rough week ahead for the martins

[Trishy]

We are in what the weatherman called a cutoff low. Temps in the 30's and 40's all week with much rain and even some more snow in the forecast. I hope the snow part is misinformation. We might see some sun and 50 on Friday, but who knows. In all combined we haven't had a week of good weather this Spring. Between keeping the martins alive and keeping my sanity, it will be a busy week. I hope everyone has supplemental food on hand. The martins will need help this week.

[Ed Pace]

Hi Trish,you say"rough week ahead for martins"," I say, what martins". Last year I had 4 pr, 2 ASY's and 2 pr of SY's. Last week one of the old females come back and stayed for 5 days and now she is gone.Last year they laided 20 eggs and fledged 19 youngsters and no problems. I have waited for more than 30 years and the thought of starting over is a bit too much.
I sure hope the birds are still comming but i am not to sure of that.
Others in the area are low on martins also. Sorry to air this out,but maybe it will help. Good luck Trish and others having poblems and also thoes of you not having problems.
Ed

[Trishy]

Ed, I currently only have 1/2 of my martins from last year. I had 14 pairs. Your female may have been wooed by a male from another site, since your males have not returned yet. I think your sy's from last will be returning soon. If your weather has been anything like ours, your martins are probably just late in getting back. I don't know if there were hardships in Brazil over the winter. Keep your chin up. I think more are still on the way.

[tlragsdale]

I read the reports from around the country with great envy. Have seen a grand total of two martins this year, none of which showed much interest in taking up residence in the abundance of housing we have offered. With the terrible weather we continue to endure, maybe it's best…..but it's still heartbreaking, nonetheless.

Terry R./New Richmond, WI

[cransy]

Ed, I have about 24 martins so far. Yes, numbers are down but hopefully they will pick up. I have been feeding them every other day. Lots of my martins move on after the weather warms up. I have no idea where they go but they love the eggs and crickets. Further north somewhere. Watkins glen ny.

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Trishy,
Is a cutoff low the same thing as what used to be called Blackberry Winter?
My blackberries are just starting to bloom.
Mark.

[Trishy]

My understanding of the cutoff low is that there is no front coming through anytime soon to push the low away so it just keeps spinning in one spot. If I didn't have martins, it probably wouldn't bother me much. They are going to have an awful week. I just pray they all live.

Hang in there Terry. I think there will be more asy's and the subbies have yet to come. The martins are way behind schedule.

[Barry Wallace]

Trish, great job keeping those martins alive, they would not survive the week without your efforts.

Terry and Ed, I hope you see more martins soon, they are running late this year. My colony is about 30 miles South of Trish at Shell Lake and I only have 14 back out of about 75 pairs. They are eating crickets and eggs like crazy. We really need a weather break!

[Trishy]

Thanks Barry. Your martins sure appreciate you also. We definitely need a break in the weather. Is that your setup on Hwy 63 south of Cumberland?
I can't seem to get my martins to eat eggs. I have tried several times. I did have a female feed some eggs to her young last year. She is the only one that has touched them though. Good luck this season.

[Barry Wallace]

Trish, I am just north of 48 about half way between Luck and Cumberland. It's odd, my martins seem to prefer eggs. I always mix the eggs and crickets together and the eggs go first.

I had hoped they would have a good feeding day yesterday but they mobbed me as soon as I walked out to feed this morning. They really looked tough this morning and were landing on the feeder before I could get it back up.

Barry

[Ed Pace]

Hi Trish, thanks for your and others responses. I hope your right about my ASY female going to an other male , that's better than the other possibilities. Something that I forgot to say was, I do have a lot of barn swallows normally ,so far this year I only have one back and he just came back a couple of days ago. It's so good that you and others are feeding during these times,with out a doubt your saving the lives of many birds. Thanks to all of you.--- Ed

[Chuck4]

Rained all day here at my site. The martins were all at the housing pretty much all day long. We had some really heavy storms and rains. The severe weather looks like it will hit overnight into tomorrow morning. At least the martins did get about two hours to feed this evening after it stopped raining for that time.

[Trishy]

I hope your storms weren't too bad. Tough days for the martins when it rains all day. I got home from work tonight and almost got mobbed before I could get the crickets in the tray. I hope you have a good season Chuck4