Hi Fred.
It is a joy for those of us who see many migrate by us to know that martins have found a great new site in the north. May the alpha male be the first of many and may the days ahead bless all of you with good weather and the sounds of the martins' love and happiness.
Best wishes from South Texas. john & louise
Good Friday has been good to me! News Flash...He's Banded!
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John Barrow
- Posts: 982
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 4:12 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi / Sandia , Texas
~~TEAMED WITH A MARTIN GODDESS~~
Member/Mentor-PMCA. I do regular nestchecks and participate in PROJECT MARTINWATCH!! Coordinated 3 geolocator studies-2009, 2010 & 2013. State and Fed licensed bander (retired Jan., 2020)
Member/Mentor-PMCA. I do regular nestchecks and participate in PROJECT MARTINWATCH!! Coordinated 3 geolocator studies-2009, 2010 & 2013. State and Fed licensed bander (retired Jan., 2020)
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Guest
Fred,
Good for you! Let's hope this turns out to be your year. Keep us posted.
Every time you struggle to read those bands I'll bet your wishing for RFID tags like we discussed. It would be really cool to be able to read the tag and trace him, but I think the most important ID at your site has already been made - he's a martin!
Jeff Nelson
Good for you! Let's hope this turns out to be your year. Keep us posted.
Every time you struggle to read those bands I'll bet your wishing for RFID tags like we discussed. It would be really cool to be able to read the tag and trace him, but I think the most important ID at your site has already been made - he's a martin!
Jeff Nelson
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Fred Kaluza~MI
- Posts: 606
- Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2003 10:40 pm
- Location: Port Huron, Michigan
- Martin Colony History: Tried and tried and had some visitors but...not enough good insects around here to keep them interested.
Well, it was fun for the time he was here, and I watched him emerge from a gourd this morning at 7:30. He hung around 'till 10 and then departed to the East. He's not been back. I was practically worthless at work today watching my web-cam so now I have to go in at night to get done what needs doing. I came home for a couple hours to blast a couple HOSPs, get some grub and check email. Maybe he got bored, maybe he resented the fact that I continued to play dawnsong at 4:30 AM. Well, if he's going to sleep in until 7:30, he might be missing his own friends. Maybe he is out rustling up a mate or has just moved to where the eating is better. Who knows. If I have to wait another 4 years before this happens again, then something's got to change.
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
This time of the year the martins in my colony are typically gone from about 10 AM until dusk. Especially on cool, breezy days like today. I assume they go to their favorite hunting area - sure wish I knew where that was.
In fact, a few are just now returning at 7:45 PM.
Your male could slip into his gourd late without you even seeing him.
Other landlords in exactly your situation have reported lone males leaving for a day or two at a time and eventually returning with a female. This can happen over and over until he finds one who agrees to be a colony founder.
The thing is, there is really no reason for him to hang around much until he has a mate and starts nest building and egg-laying. Egg-laying usually doesn't start in my colony until mid-late May.
In fact, a few are just now returning at 7:45 PM.
Your male could slip into his gourd late without you even seeing him.
Other landlords in exactly your situation have reported lone males leaving for a day or two at a time and eventually returning with a female. This can happen over and over until he finds one who agrees to be a colony founder.
The thing is, there is really no reason for him to hang around much until he has a mate and starts nest building and egg-laying. Egg-laying usually doesn't start in my colony until mid-late May.
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Guest
Mary, it is so good to hear from you!!! Post often as you are a great help to everyone.
Fred, don't give up hope yet. My male returned the 3rd week of Mar. A day later he disapeared and it turned cold. He didn't come back till last week and he still doesn't have a female. He started spending the night last Monday. One night in teh middle of this week he either didn't come back or came in late as I didn't see him till the afternoon of the following day.
Who knows what they do and why they do it till they pair up and get ready to nest.
Fred, don't give up hope yet. My male returned the 3rd week of Mar. A day later he disapeared and it turned cold. He didn't come back till last week and he still doesn't have a female. He started spending the night last Monday. One night in teh middle of this week he either didn't come back or came in late as I didn't see him till the afternoon of the following day.
Who knows what they do and why they do it till they pair up and get ready to nest.
Last edited by Guest on Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Al Denton
- Posts: 1468
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:31 pm
- Location: Carolina Shores NC
- Martin Colony History: New site and housing for 2018...Trendsetter 12. 1 pair of subs. Fledged 5...2019...11 pairs
Hang in there Fred 
I know all too well what you're going through right now. I did'nt see my bird today or his lady friend. Lots of questions and lots of if's ? The weather was nasty here this afternoon, so maybe that was it. Well, remember it's still early in the season. Maybe our ASY's will just hang around long enough for the subs to show up. Maybe they'll be back tomorrow. Al
I know all too well what you're going through right now. I did'nt see my bird today or his lady friend. Lots of questions and lots of if's ? The weather was nasty here this afternoon, so maybe that was it. Well, remember it's still early in the season. Maybe our ASY's will just hang around long enough for the subs to show up. Maybe they'll be back tomorrow. Al2018-new site...1 pair
2019-11 pairs
2020-15 pairs
2019-11 pairs
2020-15 pairs
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Guest
Fred,
I gotta believe that the fact you had a martin visit this early bodes well for you. I've never had a martin visit our site earlier than June 15th. Your martin obviously found the site very inviting and it makes sense that he now needs to attract some company.
Two years ago we had a young male that spent over a month visiting our site every day. He would often disappear for a while and then reappear with some other martins in tow. He would swoop and land on the house trying to draw the others down to look. He would then fly very high, circle the site, and return to the house. It was obvious to us that he was working very hard to 'sell' others on our location. I thought seriously about getting a little red sport coat made for our little realtor - he sure tried hard.
The sad news is that we did not see him return last year. We had so hoped he would be back - but of course we have no idea what might have happened to him or why he did not return. Hopefully your guy can close the deal with a lady friend and settle down and raise a colony. Good luck!
Jeff Nelson
I gotta believe that the fact you had a martin visit this early bodes well for you. I've never had a martin visit our site earlier than June 15th. Your martin obviously found the site very inviting and it makes sense that he now needs to attract some company.
Two years ago we had a young male that spent over a month visiting our site every day. He would often disappear for a while and then reappear with some other martins in tow. He would swoop and land on the house trying to draw the others down to look. He would then fly very high, circle the site, and return to the house. It was obvious to us that he was working very hard to 'sell' others on our location. I thought seriously about getting a little red sport coat made for our little realtor - he sure tried hard.
The sad news is that we did not see him return last year. We had so hoped he would be back - but of course we have no idea what might have happened to him or why he did not return. Hopefully your guy can close the deal with a lady friend and settle down and raise a colony. Good luck!
Jeff Nelson
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Fred Kaluza~MI
- Posts: 606
- Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2003 10:40 pm
- Location: Port Huron, Michigan
- Martin Colony History: Tried and tried and had some visitors but...not enough good insects around here to keep them interested.
Ah well, things have returned to my normal "Martinlessness". I had some hope last evening as I made one last look at his favorite gourd with the binocs from within 50 feet but it was so dark. Still I thought I saw maybe a beak or forehead once or twice. After Mary's suggestion that they do stay away all day and can quickly sneak back in at dusk, I thought there was maybe hope this morning but he was a no-show at sunup. We need some more of those good breezes from the south. True it's still early for us but somehow I feel this is all the excitement I'm "due" for one year. I opened up the Chimney Swift tower yesterday to get my mind off of Martins. I also spoke with area bander and author Allen Chartier about what I saw on my visiting Martin's ankles. He stated that the Bird Banding Laboratory frowns on and discourages any double legged aluminum banding. I suggested maybe it was a Canadian initiative but he said their official rules are the same as ours. All he could offer was this was either a rogue effort, or the first band was put on the wrong foot by mistake and not removed (maybe that's real hard to do after they've been crimped). I guess you could use a Dremel with a carbide cut-off disk but it would get warm and be stressful for the bird. He also thought maybe I was seeing a gray "color band" on the opposite leg. Anyhow, if this is all I get it will have been a very memorable 3 days. If I ever do get a colony I swear I will work at night so I can camp out in the yard during the day with a pellet gun to ward off those pesky-pesky HOSPs. It's cruel to see how they even harass Robins during nest building. If I could start over I know I'd go into bio-medicine and pursue genetic research and find a way to GET RID OF THOSE PESTS from North and South America. That was one special Martin though! Good luck with yours Al!
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Guest
Fred,
Look at it this way. With bands on both legs, you now have the dubious honor of having hosted the martin with the most bling! Imagine how fashion consious martins (and their hosts) must feel after learning about the fashion statement made by your visitor.
I understand exactly how you feel. We have been going through this same drill for over eight years here on the western side of Michigan. I still think that it might be easier attracting ivory billed woodpeckers. I'm very thankful that the bluebirds and other types of swallows (TS's and barnies) are relatively easy to attract and host.
I sure am interested in seeing how much success you have with the chimney swift tower. I have lumber to build a tower but other projects have stood in the way of getting it done. I really don't think I'll get my chimney swift tower up in time for this current season. Same goes for my jumbo sized bat house. Even worse, my wife keeps reminding me that the housing we have for the human residents on our place needs work, too
! What does prority mean? Ours are bent apparently, because she keeps telling me to get mine straight 
!
Jeff Nelson
Look at it this way. With bands on both legs, you now have the dubious honor of having hosted the martin with the most bling!
Imagine how fashion consious martins (and their hosts) must feel after learning about the fashion statement made by your visitor. I understand exactly how you feel. We have been going through this same drill for over eight years here on the western side of Michigan. I still think that it might be easier attracting ivory billed woodpeckers. I'm very thankful that the bluebirds and other types of swallows (TS's and barnies) are relatively easy to attract and host.
I sure am interested in seeing how much success you have with the chimney swift tower. I have lumber to build a tower but other projects have stood in the way of getting it done. I really don't think I'll get my chimney swift tower up in time for this current season. Same goes for my jumbo sized bat house. Even worse, my wife keeps reminding me that the housing we have for the human residents on our place needs work, too
! What does prority mean? Ours are bent apparently, because she keeps telling me to get mine straight ! Jeff Nelson