How Are Oklahoma and North Texas Colonies Doing in the Storm

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
Dick Sherry
Posts: 774
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:30 pm
Location: Tulsa, OK

The rain has been relentless and it has to be keeping adults from feeding their young. How are your birds doing so far? Are they bringing in any food at all? Until this system moves farther east, we are going to keep getting soaked.
tim414
Posts: 247
Joined: Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:52 am
Location: NorthTX/Pottsboro/Lake Texoma

About 2 pm today, we had a big downpour which lasted about 20-30 min. After, it cleared off and now it's clear blue and humidity RISING along with the heat.....
stan davison
Posts: 715
Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2005 7:48 pm
Location: Tulsa Oklahoma

Dick, we dodged a bullet with this last round of rain. The adults were busy feeding the young at first light this morning until about 9 am it started raining and the feeding trips dropped off. Around 4pm today the rain winded down and feeding resumed right up until dark. I have some fledgling in a neighbors tree the last few days and I noticed this afternoon those babies were still getting fed. I will do a nest check tomorrow to make sure all is well
I did notice this evening every feeding trip was a martin with a huge dragon fly. Not to get too excited next week we have heat to worry about. All other pairs, which is about 15 are incubating on their re nest. What a crazy year. I am actually ready for it to be over.
Tim Mangan-Kansas
Posts: 1728
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:25 am
Location: Kansas, Pittsburg
Martin Colony History: 2016 - 22 Pair

Dick:

Like you, lots of rain here in extreme S.E. Kansas the past few days. I have been providing crickets to my colony in the mornings. Many trips by my martin parents from the feeding tray to nests with nestlings. Fortunately, even during the some of the lighter rain bands, my martins were bringing in all kinds of insects to their young. Sunshine in store for a few days.

Tim
Licensed Bander
2015 - 14 Pair - fledged 68
2014 - Moved to Kansas - 7 Pair, 35 eggs, 28 fledged in first year
2010 Thru 2013 - Moved-Tried to start new colony
2009 - 46 pair, 217 eggs, 178 fledged
Dick Sherry
Posts: 774
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:30 pm
Location: Tulsa, OK

Thank you all for the feedback. Glad your colonies seem to be doing OK.

We are trying to figure out what this year's crazy weather is going to do to the timing of when the martins start roosting and how long they will stay. The Roost Watch dates are tentatively July 25th and August 8th.

We had extra martins around our housing this morning. Our one pair is feeding young that are about ten days old. The sunshine is greatly welcome!
Post Reply