Nothing yet in East Tx.?

[msalcido]

I'm a bit discouraged I've seen all the scout reports for TX and even in East Tx where I am, but I have yet to have any PM's yet??

[richnet12]

Its still a little early for the major migration push but two martins were checking out my house in Beaumont yesterday. They moved on...perhaps to your neck of the woods!

[LoneOakMartins]

I'm in Lone Oak, not too far from you, and there's nothing here yet either. My neighbor has had a colony for many years. I thought he'd have several by now, but nothing. Maybe next week.

[msalcido]

Thanks guys. That gives me some hope!
It's odd that reports have been made from Dallas but no PM's here. I'm further South than Dallas so you would think they would've stopped here before there.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Don't expect them at the same time every year, there is often a 2 to 3 week window where they show up at our large colony. A smaller colony could easily be 2 or3 weeks late.

[Chriscreole]

No Martins in Hutto but Geogetown is just Northwest of here and heard they have one or two...:( where's mine

[ccarlin]

WE GOT OUR MARTINS ABOUT THREE WEEKS EARLIER THAN LAST YEAR AND NOW I'M WISHING THEY HAD WAITED A FEW DAYS. IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE IN THE MID TWENTIES HERE TONIGHT AND I'M HOPING THEY DON'T GET TOO COLD. WE LIVE ABOUT A HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILES SOUTHEAST OF YOU.MAYBE YOURS ARE SMART AND WILL WAIT UNTIL IT WARMS BACK UP.

[Don Strickland]

msalcido,
I had similar concerns last year.
Had an arrival report not 5 miles from where I am on 2-20-2011.
I didn't see a Martin until 3-12-2011. Go figure!!!!

[msalcido]

Chriscreole - I know the feeling! But as ccarlin states it's supposed to get in the low 20's here tonight and I'm kinda glad they are not here. I need to be patient and realize they will make their way here when they are ready I guess!

Wow - Don a whole month after. That seems a bit long being only 5 miles away. I wonder what made them wait that long to come to your place?

[Don Strickland]

It's changed back to winter time here too, so later is probably better.
Snow and Ice in my forecast.
Still don't have my T-14 ready. Low temps (I guess), keeping the primer from drying. Don't know much about painting but didn't think it would be good to paint over tacky primer.
I usually don't expect any Martins till the middle of March anyway.

[RandallRash]

I had to go 70 miles East of Rockwall to rake up a few trash bags of Pine needles for my gourds and houses. I like to have their beds made when they arrive.

[Laverne]

Hello Mike.

I checked last year's scout report and couldn't find any report for Mineola. When you first start a colony, your founding birds will usually be young. They may even be ASY birds, but they will probably be young. I believe that the oldest birds come back first. We know that the SYs come back later - so, doesn't it make sense that a bird who is returning to the breeding grounds from South America for the 2nd time in his life would be coming back later.

My experience was my birds returned a couple of weeks earlier than the previous year every year until they finally reached the peek return time we have now which is around the 3rd week of January. We began with a return date in mid-March. This year our scout was reported on January 26. But, we started with one bird - now we have six. This is a slow process at best.

What I'm trying to say with all of this mumbo jumbo is that your returning birds will be back about two weeks earlier than they were last year. Do you know when they showed up last year? I checked and found your first post to be in July 2011. You talked about babies having fledged at that time. So your birds may not have started nesting until mid to late May. My point is that you could still have quite a wait before "your" birds come back. It would be great if they would come back sooner - but, I hate to see you watching for them every day only to be disappointed.

Please try to determine a realistic date of return based on when they showed up last year. Then you can relax and be at peace knowing they will be back -- just not today... But, they do come back and they keep coming back faithfully every year for as long as you keep your housing up. Amazing...

You have my best wishes for a wonderful season. Let us know when they get there!! and enjoy...

Sincerely,
Laverne

[msalcido]

Hey Randall - where did you end up going? I'm on Lake Holbrook right outside Mineola. Ton of pine trees.

Laverne - thank you for the reminder. I need to remember that it's returning birds and not new ones. I can't be exactly sure when they first arrived last season because, as you stated, I didn't make my first post until July which is when I found the PMCA. That being said, I put the house up in early March and it was immediately "rented" by a pair but then they were off for a few weeks and I thought for sure they had abandoned the site, but then towards the middle of April, two showed up, then four, then six, but I thought these were visiting from the house next door. Come to my surprise, they were two pairs that had mated. I'm not sure of how many eggs, hatch rate or fledgings becuase it wasn't until July that I found the PMCA and read more up on what being a landlord meant. I never did nest checks until then so not quite sure of how many. I do remember that one nest had 4 and the other had three and I believe they all fledged.

For the 2012 seaons, I put up the existing Heath House but with modifications from a 12 room to 6 room and enlarged the nesting chambers. In addition, I've added a gourd rack about 5 feet away from the existing. I'm sure I will have a full house this season - it's just the wait that is dreadful!

I do know that I need to be patient and good things come to those who wait! So I'm patiently awaiting, plus after the cold spell we are having today and the rest of this week - I'm glad they are not here!

Thanks for your response and all your help!

[RandallRash]

For several years I've gone to the Saltillo exit at County Line Road.at the East side of Hopkins County on i-30. It's a safe place to exit and pull off the road. A clump of Pines with ungroomed grass so I can rake up a few bagfulls of needles to last a couple of years.

[Spiderman]

I live in Gladewater Texas, about 35 miles away. We have 4 Martins so far, so they are close. Our colony is about 10 years old.

As your colony gets older they will return sooner each year (as the birds become more mature) until eventually a consistency will show.

Ours arrive within a couple of days of "February 6th" each year.

Hope you have a Good Season. If you need any help send me a personal message. There is alot to know about this stuff and many members here have taught me much over time.

[msalcido]

Hey Spiderman! ,
Thanks for the information. I greatly appreciate you offering to help out if I need! I've learned so much from alot of great people on here and I'm very thankful for it!

I will definitely reach out if needed!

Thanks again!