have to get to Martin Fest to meet ya all.God Bless,
bob
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Guest
When is this rain gonna pass?
It's supposed to be rainy here for another week.
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/4 ... undeclared
I hope they are wrong.
It's supposed to be rainy here for another week.
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/4 ... undeclared
I hope they are wrong.