Indiana April

[Indiana_Tom]

The other Indiana thread was getting a little long so I started a new one. April should be an exciting month for us and I hope we pass info around on this thread.

I had two pair of martins at my site Sunday afternoon. One pair is spending the night. I am not sure about the second pair, they were still out and about when I came in.

One of the ways we can help each other is to report any bug infestations. I use sevin dust but usually try to wait until I see bugs. I may use a little just before eggs start to hatch to protect the little ones though.

Good luck to all

[Jim 1990]

I had a male scout Arrive today must have been coming up with the warm front as it had reached 65 today. He was flying around and checking in the gourds. Going to get a little cooler up here then get another warm up starting Wednesday and warm into the week end.

Jim 1990

[Grady]

I had at least three males show up and spend the night Sunday night. Only one day earlier than last year. Another Indiana friend of mine had his show up yesterday as well. I was a little worried because it seemed so many in Indiana were coming home early. I feel much beter now.

[Indiana_Tom]

Hi Jim and Grady,

Good to hear from you. I agree with you, I was worried about the martins this year with the termpatures as cold as they were. Especially when it would warm up for a day and then go below freezing again.

Hopefully the weather will straighten up a little now. Today is a rainy windy day but it doesn't bother me because tomorrow is supposed to be warm and sunny. That will give them some good eating time.

I only have one gourd rack up and only 6 gourds open on it. I had the other rack ready but was waiting to put it up because of the high wind. While looking at it yesterday evening, I decided my pulley system was not as good as it should be. I have a wooden yoke that holds the rack and is what the pulley attaches to. The wood is getting weak and I don't trust it. I should be able to get a new system set up today or tomorrow.

Best of luck to all

[flyin-lowe]

I was outside a lot this weekend and didn't see anything other then the TS, I still have my housing closed to keep them out but I think I am going to open some compartments tomorrow. Since I am going to be at work all week and there are already martins well north of me I think I should see some arrivals any day. Hopefully if the TS do start to take residence the returning martins will put them in their place. Typically in the past the TS have started nesting by now and I don't worry as much about them, this year with the cold weather they only started hanging around the last couple of days. I know as soon as I open some compartments they will be ready to move in.

[Indiana_Tom]

flyin-lowe,

I think the trees will do just what you said. I was worried about that also but don't have much choice now. I have read in several places that the trees are only a problem for a site that has not had martins before. Returning martins are supposed to help the trees pack up and move.

Good luck this year

[Jim 1990]

I have heard the same thing about the tree swallows. That if the site is active the martins will not be bothered by the tree swallows. I had the first male arrive yesterday just a day early from last year. Then today a female was with him. the weather was warm yesterday but temps fell from the morning of 60 down to 40s this afternoon then low 30s to night.Then another warm up

They still remember to take crickets and egg as it was chilly and raining when I got home today.

Jim 1990

[landonn]

Indiana_Tom,

Glad you made a new thread. It getting kind of long.

Hope you all have great seasons. I havn't had anything yet. I hoping that I don't go back to trying status, but we will see. I had my first martin on April 27 last year, so I have few days. The landlord that I helped had 8 martins this morning, so they are on their way. The weather looks good too.

Landonn

[Indiana_Tom]

Hey landonn,

I think it is definately early yet. It is hard waiting when you are working with one pair. That is what I did last year. Hopefully they will get there soon and bring several other pair in also.

Good Luck

[landonn]

I also had some subbys that hung around my site last year. They didn't build any half nests, but I think a few claimed gourds. And they were attacking the young after they fledged, so I think these subbys will be back if they made it.

Landonn

[Rich Jewell In]

Well the Trees showed up this morning. It won't be long now. Had my first last year April 14th. The weather in Crown Point is going to stay about 50 the rest of the week. I'm ready.

[Indiana_Tom]

Well, I got my older gourd rack re-built and I am ready. I could put up a T-10 but think I will save it for next year. The martins seem to like the gourds better. I have two racks up. One with 6 Natureline Gourds and 6 Troyer Horz. Gourds. The second rack has 8 Natureline Gourds.

Rich,

You should see some martins today or tomorrow. I have two pair here, just south west of Indianapolis. One seems committed and the other pair seem to be just looking. It is supposed to warm up tomorrow so I would expect the martins to move farther north.

[landonn]

I bet alot of landlords will get their first this weekend. Its supposed to be mid 70s. Hopefully I get my first martin then. I started the dawnsong anyway today.

Landonn

[Indiana_Tom]

Just an update,

I have three ASY males and two ASY females staying here as of Sunday, April 10th. I am looking forward to growing this year. I think it is a big advantage to have martins at your site early because I think just them flying and feeding bring in the majority of additional martins.

I had one pair early last year and ended up with four pair. I am hoping to have at least ten pair this year.

Flying lowe, I remember you saying you had been working and had not had a chance to see how your site was doing. Today is cool and drizzly so it still may be tough to tell how you site is. Give us a yell as soon as you find out on how things are going.

We haven't heard from Sandborn, Indiana lately. Chris, how are you doing down there. Washington and Jasper have been quite also.

Hope everyone is doing fine

[flyin-lowe]

I got home a few hours before dark last night and nothing. I was home today and didn't see anything. There is a guy down the road from me that has 4 trio houses and has about 15pair each year. He never puts his houses up until he sees martins flying around. I went by today and his house was not up yet so I will wait it out, nothing else to do at this point. I had 5 pair last year, 1 ASY and 5 SY. I know some of them will be back. Last year it was the 1st week of May when my ASY actually showed up and stayed.

[landonn]

Get ready Indiana especially northern IN folks as we are under a cold rainy system moving slowing across the region. For the rest of the week it is supposed to be rainy and cold(50s). By Friday it should start to warm up, but still raining. By next week it should be sunshine and the temperature should be around the 70s.

Still nothing at both of my sites. I've been busy trapping sparrows to pass the time.

Landonn

[Indiana_Tom]

Hello everyone, Been a while since anything has changed. Up to today, I had 4 martins (early birds that have been here for several weeks) staying at my place. Three ASY males and one ASY female. I had a second female but she must have gotten an offer she couldn't resist.

This afternoon, I had nine martins at my site. Most arrived between 6 and 8 pm. Lots of noise and squabbling. I know they are spending the night but do not know if they plan to stay.. Tomorrow is supposed to be bad weather with wind and some hail in spots. I hope they at least stay until the weather straightens up a little.

I hope everyone else got some activity also. If not, just be aware they are on the move in central Indiana.

Good luck to all this year.

[Rich Jewell In]

Tom

Only one martin still around this morning. Weather has been rotten. Rain,30's at night 40's daytime. I put out scrambled eggs but he didn't touch them. It won't warm up till Thursday. I hope he makes it. There was another pair here but left when the weather changed. Chicago which is only 30 miles north had snow on the ground this moen. Fist time in over a 100 years.

Rich

[Jim 1990]

It has been cold ,rainy ,and winds blowing out of the east. I have been flipping a lot of eggs and crickets to them between the rains and wind gust I had 3 females . 1 female was even bringing in nest material during a time when the rain let up but was only 39 degrees.
Yesterday it was only 40 and cloudy but when I got home from work and went out to flip some food there were 18 martins.The new arrivals were a lot of females.
Today the weather was nicer then what it has been 55 degrees and partly sunny and the wind has taken a break for now. When I got home they were no where in sight I was hoping that they went out today and found some bugs.
They all came in around 7:45 pm and I went out to flip them some eggs and crickets just in case they did not find much in there search for bugs.

They took some but less then the last few days when the weather was bad.
They seem to be doing good ,making a lot of chatter .I have been noticing that when I have been feeding them they all take to the sky for about 3 minutes then come back down and eat and then all take off again for a little while then come back down and eat more they seem to repeat this while I feed them . I dont know if they see or hear somthing I don't
I have been noticing that they jump off to get the eggs more then the crickets. I have been using 1 inch crickets and have seen them drop them somtimes , would the 3/4 inch crickets be better do you think that some of the 1 inch crickets are to big for them,

Hope everyone is doing ok with there martins in this crappy weather. It is forcast to get in the 60s this weekend and warmer next week

JIm 1990

[SoIndyDon]

Here 30 miles from the Ohio River weather has been mixed. We have "bug weather" every few days then cold or stormy weather for a couple of days. I haven't needed to supplementally feed.

I've been counting around 30 martins, and they have begun nest building in the last few days. Thirty is only about half that I've had the last number of years. So I'm still anticipating more to come.