I was wanting to here from established colony landlords that have not had their Martins return yet. I was interested in your location and if you have seen any at all.
I live here in Central, Illinois. This is going on my 7th year. I have had a couple pairs of sy's in prior years but not sure they knew what they were doing The last three years have been good ones. 05 fledged almost 30 and in 06 fledged right at 40. I had around 8 pairs and 5 of those were asy pairs. Also several unmated living here.
So far this year I have only seen a asy female a couple weeks ago, she landed (checking out dawnsong) for a few minutes and took off. That has been it........Zilch!!!!
Just was curious on who else is waiting on their martins and your location!
Thanks
Crutch
I live in North Mississippi and have 1 ASY male that has been staying here for maybe 3 weeks. He keeps bring an ASY female here (from a neighboring colony) but she apparently don't want to stay here. I haven't seen any SY's yet. I am afraid martins are going to be scarce in this area this year. Still waiting and hoping I am wrong.
Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
No martins here in Rehoboth Beach, DE yet. I think the frigid weather has slowed the northward movement of the main mass of martins. Only a few hardy scouts have come this far north and east.
No Martins have returned here in southwest Michigan yet. We have about 30 nesting pairs in the summer. Typically we see our first scout around April 2nd. Im glad they havent return yet, hopefully they are still in warmer weather. I have never seen such a prolonged cold spell in April. This is really crazy weather.
Nothing here yet. Usually they arrive around April 15 - I hope they will be late this season - icecubes still floating in the lake! . Just can't stop worrying what, if anything. happened to the this week
I'm here in Minden, IA and had my first ASY on March 19, 2007. This was really early and I thought he was just passing through. He continued to stay during the day but never spent the night. On March 26, 2007 he brought a female to the house and they stayed during the day but again never at night. Before the cold spell hit early last week, they both vanished. Haven't seen a Martin since.
I've had 3 years of successful breeding with last year fledging 32. I'm getting concerned now that maybe the rest of my martins aren't going to make it back. The weather is a little better this week but still not good for Martins. I'm just keeping my eyes to the sky and hoping for the best.
Crutch,
This will be my fourth year as a purple martin land lord. I had 48 pair in 2006 lay eggs. I have yet to see a martin at my site as of April 10, 2007.
This is fine with me since the weather has been any thing but favorable for their return. Hope they don't show up before April 16th this year. In 2006 they didn't start spending the night at my site until April 8th.
My site is in Omaha, Nebraska at the west edge.
Central KY - 30 mi S of Lexington. On Mar 24, one happy male helped me put up my last house. Here about 10 min. Nary a sign since. Past few nights, even the sparrows have deserted!
No martins at my site here in Dover De. I had 2 pairs last season. I've been checking several locations near me and it looks like they survived the cold spell. I did see one site with about 1 dozen birds today, I believe some are new arrivals. Some sites are still empty that had birds last year.
No Martins RI,CT,MA
Kind of happy to hear that people well south of me like DE have no martins
thats means my birds are well south of you in southern FLA i hope...
There return here is anytime after the 15th a rare older bird may
stray in before that but most perish if they do because so harsh up here in the north east. Ray
As of today I still haven't seen any of my returning martins. Last year the first showed up on 4-7-06. I guess Im not that far over due. Another site a couple miles away reported he has a pair and another asy male. He has probably around 30 natural gourds with round holes. I believe he told me last year he was pretty full.
I just see all the asy scout reports way past my area and just wonder why mine aren't back!
Thank again....I'll keep checking post!
crutch
I did see two of the martins our flying around today. They seemed in fairly good shape. Flying up high then soaring around. Since it was in the low 50's today, I am hoping they found some food. I never did see the third martin today, but he may have been hunting a little further away from the site.
I was sure you would have one back at your place by now.
I am baffled by the fact I have not seen the 2 to 3 pair of tree swallows around since the weather turned cold last week. I figured they would be a little hardier at surviving the colder weather, since they can eat more than just insects.
Hello,
I had finally seen a barn swallow yeterday and today. I think last year they showed up just before the martins did. Every year they nest under the bridge behind my house. Hopefully thats a good sign!
Crutch
No martins yet For the last four years they have been showing up between 4-5 and 4-10 . But this year I thank God that there not here yet. Started to snow yesterday at 7:00am and is still snowing as of now. We have 5in on the ground so far and more snow on the way for this weekend. I do belive mouther nature has gone
PM Fanatic and proud Landlord. My goal is 100 pairs and 100 landlords.
I live in Southern Indiana, near the Ohio River, Last year I started out with 118 pair and had a huge established colony for years. In may last year we had that wet, cold spell and most of my colony had starved to death. So far this year I have ZERO birds. What a differnece a year can make.
Your profile said 26 pairs, I am surprised that a couple of them aren't back yet, of course I haven't got mine back either. I suppose they are taking their time due to the weather and like you said, "Thank God they aren't here yet". I just hope they didn't travel up to far and the weather caught up with them. You can bet I will post on the first martin that shows back up here. Goodluck!
NHoffman,
Sorry for your loss, I suppose wether you lose one or a hundred its still a painful loss. I bet when your whole colony was flying around it was a beautiful sight. You hang in there, to have that many Martins you must be a pretty good Land Lord. Martins are pretty smart birds and it won't take them long to figure that out. Best wishes to you this year and keep looking up!
Thanks again for all the replies! I am just seeing if I can figure out where the vast majority of the asy martins that people had last year are located. Trying to see if they are just staying south till weather breaks, Has there been a big drop in pollution due to unforseen conditions or happenings elsewhere? I am just concerned, as it just would feel right if they don't return! I think this weather is suppose to get better with Sunday being 54 and Monday sunny 63. Hopefully then it will start raining......MARTINS!
Crutch
Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
At least I have not seen any at my setup and I had a nesting pair and a single SY male last year.
Monsoon type rains this morning. Too much rain for even ducks!!! :-)
Extremely windy as well. It is "mild" though at 59 degrees and may get up into the mid 60's after this storm front moves out. Hope so.
I am hoping to see some martins next week as I THINK that is the week they showed up last year. This year I am going to take note of the date and write it down.
The last three years have been good ones. 05 fledged almost 30 and in 06 fledged right at 40. I had around 8 pairs and 5 of those were asy pairs. Also several unmated living here. 
For the last four years they have been showing up between 4-5 and 4-10 . But this year I thank God that there not here yet. Started to snow yesterday at 7:00am and is still snowing as of now. We have 5in on the ground so far and more snow on the way for this weekend. I do belive mouther nature has gone 