My rack fell over, possible opportunity for my neighbor

[CurtWelling]

I have a friend who lives about a half mile up the road, he's been trying to get martins about 3 years now. His site is suboptimal, he has lots of mature trees.

My site is optimal, no trees!! I got martins on my third day of trying. (Four years ago) A week ago today one of my racks snapped off at ground level during a major thunderstorm. I also had a couple windows blasted out, a nasty storm, nearly tornado conditions.

I propped up the rack friday night, got it back up on a permanent basis Saturday morning. On Saturday, my friend had an ASY pair and at least a couple of SY birds at his site.

Perhaps my misfortune has become his "fortune". His pair looks like they are going to nest. I find this very interesting. I really wouldn't expect a pair of PMs to renest at this date in my region. That is, I thought it might be a little late. I wonder if there is a certain "stage" of nesting that PMs will try and restart after a disaster. I imagine a line that moves north as the summer goes along past which PMs will give up on a nesting attempt and not try to re-nest after a disaster.

I wonder what the scientists and the long-time martin observers think about this?

[John Miller]

Curt

I'd also think mid June is getting late, but maybe just before the end of the line. The ASY pair will be more committed than SY late nesters, who sometimes start a late nest and abandon it. My hunch would have been that if this is your disrupted ASY pair, they would have moved further out of the area -- but maybe not. I'd be curious for you to keep an eye on this pair and see if they appear able to fledge young into August.

John Miller,
St. Louis, Mo