Well after a period of just hanging on for survival and many days of a northerly push clear across the Gulf of Mexico....migration opportunities will resume.
The next few days will offer sporatic southerly winds across the Gulf and lower Mexico area. Then a good opportunity to catch winds off the Yucatan and ride them straight through to NO AL and the Florida Panhandle.
So look for some fresh troops to add to the weary ones that are trying to recharge after some of the coldest weather this late in the southern areas.
This northern flow is not done yet however, and cold waves are still trying to push south from Canada. The good news is that warmer air should break up the spells within a few days. The sun is geting stronger at least.
Doug
Migration Finally Resumes.
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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jr 2
- Posts: 749
- Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:20 pm
- Location: ohio,proctorville(just across ohio river from huntington,west virginia)
doug;;thanks for the report;;;are the martins going too be arriving 2 weeks late like I read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!jr2
PMCA member; s 2011 2 pair fledged 3; 2012 3 asy pair,4 sy pair,2013 8 asy pair,6 sy pair;2014 19 asy pair,2 sy pair
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
JR2,
Certainly some folks are already a few weeks late. The cold weather and a northern push of air has held them back.
However when conditions go favorable again they will be coming in bunches and in a hurry. Those of us up north may still experience normal arrival times once things warm up.
All it will take is another arctic blast to once again put a stall to migration. Right now that is not really likely. We may have seen the last arctic air mass at least.
I am still thinking that my first arrival will be in late March or early April. If we get a strong push of warm air in the 3rd week of March they will be coming early.
Gotta see what this weather does. That will determine arrival times. Yesterday was mid 50s and sunny up here in PA while North Carolina was getting snow and ice. Talk about wacky weather.
Doug
Certainly some folks are already a few weeks late. The cold weather and a northern push of air has held them back.
However when conditions go favorable again they will be coming in bunches and in a hurry. Those of us up north may still experience normal arrival times once things warm up.
All it will take is another arctic blast to once again put a stall to migration. Right now that is not really likely. We may have seen the last arctic air mass at least.
I am still thinking that my first arrival will be in late March or early April. If we get a strong push of warm air in the 3rd week of March they will be coming early.
Gotta see what this weather does. That will determine arrival times. Yesterday was mid 50s and sunny up here in PA while North Carolina was getting snow and ice. Talk about wacky weather.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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martinteach
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:14 am
- Location: Richmond, TX
This is good news for Smith Elementary in Richmond, Texas. I think I lost my martins this year because I didn't have everything ready in time and no time in my day to get the small house up yet.
I had about 12 martins and then they flew off. I didn't have time to get rid of the 2 sparrow nests. Hopefully, with everything clean and ready on Wednesday, we will have some martins soon after.
I had about 12 martins and then they flew off. I didn't have time to get rid of the 2 sparrow nests. Hopefully, with everything clean and ready on Wednesday, we will have some martins soon after.
If you had nesting pairs last year, perhaps the 12 you saw were just passing through, and "yours" are still on their way. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
Kevin
Kevin
2016 - 6 cavities in Royal Wing/S&K house + 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches on pole 1, 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches on pole 2
2015 - new homebuilt 3 cavity house plus 3 BO9 gourds with tunnels porches on second pole, in addition to prior setup. 15 pairs, 54 fledged
2014 - 6 6x12 house cavities (plastic Royal Wing/S&K), plus 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches offered; 12 pairs, 50 fledged
2015 - new homebuilt 3 cavity house plus 3 BO9 gourds with tunnels porches on second pole, in addition to prior setup. 15 pairs, 54 fledged
2014 - 6 6x12 house cavities (plastic Royal Wing/S&K), plus 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches offered; 12 pairs, 50 fledged
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martinteach
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:14 am
- Location: Richmond, TX
This is our 8th year. I think we had over a dozen nesting pairs. I know that all the gourds and rooms in the house were full!
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GeneP
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:35 am
- Location: Kansas, Lawrence
- Martin Colony History: 1 gourd rack with 24 gourd capacity. 2018, my 11th year hosting martins.
18 pair in 2017.
Thanks Doug for taking the time to look at the weather patterns and reporting what you find. I think many appreciate what you do. I know I do.
Gene
Gene
PMCA Member, Single Gourd Rack, 2019 marks 12 years hosting martins.
if you did not have your housing up and ready and lets say it was your martins. get it up soon as you can .they don't give up that easy. they will come back up to 2 weeks looking for their housing.
2008 1 pair
2009 3 pair
2010 7 pair
2011 20 pair
2012 44 pair 280 eggs 210 fledged
2013 67 pair.
2014 67pair
2015-2022 67 pair
2009 3 pair
2010 7 pair
2011 20 pair
2012 44 pair 280 eggs 210 fledged
2013 67 pair.
2014 67pair
2015-2022 67 pair
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martinteach
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:14 am
- Location: Richmond, TX
That sounds good. I will try to get it up this week. It is Spring Break at the school and I will have to get there when the custodians are in the school.
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Chuck4
- Posts: 861
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:05 am
- Location: North MS
- Martin Colony History: I started trying to attract Purple Martins in 2011. I got my first breeding pair in 2013.
2013-1 pair, 2014-4 pair, 2015-8 pair, 2016-12 pair 60 babies :-).
Hi Doug! I'm so glad that the weather looks promising for the next couple of weeks or so. There doesn't appear to be any majorly cold air forecast for my area for at least two to three weeks. I think I can safely say Spring has sprung around my area! I expect to see the martins and hummers showing up fairly soon! 
PMCA Member
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Chuck,
Yes I think you may be out of the woods there finally. We are not done in the North East however.
Good luck and enjoy the warmer weather. Still be some cold yet but it won't last long.
Doug
Yes I think you may be out of the woods there finally. We are not done in the North East however.
Good luck and enjoy the warmer weather. Still be some cold yet but it won't last long.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.