We are having terrible weather in Ohio with day two right now with no possibility of feeding. My Martins are landing across the road in horse pasture and lining up on the ground, just sitting there?
We have mealworms on bed and breakfast they pay no attention to, they caught crickets last year, but won't this year. We are 20+ year landlords and have NEVER seen a spring like this!!!!
Any ideas on this ground sitting? Maybe warmer and not so windy?
Behavior?
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
They are probably trying to absorb heat from the ground. Do your best to get them to fed.
Right now, at 2:25PM, we have 19mph winds gusting to 30mph. Temp is 41 with a wind chill of 32, sun, passing clouds & it's spitting snow! I just came in from flipping crickets. Mine have been in the houses all day & only come out to feed when I go out. It sure has been a lousy spring.
Toy in PA
Right now, at 2:25PM, we have 19mph winds gusting to 30mph. Temp is 41 with a wind chill of 32, sun, passing clouds & it's spitting snow! I just came in from flipping crickets. Mine have been in the houses all day & only come out to feed when I go out. It sure has been a lousy spring.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
Hi kborder,
If they are returning to their compartments in the late afternoon or early evening before sunset, I would place cricket or mealworm directly inside their gourds or metal houses, whichever you have. I would place the supplement food well back into the entrance so they can get past the food, but still able to eat the crickets, mealworms.
If they are returning to their compartments in the late afternoon or early evening before sunset, I would place cricket or mealworm directly inside their gourds or metal houses, whichever you have. I would place the supplement food well back into the entrance so they can get past the food, but still able to eat the crickets, mealworms.