Wisconsin Martins

[bird fan]

Just a quick note: Martins are still ariving in Wisconsin, don't give up yet, I have 4 pairs nesting and 3 subadults arrived today, 1 female pulling leaves off of trees so egg laying is just around the corner, Also the cold temps seem to be the cause for the delay in egg laying, I'm in Sheboygan Falls just 6 miles from the Lake shore possible frost tonite. Its been cool with temps just above 60 warm weather should help out with egg laying, Keep using your dawnsong or bird magnet it does help. One tragic note: I have had 5 young nestlings (Bluebirds) all die either to bad weather or possible pesticide poisoning. Neither parents are around, I hope this isn't a trend.

[mjneppl]

i have not seen or heard a martin around appleton seymour area in 2 weeks. i am ready to give up for this year. i play the dawnsong all day.

mike

[Guest]

Mike

Don't give up yet. I just had a new SY pair in this morning checking out the gourds. The SYs are two weeks late this year. So they're still coming your way. Keep playing the music and play it loud!

Greg Gassen

[mjneppl]

well i got the dawnsong on in the backyard--and daytime chatter in the front. i live in a open area with a trio and 4 gourds hung below. i have numerous ponds around our house and a wetland to the south --with 3 ponds in it and very few trees around. this is kind of farm country here.

very disappointed in wisconsin-- i just moved from south dakota and got 3 pair my first year there (2002 and 17 pair my last year (2008)--5 years total.

i am trying the exact same way i did in SD. but no luck in wisconsin.

the gourds all have been lived in by martins in SD--thought that might help

[Guest]

Mike:

The gourds are good in Wisconsin, but personally (this is just my opinion), I wouldn't use a Trio up here in Wisconsin, it's too cold for the Martins. The Trio house that I own I use for one thing and one thing only, and that's for trapping sparrows. I have six Spare-O-Doors on my Trio house on a 7 foot pole about 30 feet away from the two gourd racks where all the Martins reside and the Trio does a fine job of getting rid of sparrows. Wooden housing and plastic gourds are good for Wisconsin. I suspect your chances of getting Martins in the Trio will be slim up here in the cold country. The gourds they will like.

Greg Gassen

[Guest]

SY martins are still showing up. Usually I see more SYs show up in late May to the first few weeks of June. I currently count about 22 pairs this year at my housing structures with several new SYs showing up and checking things out.

ggginbd- I have been using aluminum hosing since the 70's and placed styro sub floors in. No problems in raising generations of martins here in WI. The birds seem to prefer the colony housing vs. plastic gourds.

[Guest]

Fishyflyer:

Placing the styro sub floors I'm sure makes the aluminum housing much warmer. I still believe the wooden houses are the best up here for warmth, but using the styrofoam I'm sure must help. I've had very good luck with occupancy in my gourds also.

Greg Gassen

[drdoo55]

Trying to start a new colony in Wisconsin these days with a metal house I think is the wrong way to go.Years ago when there was alot of martins all over the state I am sure it was easy with a metal house,but I think they are a little more choosey now that there are not nearly as many martins.And besides it is fact that the metal houses are colder when it's cold and hotter when it's hot so why would anyone want to subject there birds to this kind enviornment,besides most metal trio houses are all 6 x 6 compartments that are very dangerous for these birds and produce very few young.I started with a trio and couldn't get a pair until I put up a T-14 and then added a Northstar and then another T-14 and 2 years ago,the trio went to the scrap yard.I finally had 2 pair and last year I had 27 and this year I am up to 35.I have come across many people in this state in the last 10 years that still think the old timers way and don't want to change and that is why the numbers are declining in this state.With all the great lakes and wetlands in this state that we have for raising lots of martins we should be seeing all kinds of martins everywhere,I do see the numbers climbing in my area because of my 2 colony's,last year I raised out almost 250 birds between my 2 places. I see and hear from people that they just put a martin house and the didn't want to spend the money to do it the right way.They would have been better off not putting one up at all.Us landlords need pull together and get these people to do it the right way.Tony Oechsner

[mjneppl]

tony is right.

i was on way back from crivitz, wi today and stopped by a farmer who had 5 old wood houses up. cant raise or lower. he did say he shot 63 starlings and some hawks. but he really has no idea how many babies he raises.

as for my trio-- its modified to 6 by 12. this is what worked in South dakota for me. i also have gourds which worked the best in south dakota. i was up to 17 pair when i move.

my dad runs into people all the time who just put up metal housing and have no idea what they are doing. i think they are hurting the population. especially if you cant raise and lower it to check the nestlings.

this is what i know of in Wisconsin.

peshtigo farmer--60 pair
winneconne house--around 30 pair
farmer by klondike wisconsin --20-25 pair
4 places on lake noquebay by crivtiz-- 50 pair total
farm north of crivitz--15 -20 pair
near oconto falls--off county b--5 pair and some gourds.
farm by greenville-- 14 pair

shawano lake- - has birds

seymour, wi--- none-- including me.

i mounted my magnet -- on the roof.

[Guest]

this is what i know of in Wisconsin

There is a colony in Madison, in Tenney park on Mendota Lake. Mostly gourds.