can my martins find food in cloudy and 50 degree weather ?
thanks
finding food
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- 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.
I think they can, Jeff. The clouds have no impact. It's the rain that will effect an insect's ability to fly. I have often watched the Purple Martins enjoy a feast as a thunderstorm moves through. It's like the bugs get washed from the sky and the PMs catch them easily. Only a very short term situation, but the birds don't miss an opportunity for easy pickings. This is their living - they're pretty good at it.
I see some severe weather is moving through S.C. today. Hope you and yours come through it all safe and sound. Hopefully it won't last long and your Purple Martins will soon be feeding successfully again.
I see some severe weather is moving through S.C. today. Hope you and yours come through it all safe and sound. Hopefully it won't last long and your Purple Martins will soon be feeding successfully again.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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jeff gregory
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 4:45 pm
- Location: little chicago/sc
hey alvin
i live in what we call the upstate of sc toward the mountions .just heavy rain here. i was worried about the wind. i"M ashamed to sAy i own 2 s&k gourd racks.that will change come next year. i promise ! anyway i let my racks down to about 8 foot and my martins went right in. anyonehave any suggestions on some good racks. holler at me.
thanks,
jeff
i live in what we call the upstate of sc toward the mountions .just heavy rain here. i was worried about the wind. i"M ashamed to sAy i own 2 s&k gourd racks.that will change come next year. i promise ! anyway i let my racks down to about 8 foot and my martins went right in. anyonehave any suggestions on some good racks. holler at me.
thanks,
jeff
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Jeff Robinson
- Posts: 908
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 3:32 pm
- Location: Rogersville, Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2008 - Current
72 Cavities - 70 Pairs in 2021
PM Mentor
Hey Jeff,
I encourage supporting PMCA by checking out their site/PMCA Shop. For a small membership fee, you get discounts on just about everything you buy. Follow the PMCA Shop Button at top of page or click on following link. Select Housing or Gourd from the left column selections. Figure out what you like and is within your price range and then ask for recommendations on the forum. You'll get plenty of feedback. Good shopping and have a great martin season!
http://shop.purplemartin.org/
Jeff
I encourage supporting PMCA by checking out their site/PMCA Shop. For a small membership fee, you get discounts on just about everything you buy. Follow the PMCA Shop Button at top of page or click on following link. Select Housing or Gourd from the left column selections. Figure out what you like and is within your price range and then ask for recommendations on the forum. You'll get plenty of feedback. Good shopping and have a great martin season!
http://shop.purplemartin.org/
Jeff
PMCA Member - Bedrock Colony
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Linda Reynolds
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:33 pm
- Location: Adamsville, TN
Jeff, many of us that host martins take comfort in knowing that *sometimes* insects/food supply * are/is available when we think it is not. This is a comforting thought.
However, please know, offering supplemental feeding is a practice now used by many landlords. Continue your education, and investigate all supplemental feeding links, but take comfort in knowing insects are sometimes available when we think they are not.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2011/ ... u-cant-see
However, please know, offering supplemental feeding is a practice now used by many landlords. Continue your education, and investigate all supplemental feeding links, but take comfort in knowing insects are sometimes available when we think they are not.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2011/ ... u-cant-see
Ever-Grateful,
Linda
Linda