I must say that our sweet lady brightened my day today with her arrival and chirping, more then I thought could happen.
Tuesday night while the storms were happening we lost our whole roof and a place to live after receiving more then 9 inches of rain and about 4 inches of rain in our house after the roof was taken off. We lost one of our martin poles and 20 gourds. We were lucky it could have been far worse.
But I can say that our little lady sure brightened our day today.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy season.
Sandy
I am so sorry for what happened to your home and gourds. I am glad you and your family are OK. This year is starting off deadly with tornadoes and other violent storms. I know we all need the rain badly in Texas and Louisiana, but not the destructive winds and torrential downpours/flashfloods.
The arrival of one of your purple martins lifted your spirits and helped make a terrible situation a little better! Soon more martins will be there!
Oh my gosh - Sandy - what a horrible storm! I'm glad you and your family are safe.
Our martins tend to show up at just the right time, don't they? Wishing you a great season and calmer weather as spring draws near.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Sandy, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of "your" home. I can't imagine how devastating that must be. I don't know what else I can do except pray. So, I will pray for you and your family.
I'm glad to hear your PM colony has fared better and you experienced the joy of a returning bird to its breeding site.
Best wishes and good luck for a wonderful season... and I hope they fix your roof soon...
Thanks for your kind words, I now you had bad weather last year that caused you some trouble. Its amazing how it seems we have such a drought and then get all the rain at once. Hope things are going well for you this year you deserve it.
Kathy, Laverne and Dave,
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I hope your seasons turn out to be great ones. Our little birds can bring lots of happiness.
So sorry to hear of your losses. Hang in there, I lost my roof and major water damage to my house during Hurricane IKE. Luckily all my martin housing survived!Hopefully we will just get some light steady rain to ease the drought. Not all at once like you said.
I'm a "nestcamaholic" Is 18 hours a day a bad thing? (I have 2 this year, luckily I have 2 eyes!)
Like the others, I too am so sorry to hear of the damage done to your home. I hope you have a safe place to live while repairs are being made.
Bill
THE MORE ONE LEARNS THE MORE ONE SEES! While the ignorant person sees only a blackbird the enlightened person sees a Purple Martin.
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
Been by your house seen the guords down, and the tarp on your roof, hope everything is ok. If you need any help with putting up the guords please let us know we will sure come out to help. Our prayers are with you as you get back on track for this year. I know when my first ones showed up at the house was so excited to hear, knowing everything is going to be ok.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers. We are slowly getting everything back on track. We will soon start rebuilding a house. As far as the Purple Martins, well they are arriving daily I am up to 12 or 13 already. Just crazy I don't think I have ever had so many so early. Of course they are arriving about as fast as I can get their houses back up. We have two ground stakes set for two new 16 gourd poles. Yeah. We will not be putting back up the watersedge houses. The gourds are easier to do nest checks.
Peggy--Glad your girl is not alone anymore!!!
Gary and Susan -- Thanks for the offer. If I find that we need help I will certainly give you a holler!
Just crazy I don't think I have ever had so many so early. Of course they are arriving about as fast as I can get their houses back up. We have two ground stakes set for two new 16 gourd poles. Yeah. We will not be putting back up the watersedge houses. The gourds are easier to do nest checks.