Time to feed in Illinois

[Frank Hargis-IL]

Weather's turned cool and damp here. Have at least two nest with young. Have been feeding mealworms.

Here's a couple of pictures of our martins wanting fed. One is of a male flying up to our back window to attract my attention. In the other a few of our birds are lined up on an overheard wire waiting to be fed.

Hope this weather improves before long.

Luck,

Frank

[Glen Webb Jr]

It's day 4 for me and things are horrible. Just another damned repeat of 2005 only the weather disaster is later in spring this time around. Birds were right in the middle of egg-laying as well and that has completely stopped. I counted 28 martins going into one gourd yesterday afternoon and I don't know how many were already in there. Others are packing into other gourds and all I can see of them are tail feathers sticking out. It is just so saddening. Now the sparrows and starlings are starting again (well, starlings never have stopped, they are horrible this season) and they have dozens of empty gourds to chose from now. WIth no martins around to defend the gourds, the S&S are able to freely go about their business. I'll be so glad when I can finally get a shot at them.

I'm already expecting some martins to be dead today. Zero subadults right now and I wonder how those poor guys are faring.

Sometimes I think the martin business is just not for me anymore. Too much heartache and trouble involved with so little time to work on it.

[Frank Hargis-IL]

Glen,

I know thing are bad for you but be thankful you don't have babies yet. Ours started hatching just before the bad weather set in. Last nest check was Thursday and we had two nest with babies and more that should hatch any time.

Sure bothers me to see the birds in such bad shape but I guess that just goes with it.

Luck,

Frank

[Bob Flam]

I know how you feel. I can't stop worrying about them. It's day 4 for me also. 3 days straight they haven't left the housing.

It's getting majorly critical. I'm hoping they can get out some this afternoon, but it's misting and wet now again.

Unbelieveable, it's a never ending story up here in the northern states.

But...we do what we can. If we don't...who will? The sparrow and starling lovers???

bob

[Glen Webb Jr]

If we don't...who will? The sparrow and starling lovers???

People who have more time than I do, that's who.

There's no way I could ever try to feed them now. I can't afford it, and I'm gone most of the day (left for work at 5am, won't return home till 5-6pm, most days). And now day 5 of NO feeding. It's misty and wind is blowing like crazy. Current temperature is 42 degrees. I know there are dead birds now. I counted at least 3 gourds that are absolutely packed full of martins. I don't know how those birds all fit in there. But as a result sparrows and starlings are a nuisance with no martins around to defend the gourds. I spent the better part of Sunday sitting in a blind waiting for the pests to return. But as usual if my vehicle is parked out by the colony, the pests seem to know something is up. Everything is a complete mess and I think next year I'm reducing the colony by half or more, and just keeping a few SuperGourds and that's it. If I move to town so I'm closer to work those martins will be stuck on a vacant country lot trying desperately to defend themselves from the S&S. It's just not worth it anymore.

I've been a martin landlord for over 15 years now. I started when I was still in high school and the last 3 or 4 years have just been a burden, emotionally and physically. I feel like the fun has been taken out of it and the only reason I linger on with a colony is because I love those birds so much and want to give them a chance, regardless if I see them or not.

Weather is supposed to do this for another day at least. At least six days of ZERO feeding. How can a martin survive that? I have yet to see any of them feed since last week. They just keep moving from gourd to gourd trying desperately to pack in as many as they can.

Tree swallows and barn swallows seem to be faring quite well. They are small enough to skim the grass and pick insects from tall weeds. Tree swallows have especially been busy picking insects from the tops of weeds and tall grass. But they have abandoned their eggs and young and I haven't even cleaned their nests out yet.

[Bob Flam]

I hope you didn't think the little thing was directed at you Glen. It was directed towards the S&S. I've been frustrated with this weather too and the post lately about sparrows.

Do whats best for you. You've been helping these birds 15 years. No one can take that from you....or them

Wish I lived closer, I'd come over and help ya out. Like I said, do what ya can, but do what you have to for you also. If you want to call it quits while you do what you have to in your life...it doesn't mean you can't have a colony again someday or reduce it now also.

You helped these birds more than most people for 15+years. For that I thank you...and so do the martins. I know you've been trying...thats all we can do. Hold that head up! You deserve it

bob

[Glen Webb Jr]

Oh no I didn't think you were directing the comment to me. I was just using it to start my post is all. We've had over an inch of rain so far this morning. Guess we need the rain but its so depressing. Can't wait for summer and sticky hot hot hot.

[Bob Rogers]

Gentlemen,
Things are tough on this side of the "big muddy" too. I did see about 1/3 to 1/2 of my colony come to roost just at dark tonight --- they were out late hunting in the only decent tempertures in at least a week. If they are going to continue to fight this unusually cool/wet / windy weather than so will I!. Made more scrambled eggs and egg shells and put them both out in their usual eggshell spot. May this will not help, but can't hurt. I too sometimes feel like taking up another obsession, but, when I see those PM's still flying against all odds --- I just got to hang in there with them. Hope the weather man is right about the temperture for the next several days. The PM's (and us landlords) need a break!. Good luck to all!.