Martin Migration

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Carlton
Posts: 1959
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.

I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.


At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.

At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.

It appears to me that the movement of the purple martins northward has stalled and is running behind last year's pace. I notice they got up as far as southern Virginia and stopped. It is actually a good thing as weather is so unpredictable in the NE in March and early April but I am still surprised. I think that last year by this time the martin scouts had spread through Maryland and even up into Southern PA and NJ.
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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.

Carlton:
Mine have arrived every year from March 31st to April 3rd. So I'm hoping to see my first one next week, if they're on schedule. I pray we have a better/dryer season this year. Last year was horrible. My houses are up & ready to go. I found a local place to get crickets & meal worms :). If we get rain 2 days in a row I'm feeding this year.

Hope you have a good season,
ToyinPA
Carlton wrote:It appears to me that the movement of the purple martins northward has stalled and is running behind last year's pace. I notice they got up as far as southern Virginia and stopped. It is actually a good thing as weather is so unpredictable in the NE in March and early April but I am still surprised. I think that last year by this time the martin scouts had spread through Maryland and even up into Southern PA and NJ.
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kborder
Posts: 62
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2007 1:02 pm
Location: Ohio/Dresden

I am rather happy that mine aren't back yet, and normal return dates are from now until April 1st for my first few adults - weather was above average for about 1-1/2 weeks, but last couple days in the 40's --rainy, windy and raw. I want 55+ degrees for a week or so when they return to make sure they get good and strong

this time of year makes me crazy with worry after losing them to starvation and hypothermia in the past with our CRAZY Ohio spring weather patterns - let's just hope things get back to "above normal" around here soon because our kids are on their way!
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Carlton
Posts: 1959
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.

I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.


At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.

At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.

I wish that my martins would wait until mid April to return. Early April is a bit too early.

Yes, last year we had HORRIBLE weather with drenching cold rains.

Wish that martins would easily take eggs from a feeder instead of having to be coaxed so much.
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Ed Gutshall
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2003 7:04 pm
Location: Va. / Goochland

My birds were 20 days later than last year---Ed (Goochland Virginia)
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CHenry
Posts: 126
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:18 am
Location: Tuttle, OK

My martins may not be comming back as they were evicted early last year when lightning hit their house exploding it and killing several matins. BUT i am hopefull that some new pairs will show up. So far they are 7 days late compared to the last 3 years....


waiting patiently, can't wait to get home tonight and see if they are here!
4th season Landlord - new Super Gourd system this year!

March 25 and they have finally arived!
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Carlton
Posts: 1959
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.

I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.


At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.

At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.

Oh my goodness! What kind of house was struck by the lightning? Was it wooden, plastic or metal? I do not know if I have ever heard of that before but I do not know why it does not occur more often with the houses sticking up in the open like they do and often made of aluminum.

Keep us informed. I have my fingers crossed that your's will yet return. What kind of house did you replace your destroyed one with?

Carl
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CHenry
Posts: 126
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:18 am
Location: Tuttle, OK

The house I had was that cheep red barn shaped house that sits on top of the pole, the lightning hit the pole but had to go through the house to connect, blowing it apart. I now have a super gourd system so a bolt that might hit the pole should not hit the gourds. A bolt should go straight throught the pole to ground.
4th season Landlord - new Super Gourd system this year!

March 25 and they have finally arived!
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Carlton
Posts: 1959
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.

I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.


At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.

At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.

Oh, I see.

Good luck with your Supergourds. Sounds like you have a good system. I am sure you have put the dry pine needles in them as well.
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