I can't shake the feeling that something has happened to my main patriarch, possibly the other as well. I should have them here by now (a week late when the bulk seem to be arriving early) claiming their nest cavities. Instead, all I've had is a very brief visit by two martins last week (not to return), and since then an occasional fly-over. Being my fifth season, shouldn't I have some hustle and bustle, instead of wary and cautious behavior? I know I should be positively grateful that I'm even seeing a martin at all, but I don't believe these are my familiar friends.
Has anyone else noticed their regular birds being "late" or a "no-show"? To know of these reports might help in estimating Hurricane Ike's impact on our migrating friends. Of course, I realize that anything could've happened to them from last year to present, so mere speculation boils down to nothing...still, it's a thought.
Robin
Hurricane Ike casualties?
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Joe Zorn
Robin,
My first birds arrived exactly the same day this 3rd year as they did in my 2nd season last year. Feb 13th.
They hung around for a day or two, then I didn't see much of them for about a week.
About the 20th, I started paying the Dawn Song almost non-stop and birds began arriving withing minutes of first putting the CD player on. After about four days of that, I now have 9 birds in residence, and they seem to be getting more plentiful the last couple of days.
I had not planned to do the dawn song this year, since I had 14 pair last season. It sure seemed to help bring them back in, or at least I think it did. Maybe these would have come back anyway. I just cannot say.
This is only February 26th, still very early, even for an established site such as yours. It is possible, of course, that your patriarch didn't survive the trip south and back. Five seasons is a pretty good run for a PM to keep returning.
If the birds that returned exactly on schedule were my patriarch, then they decided to switch houses. Most have chosen the new Folgers 14 pole that I put up a few weeks ago, or the gourds that hand under it. The three older houses nor their gourds underneath are not so popular yet.
Joe
My first birds arrived exactly the same day this 3rd year as they did in my 2nd season last year. Feb 13th.
They hung around for a day or two, then I didn't see much of them for about a week.
About the 20th, I started paying the Dawn Song almost non-stop and birds began arriving withing minutes of first putting the CD player on. After about four days of that, I now have 9 birds in residence, and they seem to be getting more plentiful the last couple of days.
I had not planned to do the dawn song this year, since I had 14 pair last season. It sure seemed to help bring them back in, or at least I think it did. Maybe these would have come back anyway. I just cannot say.
This is only February 26th, still very early, even for an established site such as yours. It is possible, of course, that your patriarch didn't survive the trip south and back. Five seasons is a pretty good run for a PM to keep returning.
If the birds that returned exactly on schedule were my patriarch, then they decided to switch houses. Most have chosen the new Folgers 14 pole that I put up a few weeks ago, or the gourds that hand under it. The three older houses nor their gourds underneath are not so popular yet.
Joe
Hi, Joe,
Arriving to the day three years in a row! Amazing little birds, aren't they? That's exactly why I'm worried! Being I do have lookers is encouraging. I'll get that tape rolling (if I can't find it, I hope Daytime Chatter will do...)
That being said, my heart is very heavy for the lack of my two regulars.
Thank you for the good tip!
Robin
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Arriving to the day three years in a row! Amazing little birds, aren't they? That's exactly why I'm worried! Being I do have lookers is encouraging. I'll get that tape rolling (if I can't find it, I hope Daytime Chatter will do...)
That being said, my heart is very heavy for the lack of my two regulars.
Thank you for the good tip!
Robin
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