What's up?

Jaique · Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:21 pm

My martins returned March 17; about 4 scouts. This is my 6th, maybe 7th, year having them. I pulled the house down in mid-April, and there were no nests. Several martins flying around, though. Within the next few days, I saw a bigger number of martins: about 20 at one time, so I assumed that this was the arrival of the newest ones. But this evening, still there are no nests! Are they just using my house as a hangout? I seem to have an assortment of M/F, but I will admit that I still have difficulty telling the females from the younger ones. Our weather here has been extreme, like many parts of the country. Tonight, (4/23), it feels like winter again. So is this confusing them?

DornCounty · Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:26 pm

I read 4-6 weeks from arrival to nesting.

Laverne · Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:03 am

Hi Jaique.

Congratulations on your returning birds. No, they are not just using your housing as a hangout. They will nest when the time is right. Wintery weather is not the right time. Hopefully this will be the last winter storm of the season and the nesting season in your part of the country can begin (or continue).

Good luck to you and your colony for a great season!

James Strickland FL · Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:42 pm

My friends in EDEN say that his martins are doing the same thing.

Jaique · Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:27 pm

Thanks for the encouragement! I was hoping this crazy weather might have something to do with it. I'll keep watching them and hope they settle down and build nests as the weather warms up. Good luck to all!!