Incredibly spectacular

[adrianhans]

Hey John,
Just read your great post. I wanted you and everyone else to know that late this evening, I was overrun with migrating martins. At one time, I counted 210 on the housing systems along with 93 on the electric lines to the west. Also, saw about 100 over the neighbor's gourd racks. The day was windy and rainy. I watched in awe as they flushed and then blackened the sky and then headed back to the housing. They looked like B-52 bombers! I spent the remaining daylight flipping a dozen eggs, 500 crickets and many mealworms. The birds were hungry and many seemed to be familiar with supplemental feeding. If not, they were learning. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and warm, but I will make sure they are not hungry before they leave. Some did use the B & B, but most prefer the flipped eggs.
I have a question...I put up some Bo gourds that I had added new tunnels to. They have a type of wing entrapment protection built in. Strangely, I never saw one martin enter those gourds. Many tried, but did not enter. Has anyone experienced this? Should I get out my dremmel tomorrow?
Something else I was wondering about. I was curious to see where all of those martins would go tonight. There are only about 6 left outside now. Are martins like chickens that go into a trance at night? I know that one can pick up chickens and handle them at night without them even noticing. Maybe martins are like that since strangers can enter the gourds later, seemingly unnoticed, where earlier they were struggling in vain to be allowed in.
To all of you landlords, get ready! These martins are eager to get home.

[Allan Day]

WOW

[Scott D.- La]

Adrianhans,
Are those Ultimate Clinger tunnels with the Wing Entrapment guard. If they are, you don't want to mess with them. I have a bunch of them in use, and many, many pairs of Martins using them just fine and they are doing their job, preventing entrapments. If you have any doubts about what you have, please post a pic of it. Thanks.

[adrianhans]

Thanks Scott,
I will try them a while on your advice. I had an adult male get trapped in the Lone Star today. By the time I got to him, he had most of his head feathers ripped out. OUCH. Not a pretty sight.
I appreciate the input.
Adrian

[Guest]

Awesome!!! I've only seen 4 or 5 around here. They've circled mine a couple of times but no takers yet.

[Jim Spetzman]

We are in Mission, TX for the winter and I had the same thing today. I have a small 8 compartment house and it was so covered with martins that it looked black! There were at least 25 birds on it and at one time I had my wife come out and look and we saw at least 100 martins soaring in the sky. I have never seen so many at one time! In a few weeks we will be heading back to Minnesota and maybe I will see some of them in a month or so. Jim

[John Barrow]

Hi Adrian,

What a spectacular site. I am sorry I missed you late last week. I am sorry I am not there with you to witness this arrival. And coastal arrivals will only get larger as the SYs arrive in April. As I wrote the Update article I call "First Stop USA", I was aware that there is probably no place in N. America where one can witness arrivals of purple martins to equal Port O' 'Connor. I am so proud of what we accomplished there--I am so proud of the fine work you, and others, have done and are doing.

It tore out my heart to leave Port O. I feel nothing but rejoice in knowing the effort that friends like you expend to keep helping the martins.

Thank you so much for the photo--it brings back many memories. You are witnessing something no one else sees. Watch it closely, and enjoy it. And don't forget to feed the hungry birds--sometimes they need our help.

I wish you and Tommy the best. I hope our trails will cross soon.

Best wishes,
jb, corpus christi, tx

[april57]

I am waiting in northern canada for the martins to arrive. I guess I am jumping the gun so early. We have to wait until the middle of april for the earliest ones. Ohhh I wish I could see hundreds I would have a heart attack...lolo

[adrianhans]

Hey Jim,
Mission!!! I was reared in McAllen. We always loved the winter Texans.
Maybe you can tell the martins where you are heading and they will catch your tail wind home. That way, Minnesota and Canada will have early arrivals.
David, I had to look up Diana. I will put out directional arrows for the birds and advertise your place to the homeless. Look for them soon.
Gotta go to the local store and stock up on eggs. However, it is looking to be a perfect day for the martins.
Good Luck.
Adrian

[Guest]

Hey Jim,
Mission!!! I was reared in McAllen. We always loved the winter Texans.
Maybe you can tell the martins where you are heading and they will catch your tail wind home. That way, Minnesota and Canada will have early arrivals.
David, I had to look up Diana. I will put out directional arrows for the birds and advertise your place to the homeless. Look for them soon.
Gotta go to the local store and stock up on eggs. However, it is looking to be a perfect day for the martins.
Good Luck.
Adrian

Hey! I appreciate that. I'm ready for some BIRDS!!!

[KathyF]

Wow Adrian - you are so fortunate to witness such an event! The chatter must have been deafening and so very sweet to hear!

Great picture - thanks for posting it - it made my day!

[trisha]

Adrian, that is a truly incredible picture! Thank you for taking such good care of the martins and sharing the picture... You are doing an awesome job! Keep sending the pictures!

[Guest]

What an amazing picture. It must be so neat to live in an area where you get to experience such incredible sights. Thank you for taking such great care of everyone's migrating martins.

[donnak-Tx]

What a beautiful sight! Thanks for posting. I'm quite sure that I saw at least 3 of my pairs sitting on the top rack- you know the real pretty ones? Send them north please

[Guest]

Thank you for posting the beautiful site and encouraging us. Our martins are engaging in the selection process they do each year, but we are not up to full numbers yet.. Thanks, we love it.....

[diane davis-ms]

WOW! TOTALY AMAZING. THANK'S FOR THE PHOTO,

[adrianhans]

Just as quickly as they appeared, they left!
After all sqeezing into the gourds that night (except for 6), the next morning, they slowly emerged to sit on the racks. My husband and I flipped eggs in tandem for about an hour. We had to pull up chairs; we were getting tired. Then, as the sun crisped up the sky and perhaps a "hawk" warning rang out, they all flushed, not to be seen again. It was a great purple martin kind of day, lots of sun, little wind.
Donna K, I did see your pairs. They were taking an especially long time to preen in preparation for their homecoming. Put out the welcome mat!
Thanks to all for the nice comments.
Cheers.
Adrian

[APB]

Next time you have a bunch visiting, hold your right and up to them, palm side to them, and point to just below your thumb on the palm and yell "right here! There waiting for you!"

I've got the itch! Just ordered crickets and more gourds!

Allen
Monroe, MI

[John Barrow]

bumped to accompany thread on where we are today in migration

[Caroline94535-ND]

Wow! I hope some of them are my North Dakota babies. Tell them to take their time, though. We still have snow on the ground and it got down to 14 a couple nights ago.

This is such a beautiful photo. It gave me heart palpataions! :grin: