Purple Martin Forum

zag · Tue Oct 20, 2015 6:17 am

I don't do Purple Martins anymore, I've turned to Tree Swallows the last couple of years, much tougher bird, by a long shot... I'm happy to report what my 10 is though.. 6 female sparrows, 4 starlings to go along with them, are MIA... I have a suet feeder in my back yard, those birds are not allowed.. Trash birds don't get to feed, at least not in my back yard..... Purple Martin Landlords hate those birds, well, so do I....

taxidermy lady · Tue Oct 20, 2015 7:07 pm

I love watching tree swallows. They are still here in southern Illinois. Feeding high in the sky today.

tonyg · Wed Oct 21, 2015 12:43 am

I would have figured the tree swallows would be long gone by now Sharon..mine left in KS before the Martins in late July...maybe it's some other kind of bird your seeing..JMO

taxidermy lady · Wed Oct 21, 2015 5:28 am

Well idk they were up in the sky yesterday swooping and diving for bugs. White bellies. They sit on the power line up by the mailbox. I will try to get a pic this afternoon. Suppose to be 85* today. Should be plenty bugs. They will eat berries also to survive a cold snap. I believe they are the first swallow to show up and the last to leave. Some stay in the lower U.S. Along the coast and Floida. They sure look like tree swallows to me.

We'll solve this mystery!

taxidermy lady · Wed Oct 21, 2015 12:40 pm

Swallows are here today. Tried to get a pic but they are just darting around gathering bugs. Maybe they will sit on power line sometime this afternoon. It is a swallow just not sure what kind. But there's hundreds darting around over the alfalfa field and a small pond. The pond has willows around it so maybe that's where they are roosting!

taxidermy lady · Wed Oct 21, 2015 4:13 pm

Just was looking at these birds with binoculars and they could be bank swallows. There is an old rock quarry across the river with dirt bluffs. They are dark on the back and white bellies!

Cheryl S · Wed Oct 21, 2015 4:23 pm

Some kind of swallow was flying just above tree level in my yard this afternoon, swooping for flying insects. Couldn't get a good look with the binoculars though. I figure they are heading south ahead of an expected cold front.

DerrickK · Wed Oct 21, 2015 6:04 pm

Those tree swallows are tough--They are often in Southern Ontario while there's still snow patches on the ground in Spring,

taxidermy lady · Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:17 pm

Thanks for that information Derrick! I really think that's what I am seeing because of the size of the bird. We had 86* today.

taxidermy lady · Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:24 pm

Swallows everywhere I look today! Feeding frenzy! So cool but way to hot!!!!