Arrivals "please read"

[Guest]

Now this may sound a little repetitive but oh well.

Martins are not showing up eventhough I had about 6 sy's around here last year, one which was committed to the site. I have two t-14s and 6 gourds on each of them. The houses are placed with consideration to their surroundings. 30 ft from human housing and not any where near a tree and power lines surrounding but 30 ft and up away from the housing.

My questions are since there are plenty of barn S and Tree S here shouldnt the martins be here also. Also, since all I had last year was sy's will they also be a little late? Hopefully they werent killed in a storm! The sy that was committed I had found one morning in one of the compartments of my one t-14 I got to hold him that was exciting he screeched real loud but I dont think that effected his attitude towards the site at all. He had an sy female around for like 2 days. Also in august I had a ASY male flying around the housing when it was down and a ASY female sitting on a power line watching. What exactly does this all mean towards getting a colonly established? Oh, and this is my 4th year. Thanks

[John Miller]

It would be helpful to know where you are located. You might add this to your profile.

I suspect the ASY martin population in Missouri (middle America) will be a little down this year because of deaths in April. In three scattered sites I manage in an urban park, I see one site up, one the same and one site down. Subbies should be arriving any minute but I have not confirmed a sighting yet -- maybe this evening.

It is frustrating that the subbies you had as visitors last year have not returned. As two year old birds, they would not have been among the first wave of three years and older birds and probably arrived just after the April cold. But while getting visiting subbies is promising for the next season, we know it's not a guarantee.

If you or anyone needing a martin fix are ever in St. Louis, I'll gladly give you a tour of our park sites.

John Miller

[Dennis D]

Not one subbie spotted over here yet John.

[Guest]

Im from Tiffin OHIo

[John Atteberry]

You still have alot of time to attract old and new martins at your site! Just be patient and you will see some! John!

[Guest]

Thanks

[Sparky]

There was quite a few SY's passing through last week here in waves. So, you should be seeing them soon!

[Guest]

I saw my first sy male of the year. He showed up yesterday around 7:15 pm. The asy's were making a racket back there and when I went to check it out I saw him on top the housing. First I though it was a sy female. But a closer look with bino's he had dark spots running up sides and breast area. Then pretty blotchy around neck. Not sure if he stayed, I have around 24 martins and 8-9 nest going is so far. They don't sit still very long, fighting over compartments, getting nesting material, out feeding ect.... Hope to get a little more time tomorrow morning before work to see if he is still around!
Crutch

[DeepPurple]

Here in Western Kentucky (Morganfield) I had not seen much activity here at my house until yesterday. Most activity was 12 miles south of here at the Sturgis golf course.

Yesterday there were at one time about a dozen PMs flying high over the house. A group of six circled and came lower. They inspected my 12 compartment house and zoomed over the top of me and my dog. They continued to circle and then leave, then come back to circle some more. I haven't seen any land on the house or light wires 30 feet from the house.

How can I make my house more attractive to insure that some will want to set up residence?

Last year I had four who were starting to nest when the cold spell drove them away.

[klcretired]

Here's the scout arrival page, jus scroll down to the map and clik on your state, it will tell you :

http://www.purplemartin.org/scoutreport/