Late Visitor

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

Have never had this happen before. I have not had any martins spending the night for four or five nights. Took advantage of the cool temps this week to get my housing taken down, cleaned and put away for the winter. Here is a picture showing what my housing currently looks like without my gourds, doors to the houses and perch rods.



Right at dark last night, I noticed a lone martin circling my housing and trying to land on perch rods that I had removed for the winter. Right at dark, I thought I saw this martin land on one of the tunneled entrances which I do not remove for the winter. This morning at 6:15, I noticed something sticking out of one of the tunneled entrances. Here is picture of what I saw.



After the flash from the camera went off a couple of times, I got a picture of the martin as it existed the tunnel and flew off.



This martin felt secure enough to spend the night in the tunnel of the nest without a door. Needless to say, I will be putting a few doors back on this house today in case it, or others, decide to return for another night or two.

[MamaBruff]

Hotel Mangan is on Purplocity now, you know. You just earned some host points! "Room secure but breezy"..."Any Port in a Storm"... "Please wait until after Labor Day to take down housing"...

Better than me, I have a few cavities open, but they just attract newest batch of Juvenile HOSP from the neighbor. Plugged them all today.

You are really observant. Thanks for sharing the pics!

[John Miller]

Saw three HY birds in tree tops this morning in Forest Park, St. Louis. I don't know if any are spending the night in the park housing, but I always enjoy procrastinating on cleaning and closing housing until fall.