Scouts or Returning birds ?

[Duke]

Today I was doing final prepping on the Martin Condo and this season I hung a four foot ring from the Condo and on that I hung a dozen gourds on it. While I was doing that I heard the unmistakable chirping of Martins ! I looked up and there were seven males circling my house. I'm not sure if scouts travel in packs or singles. I'm hoping its birds from last season. Last year I didn't get a scout till the last day of February and it was just one bird. so I am very glad to see birds this early.

[flyin-lowe]

Did they ever end up dropping down and landing, or checking out any of the cavities? I would guess if they were returning martins from last year they would land and be around a little bit. If they were just circling and never came down at all I would guess they are just passing through.

[Duke]

Thanks for the info , at the time I had the Condo lowered but plan to raise it tomorrow. We shall see. Thanks.

[C.C.Martins]

Hey Duke,
Glad your birds are back! I was at west guth yesterday, looking for the two colonies and see if their arrivals made it.
Good to hear yours have.
Tom

[Duke]

Hi CC Martins , I hope it's my birds. I'll see if they are flying today. It's early compared to last year when I didn't see any till the end of February. Not happy with this cold spell.

[C.C.Martins]

It's not real bad yet, if you get it up this morning they will be looking for a place to stay. If you need pine needles be happy to give you some...will be warmer. Just let me know.
Lots of early arrivals seems like.

[Duke]

Thanks CC Matins , this morning on the way out a Martin flew out of the Condo and at lunch there were three Martins sitting trying to keep warm. Thanks for the offer I might look you up on that. Also the resident HOSP have been staking claim already. I know it’s going to be a lot of work keeping them away. Thanks again.

[C.C.Martins]

Good! Sounds like they are there. Congrats!! They will lay low during this weather, ours didnt come out at all today. Id hesitate to do anything during this spell though, they will need to be stress free. Less disturbing them the better at this point. Get the sparrows! Martins will be happy.
I work at flint hills, go to the park during lunch can bring a bunch for you, piece of cake.
Tom

[Duke]

Thanks CC Martins , I reside close to Guth park and do visit often for walking. I won’t bother with the Martins they seem ok. At this time I just have the Condo up half mast so it isn’t really catching a lot of wind. Do you have HOSP problems ? I’m infested over here with them.

[C.C.Martins]

Good deal. sparrows are here, i trap them off season and shoot when I can. Lots of sparrows at the park, Id say we have more starlings here than iv seen out there. crescents and an occasional pot shot seems to work but those starlings are relentless.
You could trap off season...buy an insert trap or a PMCA repeating trap. repeating trap works great!

[Duke]

Thanks CC Martins , I’ll have to try something on the sparrows. Starlings are not as bad an occasional one here there. Good luck this season.

[flyin-lowe]

Duke

I have the best luck with an insert trap in my T-14. Those big houses are like a magnet to sparrows. It will take a few seasons but you can control the "local" sparrow population. They have a fairly small home range so you can make a dent. At my old house I had a one acre yard that was sandwiched between two farms. One had cattle barns 50 yards from my property line. With the barns and feed there ware sparrows everywhere. The first few years I killed hundreds of them. After about 5 years I would only trap or shoot 5-10 a year. If you let up one year their numbers will start to bounce back, I wish martins bread like sparrows.

[Duke]

Thank you flyin-low , I’ll look into it. Thanks and good luck this season.