Well today here we are at noon. It still has not reached the freezing point of 32 degrees after a low temperature of 14 degrees. Cloudy.
To say that we (the Martins and I) are tired of this weather is an understatement.
8 of the past 9 days have been pretty much "no feed" days. Temperatures have been in the 30s and 40s. Snow has accumulated inches a few times as well.
Crickets, eggs and mealworms every day is the norm. The moral is getting low however as the birds remain in the housing most of the day and come out only when fed or for a short flight in the cold.
On a positive note they are in great shape.. most are completely healthy. A few are close to eating from my hand, one female in particular.
I have a couple dozen birds here at this point. A few more days of poor weather before it finally breaks into the 60s and 70s.
We can't wait till it gets here and the Martins can be Martins once again.
Doug
This weather is getting very old.
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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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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
Same here Doug. It was too cold for me to go out (have bronchitis) , so I flipped crickets out my back window. One almost landed on the windowsill. They announce they are hungry, while sitting on the wires close to the window & peeking in. The Robins are having a hard time finding food too. Fed one a few crickets yesterday.
Took the photo yesterday morning whiel it was snowing. The Martin on the balcony had his beak open. Guess he was catching snowflakes, LOL.
My 3 just took off for a fly. We have a little sun today, but it's still only 38 here. No finding food in this weather.
My 3 arrived looking in great shape & healthy. No disheveled feathers like past years, when they arrived in bad weather.
As you said....a few more days of this & then we shold finally get some warmer temps, so the Martins can soar high & find food.
Toy in PA
Took the photo yesterday morning whiel it was snowing. The Martin on the balcony had his beak open. Guess he was catching snowflakes, LOL.
My 3 just took off for a fly. We have a little sun today, but it's still only 38 here. No finding food in this weather.
My 3 arrived looking in great shape & healthy. No disheveled feathers like past years, when they arrived in bad weather.
As you said....a few more days of this & then we shold finally get some warmer temps, so the Martins can soar high & find food.
Toy in PA
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- IMG_6103Martins in snow April 9, 2016-2.jpg (78.08 KiB) Viewed 3319 times
PMCA Member
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Tim Mangan-Kansas
- Posts: 1728
- Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:25 am
- Location: Kansas, Pittsburg
- Martin Colony History: 2016 - 22 Pair
Great job Doug.
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
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
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~Ray~Gingerich
- Posts: 2122
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: Delaware/Dover
Have had a lot of cold windy days here but none of the white stuff, hope things improve soon
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
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D Little
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2014 5:31 pm
- Location: PA/Felton
- Martin Colony History: 3 T14 houses and 12 gourd...gourd rack.
2019 52 nesting pairs
Doug,
Its not much better on this end of PA either, I have 4-6 birds back now and they have been spending the entire day in there boxes, I keep the platform stocked with grub, I hope I can get them to the end of this week, weather looks much better then.
Donnie
Its not much better on this end of PA either, I have 4-6 birds back now and they have been spending the entire day in there boxes, I keep the platform stocked with grub, I hope I can get them to the end of this week, weather looks much better then.
Donnie
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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.
This morning I was kind of worried. I filled the platform feeder in a light rain and 50 degrees. Heavy overcast and very dark.
I did my usual whistle as I banged on the feeder to make some noise. Only one lone chortle from the T-14. No one even peeking out anywhere. Then the rain really picked up and I went back inside.
Not one Martin came out as I watched out the window so the Robin feasted on crickets and mealworms before the Blue birds and cardinals joined in. I had my coffee and got ready for work. I began to question if they were still ok only to get a text with a picture of a dead one from a nearby site. My heart kind of sank as this was a very long run of poor weather. Were mine ok?.....
By the time I left for work the rain had lessened. While running to the car I heard Martins and looked up through the raindrops to see the sky was full of my buddies. They were soaring and chirping in the wind and rain shower as if a few new arrivals made the scene.
As I drove out the driveway they were gulping down food at the bed and breakfast. I was relieved to see so many birds.
Tomorrow the rebound starts here. 50 degrees and sunny. Back to sunshine and 60s and 70s thereafter. Out of the doldrums and back to warmth and sunshine. I think I will play them some steel drums music too out on the deck speakers. Can't wait.
Now the rest of the colony will be coming in very quickly as well. They will be fighting for their spot in the Martin kingdom.
Doug
I did my usual whistle as I banged on the feeder to make some noise. Only one lone chortle from the T-14. No one even peeking out anywhere. Then the rain really picked up and I went back inside.
Not one Martin came out as I watched out the window so the Robin feasted on crickets and mealworms before the Blue birds and cardinals joined in. I had my coffee and got ready for work. I began to question if they were still ok only to get a text with a picture of a dead one from a nearby site. My heart kind of sank as this was a very long run of poor weather. Were mine ok?.....
By the time I left for work the rain had lessened. While running to the car I heard Martins and looked up through the raindrops to see the sky was full of my buddies. They were soaring and chirping in the wind and rain shower as if a few new arrivals made the scene.
As I drove out the driveway they were gulping down food at the bed and breakfast. I was relieved to see so many birds.
Tomorrow the rebound starts here. 50 degrees and sunny. Back to sunshine and 60s and 70s thereafter. Out of the doldrums and back to warmth and sunshine. I think I will play them some steel drums music too out on the deck speakers. Can't wait.
Now the rest of the colony will be coming in very quickly as well. They will be fighting for their spot in the Martin kingdom.
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.