Artic blast later this week.

[brent]

Looks like Thursday morning and Friday morning will be freezing temperatures. High Thursday around 48 degrees and 50 for Friday. South Louisiana neighbors, please share what you’re doing, if anything, for the martins. It’s not like the artic vortex a few years ago but I’m wondering if there is anything we should do. Thanks, Brent.

[flyin-lowe]

I don't think you should have an issue, unless the forecast is off. In the spring in Indiana it is not uncommon for the highs to only be in the mid 40-50's for the first few weeks after they arrive. I know these early cold snaps can be brutal.

[Martintown33]

Hi Brent.. the forecast has been revised for the worse.. 42 and 44 degrees for highs on Thursday and Friday. Lows of 28 and 30.. 54 degrees and rain on Saturday.. not good.. I have my crickets ready to thaw out and offer to them, on porches and flipping. But I’ve only had limited success in the past with that during cold weather.. I’ve had females use them willingly when feeding their chicks and themselves during feeding … but only limited success when they are stressed from cold weather and lack of food.. I don’t like the setup.. 2 days isn’t that bad.. 3 days in a row is when I get worried.. here we go again..
Rob

[Birdiegirl]

I feel for you folks that already have birds! I'd say we still have a bit of time in KY (my return dates the past two years were 3/29 and 3/30), but I see on the scout report that there have already been two sightings in western KY!!! That's just SO early and winter unfortunately seems to be quite comfortable. I do hope that weather will break for you soon and that supplemental feeding goes well. Good for you for watching out for your colonies.

I tried flinging crickets for the first time last year with mixed results. I think it startled them more than anything! I know at least one martin caught a cricket but didn't stick around for more- perhaps he simply wasn't hungry enough. Unfortunately, the tree swallows were quite interested, and I ended up feeding a couple of them.

After working so hard to get a colony, it's an odd feeling to hope 'your birds' don't come back for a bit. Good luck martin friends!

[Dave Duit]

Here is what the great folks of the PMCA have already provided us on the website as it relates to cold weather and martins.
Weather
Weather can play a large factor in the year-to-year success of the Purple Martin population. Since Purple Martins are aerial insectivores—meaning they catch all of their insects in flight—they are extremely vulnerable to weather conditions such as excessive cold, heat, or drought.

Cold/Wet Weather
Purple Martins are adversely affected by weather if the temperature is constantly below about 48 degrees for three days or there is constant rain for a period longer than three days. The martins dietary staple, flying insects, do not fly in these conditions; and after the three day period martins will begin to die from starvation.

How to Help
Supplemental Feeding
Although martins normally catch their insects while flying, they can be trained to accept supplemental food such as crickets, mealworms, or even scrambled eggs. Visit the Supplemental Feeding page for more information.

Heating
If you have unoccupied cavities, place a light bulb or hand warmers inside the cavity, making sure that the entrance is blocked so martins cannot enter. This will help heat the surrounding cavities.

Observation
Cold weather will also lead to “communal cavity roosting” by martins (i.e., many birds will congregate in one nest cavity for warmth). During times of severe weather, the bird closest to the entrance may die, preventing the other martins from leaving. Observe your colony site to make sure the entrances are not blocked.

[brent]

Just tried flipping crickets and eggs. Had a little female show strong signs of wanting to go after the food but didn’t. I got too cold after a while. Hands like ice. Had to come in and wanted to save some crickets for the entrances and porches. Will put those out when I put the hand warmers in. My plan is to place the hand warmers in the nest tray. I checked one out and it is not so hot that it burned. Just warm enough. So one in each nest tray. These are up to 18 hours and I plan to put them in at about 4 PM. Brent

[Martintown33]

Hi Brent. They aren’t hungry enough yet , being it’s the first day. You may have better luck tomorrow. Whenever I try flipping, I see them following the cricket with their eyes as it arcs in front of them. They seem like they want to go after it, but I’ve never had one do it. I’ve only had some moderate success with porch and compartment feeding . I will load their compartments and perches, Thursday morning ( second day) and try flipping . I hope you have success..
Rob

[brent]

Hey Rob. I just went in to put hand warmers in the compartments. I placed a few crickets in each compartment at the same time. The poor birds are already huddled together. Tomorrow will be sunny. I hope they have enough energy to go hunt and insects are flying. I checked my log from 2021 and the artic cold that year killed 7 martins (that I was aware of). From my notes it looks like it was a 4-5 day event. Hoping this will be over Saturday. I’ll try flipping crickets and eggs again tomorrow. Good luck to you too.

[Martintown33]

Agree. As recall it was 5 days. Mine are out flying. Don’t think they’re having much luck. They fly above for 5 to 10 minutes then come back and go inside. That’s not a good sign of success. Agree. Hopefully the sun will help tomorrow. But the high of 44 isn’t good. And it’s supposed to be very windy. I just tried flipping to a few that came back from a short trip. They showed no interest and went inside. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.
Good luck
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

Brent,
Best to just try, just bugs and eggs...I know you are.
Our martins are out, lots and lots of them think its some stalled birds mixed in...maybe 50 total. Fed them during lunch and just finished...maybe 200 worms each time. Its not enough.

Very surprised to see them, sitting on the leeward sides of the racks and house. Huddled together.

Damn it

[Martintown33]

That’s tough Tom.. 50 martins is hard to flip enough to feed them all. Platter feeding is needed, but not easy to get them to do..I’m hoping they eat the crickets I put inside compartments. It’s so frustrating because the bluebirds and mockingbirds immediately went to my elevated platter and started eating crickets, as soon as I raised it up. It’s only about 12 feet right in front of the Martin housing. But, They sit and watch as the BBs and mocks eat away.. very hard to watch..
Good luck. All we can do is keep trying..
Rob

[Thomas Maddox]

I went out to flip crickets after work today. Every time I approached, they flew off. I quit after 4 or 5 tries as I think i was stressing them more than helping. Crap

[C.C.Martins]

I went out to flip crickets after work today. Every time I approached, they flew off. I quit after 4 or 5 tries as I think i was stressing them more than helping. Crap

Thomas, its frustrating. This blows. Gonna be losses. That is sure.

[Conrad Baker]

My problem is I can't supplemental feed. I leave for work when it's dark, and return home when it's practically dark. Once I tried putting dead crickets on the porches, but as soon as I did, the local mockingbirds quickly flew up and ate them.

[Martintown33]

Agree Tom. This is bad. Looking like it’s Going to be a replay of 4 years ago . Temps not as cold as then but way cold enough to starve the vast majority if not all. I’m so fuc***g ticked off. I didn’t think I would be burying martins ever again, much less this soon. And weather forecasters are useless. Keep changing it for the worse everyday. No luck flipping. The BBs and mocks still eating platter crickets right in front of them as they watch. I don’t get why martins are so difficult to adopt to food. Any hungry animal that you put food in front of will eat it. But not a purple Martin.. I hope I’m wrong. Damn this. Not again..
Rob

[hobbiehobbie]

oh my...I logged on today looking for advice, encouragement and hope....now I have a knot in my stomach.

[Thomas Maddox]

Agree Tom. This is bad. Looking like it’s Going to be a replay of 4 years ago . Temps not as cold as then but way cold enough to starve the vast majority if not all. I’m so fuc***g ticked off. I didn’t think I would be burying martins ever again, much less this soon. And weather forecasters are useless. Keep changing it for the worse everyday. No luck flipping. The BBs and mocks still eating platter crickets right in front of them as they watch. I don’t get why martins are so difficult to adopt to food. Any hungry animal that you put food in front of will eat it. But not a purple Martin.. I hope I’m wrong. Damn this. Not again..
Rob

I hear ya brother! The worry is starting to turn into anger. I still have some hope. I'm going to try again after work today. And again tomorrow (maybe they'll be hungry enough then?). Then, I'm going to take out some frustrations on some House Sparrows. You lost all of them 4 years ago? Did you gain many new ones later that same year?

[Martintown33]

Thomas.. lost just about all of my colony, that I know of 4 years ago.. I had 2 pairs of SY males and females show up in March of that year. But that was it. I basically had to start my 27 year colony all over again. Now, I was just getting back to the numbers I had before and now I’ll have to start all over again, if this plays out like it appears it will. Again, I hope I’m wrong. But they’re going into starving mode now as I look at them. Huddled up, hunched over. Refusing flipped crickets. It’s Deja vu all over again. I hope I’m wrong.
Rob

[Martintown33]

I just checked the compartments. All the crickets I put in yesterday are gone. I hope the martins ate them and didn’t clean house with them. I reloaded each compartment with about 30 crickets each…. Might be worth a try for those of you, like me, that haven’t had any luck flipping..
Rob

[Thomas Maddox]

I tried flipping again today with no luck. I quit when they flew over to the neighbors roof and stayed. I did put some crickets and superworms on the porches. Are your crickets alive or frozen? My PMs actually didn't look too bad. Hopefully tomorrow will get above 50!