SWARMS OF MARTINS
WE LIVE IN EAST TEXAS ON LAKE SAM RAYBURN NOT FAR FROM LUFKIN TX. SOME FOLKS NORTH OF US ARE IN FOR A REAL TREAT...TODAY WE SAW TWO GREAT SWARMS OF MARTINS AND THEN ONE BUNCH OF MAYBE 100,, LOOKED LIKE A BIG PORTION OF A ROOST HEADED NORTH. NOT A SINGLE BIRD ACTED LIKE IT WANTED TO DROP DOWN ON US. NOT TO WORRY, WE HAVE 13 BIRDS HERE AND WE EXPECT 60 -70 MORE SOON...KEEP A LOOKOUT BECAUSE THEY ARE HEADED YOUR WAY...GOOD LUCK
Chet & Tammy Winger
PMCA Members
PMCA Members
Tammy,
Thanks for the info. I was hoping some might swarm my way today. It's been 78 degrees and south winds up to 30 MPH, but no luck!
Thanks for the info. I was hoping some might swarm my way today. It's been 78 degrees and south winds up to 30 MPH, but no luck!
Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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M.Stephens
- Posts: 1130
- Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:14 pm
- Location: Texas/Texarkana
I GUESS I'D BE HOLLERIN' TOO IF I SEEN SWARMS OF MARTINS !!! 
Malcolm
2015 (110 nesting pair)
2014 (92 nesting pair)
2013 (75 nesting pair)
2012 (35 nesting pair)
2011 (20 pair)
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PMCA Member
2015 (110 nesting pair)
2014 (92 nesting pair)
2013 (75 nesting pair)
2012 (35 nesting pair)
2011 (20 pair)
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PMCA Member
I know we have read that Martins don't travel in "groups"... From our experice last year (we saw the same "show" later in the afternoon) we know this is not necessarily so.
These huge groups were over our housing (above our heads) in a clearing above a HUGE body of water. It only lasted seconds....and then they were gone (headed north). "Our" lake is still 8+ feet low but we have WATER!
ccarlin, I will private message you tomorrow!
Wishing nothing but the best to all! Tammy
These huge groups were over our housing (above our heads) in a clearing above a HUGE body of water. It only lasted seconds....and then they were gone (headed north). "Our" lake is still 8+ feet low but we have WATER!
ccarlin, I will private message you tomorrow!
Wishing nothing but the best to all! Tammy
Chet & Tammy Winger
PMCA Members
PMCA Members
Wow, what a site that must have been. We still have our 2 pair and can handle 4 more pair. Send them our way to Georgetown.Winger wrote:WE LIVE IN EAST TEXAS ON LAKE SAM RAYBURN NOT FAR FROM LUFKIN TX. SOME FOLKS NORTH OF US ARE IN FOR A REAL TREAT...TODAY WE SAW TWO GREAT SWARMS OF MARTINS AND THEN ONE BUNCH OF MAYBE 100,, LOOKED LIKE A BIG PORTION OF A ROOST HEADED NORTH. NOT A SINGLE BIRD ACTED LIKE IT WANTED TO DROP DOWN ON US. NOT TO WORRY, WE HAVE 13 BIRDS HERE AND WE EXPECT 60 -70 MORE SOON...KEEP A LOOKOUT BECAUSE THEY ARE HEADED YOUR WAY...GOOD LUCK
It was almost 90* yesterday and a cold front blew threw last night. The wind was horrible and it was only in the mid 50's today. Brrrrrr I felt so sorry for my birds. I have the hand warmers but don't know the best time to put them in the houses. They start turning in for the night so early. Ideally, I would like to get the warmers in after 6:30 so the warmth will last a little longer but then the warmth would probably wear off around 4AM. Good thing they weren't expensive.
Carolyn
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Chriscreole
- Posts: 781
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:31 am
- Location: Texas, Hutto
I had 1 visitor for a min or so yesterday.....
PMCA Member since 2010
Super System 24, All Troyer W/Conley 2 entrances.
Carolyn C
You may want to "double check" with LOUISE. From want I remember from one of her post they use 24 hr hand warmers and install them in the late afternoon before the birds come in for the evening.
I have been unable to find the 24 hr warmers in my local stores. (I am in a rural area, meaning I only have access to a couple of "big box" stores.)
Wishing you the best for 2012! Tammy
You may want to "double check" with LOUISE. From want I remember from one of her post they use 24 hr hand warmers and install them in the late afternoon before the birds come in for the evening.
I have been unable to find the 24 hr warmers in my local stores. (I am in a rural area, meaning I only have access to a couple of "big box" stores.)
Wishing you the best for 2012! Tammy
Chet & Tammy Winger
PMCA Members
PMCA Members
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bwenger
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:24 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Espyville/Pymatuning Reservoir Area
- Martin Colony History: Taking care of 11 active public colonies and trying to start two more in northwestern PA. Also attempting to restart another one in southwestern PA, in Collier Township's Hilltop Park. In 2017, not sure what happened but the ASY male returned and then a couple of weeks later he was gone. It could have been weather related. No other birds showed up. I had a starling nesting at the Public site that I had trouble getting rid of.
In 2018, we fledged 629 martins at all of the sites.
Tammy,
That's great to hear about the swarm of martins. It must be a good location to be at.
Hope you guys get some more rain and get that lake filled up to where it should be at this time of year.
Bill
That's great to hear about the swarm of martins. It must be a good location to be at.
Hope you guys get some more rain and get that lake filled up to where it should be at this time of year.
Bill
Bill,
We are in a great location. Lake Sam Rayburn has 114,500 surface acres. Our home/patio is situated so that when we look to the "left" we see a very large surface area of water (and our Martin housing). The lake "wraps" around our land so when we look to the "right" we have a cove. Rayburn is still 8' low so the cove is empty except for a small creek. We are just so very grateful for the rain we have received.
We occasionally see bald eagles, otters, beavers and alligator or two. We have so many white tail deer they have almost become pets. Unfortunately, they love to dine in our rose bed.
Hope you have super season! Tammy
We are in a great location. Lake Sam Rayburn has 114,500 surface acres. Our home/patio is situated so that when we look to the "left" we see a very large surface area of water (and our Martin housing). The lake "wraps" around our land so when we look to the "right" we have a cove. Rayburn is still 8' low so the cove is empty except for a small creek. We are just so very grateful for the rain we have received.
We occasionally see bald eagles, otters, beavers and alligator or two. We have so many white tail deer they have almost become pets. Unfortunately, they love to dine in our rose bed.
Hope you have super season! Tammy
Chet & Tammy Winger
PMCA Members
PMCA Members
Tammy, FYI...the best deterent I have found for deer is to get cut hair from your stylist or barber & scatter it around your plants. They don't like to eat where they smell humans! I had my pansies wiped out several years ago by our local deer & someone shared this "secret" & when I scattered the hair in my flower beds...it totally stopped! They even ate my daylillies last year so I had to scatter hair around them also!
I grew up in Port Arthur as a child & my family had friends that had a place at Sam Rayburn & we would go fishing with them! Beautiful lake & area to live!
Good luck with your martins this year!
Lila
I grew up in Port Arthur as a child & my family had friends that had a place at Sam Rayburn & we would go fishing with them! Beautiful lake & area to live!
Good luck with your martins this year!
Lila