Where did all my birds go? Northern Canada

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april57
Posts: 232
Joined: Fri May 29, 2009 1:58 pm
Location: Wizard Lake Alberta

My condo is full. That is 12 pair. They have been making nests and I put out straw underneath the house and all morning clucking and cooing and gathering. Later today I look and every martin is gone...GONE!!
I sit on the bench off and on and no birds. No flying overhead as normal.
There has been a strong, warm south wind. So nice for cold Canada.
2 hours later I go again and nothing. Soon I see 1 martin so high up it is a dot. Then 2 then 5 then 15 then 20 OMG what a sight. They lowered ever so slowly , intertwining, swooping, crossing, chirping. The whole house was in the sky. We have a lake 1/2 km away. So maybe they were there.
Whew I had a small panic attack but as I look out now almost dusk there are little peep heads poking out of their rental units...yeah safe again!!
2007 none
2008 few landed
2009 - 2 pair - 9 eggs- 9 fledged
2010 - 1ASY pair and 4SY pair total 10 bird
2011 first ASY pair May 06
2012 first pair arrived May 01, May 21 total 10 pairs 49 babies
2013 May 04 martins 2 pair May 19 total 12 pair
2014 May 08 2 pair May 12 almost full 10 pair
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Bob Buskas
Posts: 600
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 8:08 pm
Location: Wetaskiwin Alberta, Canada

This time of year they go out to feed over open water and socialize with other Martins from other colonies in late afternoon. Don't worry they come back to their colony site before dark. Your housing is only the nesting site, thats all, they have a life away from your housing all year long. :) :)
Bob Buskas, Alberta, Canada (The Northern Sky's Colony) Supplimental feeding is the key during bad weather, but you must train them to feed ahead of time.
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april57
Posts: 232
Joined: Fri May 29, 2009 1:58 pm
Location: Wizard Lake Alberta

Ha ha ha :twisted: I know it gave me a slight scare but then they all returned . They do travel from Brazil here to nest in our little boxes.
What they have a social life!!!

This AM clucking and building and cooing...what a great sound!
2007 none
2008 few landed
2009 - 2 pair - 9 eggs- 9 fledged
2010 - 1ASY pair and 4SY pair total 10 bird
2011 first ASY pair May 06
2012 first pair arrived May 01, May 21 total 10 pairs 49 babies
2013 May 04 martins 2 pair May 19 total 12 pair
2014 May 08 2 pair May 12 almost full 10 pair
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Curtis Reil
Posts: 119
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2013 7:51 pm
Location: Alberta/Tofield
Martin Colony History: I inherited this colony when I purchased the property from my Great Uncle. To the best of my knowledge, he had hosted Martins since 1977. Housing consisted of three twelve compartment units that he had built. Small compartments, round holes and no way to lower for managing. There were maybe 6-8 pairs here when we moved in. Through reading up on information provided by the PMCA and that provided to me by Bob Buskas, the decision was made to upgrade the housing. We are now fully switched over to North Star houses and hosted 58 pairs this season(2017). 60 compartments open for business and being so close to 100% occupancy, I believe we may expand housing offered next season. Expansion will continue contingent to high occupancy, being able to keep up on management and or until it starts to feel like work.

Mine have done the same thing a couple times already as well April. There is a lake 3/4 of a mile north of me. All I could figure is just what Bob said. They bugger off out there for bugs and some socialization. Thanks for the confirmation. :)
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Robbo
Posts: 624
Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:53 pm
Location: Leduc, Alberta, Canada.

April, My Martin's usually spend the afternoon away everyday or the majority anyway.
2009. 98 eggs, 66 hatch, 61 fledged.
2010. 114 eggs, 89 hatch,70 fledged.
2011. 96 eggs. 80 hatch,68 fledged.Heavy Merlin preditation.
2012. 89 eggs. 56 hatch, good fledge. Guards installed. Merlin not sighted at houses.
2013. First Egg May 24, first Baby June 13.
2014. successful.
2015. successful.
2016. Martin's population decline, suspect new housing in the neighborhood. Merlin eating well also!
2017.Population explosion :grin: . first egg May 25 in a BO-11
2018. Population stable.
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Jack Petty-IL
Posts: 46
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:51 pm
Location: Illinois

Glad you found them! Up there on the Insect Highway!

http://boingboing.net/2010/09/23/the-in ... hways.html
Jack-IL
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

Jack -
What a neat video! I am so glad I took the time to watch. The other day I was thinking about bugs. Just how many there are, judging by the front of my pickup. Then I thought about how many there must be for all the birds to feed on them and still plenty for my windshield. I had no idea. good thing I don't take my truck airborne.
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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