And so it begins...

Bill & Kelley Shields · Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:31 pm

At 7 tonight I was pointing out the beautiful blue birds perched atop my three new martin houses I just put up two days ago and boom, there he was! Swooping in from nowhere he spent a few minutes circling around and giving me the drive by chirping I've been so waiting for... Then he flew in and landed on the gourd rack and just sat there with a "man it's good to be back" look on his face. Then after it became obvious there was no company coming tonight he chose the best gourd, the one away from the north wind blowing in a snow shower this weekend, and settled in for the night. I know it's a simple thing, one lone bird arriving. But if you are like us you know how good it feels... I hope the migration makes its way to you soon too. Good luck all!

Bill

CraigMo. · Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:40 pm

Congrats Bill, I was grilling hamburgers and at 6:40 pm and mine came home today also. It came back 2 times but I did not see it come in for the night. It sure acted like he belonged here so hopefully it just snuck in without me seeing it. Supposed to snow here Saturday. Then 50 on Sunday. What fun weather. Well I am glad yours slept at your place. I probably won't be able to watch in the morning but will keep a look out tomorrow night. Other than Saturday the weather is sure looking better for Missouri. Good Luck with your season
Craig

Jeff Robinson · Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:39 pm

Congrats Bill - I was putting porch dividers on my Goliad this evening and wishing hard for the same fortune as you, but I guess it's not my day yet....unless, since I came in at 6:30, they snuck in behind me??!!

Looking forward to every morning!

Craig - this is one time to be thankful you're in Northern MO. It's not going to get anywhere near 50 here in Southern MO on Sunday - latest forecast said high of 38 and still snowing, with potential for accumulation - UGGGGHH. Keep em warm!

Jeff

CraigMo. · Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:13 am

Jeff the forcast has changed for Sunday here Rain/Snow Hi 41 degrees. Who knows!!!

KathyF · Fri Mar 19, 2010 9:57 am

My female that I reported in my scout report came back yesterday evening with a MAN!!! He was already courting her and they checked out every gourd I had on the racks!

Love his sweet talking he does with his mate!

cchild03 · Fri Mar 19, 2010 3:57 pm

I'm excited for all of you MO landlords! I always track when your birds come back as your neighbor in NE KS who lives right on the Missouri River/state line.

I'm always amazed, Craig, at how your birds get back to Kearney a good two-to-three weeks before mine make their way back. Makes me wonder what mine are up to.

Best of luck to you all this season!

CraigMo. · Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:47 pm

Candace
I think its just lucky. Last year I think Iowa got martins before me. I hope yours come soon after the snow!!!!!!! I hope it warms up quickly Monday so the martin is healthy. I haven't been able to study it but it looked pretty healthy. Good luck

Bill & Kelley Shields · Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:44 pm

My wife says our guy hung around today till around 2 or so then took off. He came back alone at 7:10. I don't recall having just one bird at all last year, they came in bunches. It's kind of sad but on the other hand I would worry more if a flock had to ride out the snowstorm thats coming. He sure is a very mature, fabulously marked ole guy... It's a great reason to sit on the back patio...

bill

CraigMo. · Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:53 pm

Bill I usually have one martin for a few days, then I start picking up a few here and there, then a bunch and then I am full and nest building has started, then they are gone. Ha! I did not see mine tonight, but I didn't see him last night either. He was there early this morning so I believe he comes in when I am not looking. Sure got cold and windy fast here. My wife saw him today sticking his bill outside of one compartment so I think he is in that one . Bad choice though since that faces north. Hope yours does fine in this weather.
Craig

John Miller · Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:00 pm

Bill

Congratulations on your return. I spotted three on one house late this afternoon here in Forest Park, St. Louis -- two females and a male. Usually like Craig said, we have just one for several days, then more. Will be a rough weekend for them, but hopefully warming by Monday.

John M

Bill & Kelley Shields · Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:54 pm

My wife says our guy hung around today till around 2 or so then took off. He came back alone at 7:10. I don't recall having just one bird at all last year, they came in bunches. It's kind of sad but on the other hand I would worry more if a flock had to ride out the snowstorm thats coming. He sure is a very mature, fabulously marked ole guy... It's a great reason to sit on the back patio...

bill

Jeff Robinson · Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:38 am

Craig, I hope yours do OK in this weather. Nasty stuff, but thankfully it'll be over soon, then just a few nights of sub-freezing weather, and maybe mother nature will smile on us for a change.

I got home from work yesterday evening, stepped out my back sliding door to put some Safflower out for the songbirds, and saw my first PM - ASY male flew over lower corner of my yard, heading straight East towards Fordland. Seemed to be on a mission, except for the occassional dart this way or that for inflight mini-meals I'm sure. Waiting for something circling over me or on housing before I post on Scout Report. Male BB stealing pine straw from my gourds this morning, taking to his BB box, and showing off to his mate.

CraigMo. · Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:56 am

Jeff I bet you get yours as soon as it warms up again. Our bb'd that usually nest here have not been seen for awhile. Probably the darn sparrows or they just have not come out of the woods yet. Maybe that martin you saw lives near you.

jspurgin · Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:05 am

An adult male showed up last night just before dusk and stayed in a gourd. He was still here this morning. This is the earliest date for a first arrival for me. Hope he gets some company soon.

Jeff Robinson · Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:10 am

Yes Craig, he probably does live close by. Same thing happened to me last year - early on, I had PMs on a string headed dead East of me (back yard faces the east). Large Amish communities between me and Seymour, so not surprised. I've only seen one HSP at my site so far this year - male going in and out of my THGs last Sunday, and I took him out with the .22 when he sat on one of the porches like he owned it!

CraigMo. · Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:50 am

Well folks I have 2 ASYM now. Unknown when the 2nd one got here. Could of been yesterday but who knows probably today. One likes the gourds and one likes the house. They look like they own the place so probably mine from before. Nothing like snow and martins.

Jeff I was supposed to be s&s hunting today but the weather has slowed down the sightings of the bad birds so not much hunting going on here. I hate them

Jeff Robinson · Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:05 am

WTG Craig - keep em safe. I assume you'll supplemental feed in this weather?? I've never done that, but I will from here on. In fact, thinking of trying it throughout this year, even when warm, if rain or high winds restrict feeding. One of the old-timer's posts this past week convinced me that anytime is a good time to teach even our young ones to take what's offered for when the bad times hit and they won't be skittish.

I know the feeling on S&S. I'm seeing No HSP since eliminating that male last week. However, knocked off 2 starlings that tried pushing my songbirds around on my Safflower feeders this morning. Lots of other Starlings hanging in the trees around my property, but I think most of them are smart enuf to stay away since I've eliminated over 60 since last Spring!

Happy hunting when they do come in. We're on the periphery of this winter storm - right now sitting at 37 degrees, and supposed to get more freezing rain tonight and tomorrow than anything. Rain/snow mix here right now.

Always a chance for me to get a scout pushed out of poorly managed housing at the city park in-town. Last year, posted a picture of an ASY male sitting on one of my perches with a badly mangled head and neck, most likely from a Starling fight. I didn't see him again after that day - SAD...and further motivated me in S&S control.

CraigMo. · Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:44 am

I have tried flipping but they have never caught on for me. I have tried during summer and still no luck. I feed them egg shells all the time and they will eat them, but that is on the ground. And they wont do that till nest building starts and then they eat those the rest of the year. They start eating the shells before I even get to my back door. I don't think they will be hurting this round. They look healthy still today and Monday they should be able to feed again. If they look droopy then I will try flipping again. Everyone makes it look so easy, but mine won't do it for me. Either not hungry or stubborn. It looks fun to feed them. Kind of looks sporting like!!!!!

Jspurgin- Congrats on your scout. This is the earliest for me here too at this site. I have had them earlier at my last sight in Warrensburg Mo. Snowing here now. I was kind of suprised to see a 2nd one today, but unknown when it got here. Today or yesterday???? Good luck
Craig