We have one in Ohio!

birdbrat · Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:01 pm

Can you imagine how shocked I am to have a scout show up this soon with all the bad weather we have had! I have driven my family nuts all weekend trying to get ready for this day. We have been rebuilding old boxes (always trying to improve), and making new housing which isn't even up yet. I'm sure they thought we had plenty of time. But I kept repeating... "they don't wait for weather. They come to breed". But I have to admit there was this little doubtful voice in my head that was thinking that the martins would be running a week behind. And I was getting ready for all the "I told you so" remarks. Well, my family was wrong and that little voice in my head was wrong. Not only do I have a scout back, for the first time in all my years of hosting martins, I have a female scout! And she has been accepting my offering of crickets. Each year I think I'm getting to old for this, and each spring I change my mind! Good luck to all of you still waiting to begin your first year with martins. I hope they bring you as much joy as they have brought me over the years. And, as for this wonderful little scout that braved the elements to get here.....I think I will call her wonder woman.

taxidermy lady · Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:08 pm

That is fantastic! Good luck this year!

Dave Reynolds · Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:09 pm

Birdbrat ----- That's Wonderful and Crazy at the same time. I thought we still had a few more weeks to go. It's great that she likes crickets...

So Congrats are in order.... And keep her fed....

Go Buckeyes...

Dave

DebA · Wed Mar 11, 2015 9:15 pm

Yay!! I had a girl first last year. My first time too. She pushed to reach you no doubt knowing she would get a meal! I love it.
Deb

JJ Jones · Thu Mar 12, 2015 12:22 am

Hey there Ohio Bird Brat! Congratulations on the scouts. Always a wonderful feeling when they first come in. My gourd racks are up & running and hopefully mine will be coming in soon. Mine arrived on the 11th of March last year. The weather is suppose to be good this week so they just might make it. Take care and have a super season!

Gobbler T · Thu Mar 12, 2015 6:23 am

Keep him warm! Spring weather is just around the corner

John Evans · Thu Mar 12, 2015 8:47 am

Congratulations Birdbrat

I'm not too far from you. I'm south of Hillsboro. Was planning on putting a few gourds up this weekend. May have to push that forward. Last year my first one was a female too. She arrived on March 13.

chickadee · Thu Mar 12, 2015 9:43 am

Omg I am in shock. I just happen to look at the map then come to the forume today. I didnt expect to see someone say they are back in ohio. I am not ready and was hoping they wasnot ready. I never cleaned gourds out last year or closed them. Weather hasnt been nice enough for me to get out their. U always get them a lil sooner then I. So I hope to have more time. Last year I had a female back first. That was first time I ever had that.. enjoy her.they say more snlw next week. And I knlw you knlw how to feed.

chickadee · Thu Mar 12, 2015 9:47 am

I just seen this is the same return date as last year for you. Mine says the 21st so I hope to have another week.

jr 2 · Thu Mar 12, 2015 11:04 am

congrats birdbrat;wishing you and everyone the best this year;;;;I have all my houses ready for them except for a new pole I set yesterday;;will put the house on today;;;already have nest material in but don't have compartments open;didn't get first 1 last year until april 1st;;;;;;maby better open a few!!!!!!!jr2

birdbrat · Thu Mar 12, 2015 3:50 pm

Thank you one and all for the good wishes. I certainly hope this female is as good at attracting others as my male scouts have been in the past. For those of you not ready yet, I wasn't ready either. Still have 5 setups to raise, one to move and another pole to set for a new addition (that means 2 holes to dig). I guess she didn't mind the construction zone. I'm sure my neighbors saw me Tuesday evening after work, out in a downpour, putting out some of my housing. And by now I'm sure they just shake their heads and mumble about the crazy bird lady next door. I am going to try to finish my remodeling this weekend and I hope this little girl doesn't get discouraged by the mess. I do have one question for anyone who has read my ramblings this far: Wouldn't it be easier for a female to get lured away to another site by a male? I guess I'm wondering if she will stay or follow some fella off to another site. The males I have had in the past always stay. I guess time will tell if she does or not.

John Barrow · Thu Mar 12, 2015 9:42 pm

It would be my bet that a female will hang on to a chosen site waiting for a male to appear--and she will have first choice, probably of several males; than would a single male, likely competing with several other males for that perfect companion. Overall during the season, males will outnumber available females. That is why we see SY males end up without a mate, yet practically all of the SY females are mated. She has selected her site and probably knows she will find a mate.
Just the fact that this very early female found and selected your colony would make it stand out as a likely target for many others to come.
Martins are starting to pour in along the Texas coast. There are plenty coming to populate many colonies.
Wishing you the best, and kudos for feeding those early arrivals that depend on a helping hand.

John Evans · Fri Mar 13, 2015 9:26 am

My wife believes she saw a male overhead yesterday because, it was making a familiar call. I'm not going to report that officially. Temperatures are starting to moderate. So I am putting some gourds up this weekend. I posted last years scout date wrong in an earlier comment. It was actually March 15 not the 13th. Sorry.

birdbrat · Fri Mar 13, 2015 3:25 pm

Thanks John B. That does ease my mind quite a bit. She has chosen a compartment and it is the same compartment that the male scout chose last year when he arrived. And John in Hillsboro, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a martin that your wife saw and heard. Martins and Tree Swallows are two birds with unmistakeable voices! At least in my opinion. I always hear them before I see them. They do tend to announce their arrival. Tell her to keep her eyes and ears open. They are coming. It looks like we both will be getting our colonies finished in the rain this weekend.

Dave Reynolds · Fri Mar 13, 2015 5:13 pm

John ------ Keep your eyes and ears open,,, A friend of mine just got his Tree Swallows today so, the Martins are not that far behind...

I'm located just across the State from you.. Southeastern corner.

Good luck -- hope he or she comes back soon

Dave

John Evans · Sat Mar 14, 2015 9:23 am

Got our first tree swallow back this morning martins can't be far behind got to get their gourds ready too

bluetick · Mon Mar 16, 2015 8:35 am

Birdbrat you got my blooding pumping when you saw a scout so I worked all week end getting my houses in order here in Ohio. We are now ready but hope my birds don't come until the first of April. Still a little cold. Bluetick Dave

pmartinlover2 · Mon Mar 16, 2015 9:33 am

Beautiful site Bluetick. Looks like you're ready. Good luck with your martins this year!
______
Jody

birdbrat · Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:10 pm

Bluetick , Your site looks great! I still have some more work to do on mine. It's not that I'm putting it off or anything but I have to wait for help on some of the heavy stuff. This old grandma can't lift like she used to. But my scout is an understanding lady. She is still with me. Good Luck to you and yours. With a site like that to come home to, they should be hurrying right along.

John Evans · Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:20 pm

Great looking site Bluetick! Good luck to all in 2015
Thought we'd see one today but not yet.