Bad weather. will the martins be alright?

Trishy · Sun Jun 07, 2009 3:07 pm

I'm a little concerned. Yesterday was a hi of 57 with rain off and on. Today it is 52 at 3 p.m. with wind and clouds. I tried flinging mealworms as that is all I have, with no luck. Tomorrow the forecast is 54 and rain. The forecast after tomorrow will be back into the 60's. Will they be o.k. for that long? This is my 1st year with only 2 pair and sure hate to lose them. The nights are cold.

Emil Pampell-Tx · Sun Jun 07, 2009 3:31 pm

If adult martins are fat and well fed, they can easily live 3 days without food. Also, in the 50s, they may be able to feed. I think that you will probably be ok.

The Olsons · Sun Jun 07, 2009 3:35 pm

Trish,

Do you have a pet store where you can buy crickets? They are easier to fling than meal worms. Maybe you can also try to put up a feeder type dish nearby the housing or put meal worms/crickets in the cavity.

I personally would try to supplemental feed, which we have done in March due to cold and rain and in May due to drought. The martins ate crickets every day and also fed some to their young. I am sure many of the babies survived because the parents were able get supplemental food for themselves and the babies.

For years we were not lucky to feed because of the sea gulls being right there, but this year we figured out a way to trick them and were so happy and relieved that we could finally help feed the martins. We usually order our crickets from Reptilefood.com and I have them overnighted. They then go into the freezer for a few hours and after that they are bagged into freezer bags. When we need them we just thaw them out. If you find a pet store that sells crickets, you can do the same so they go to sleep and then they are easier to handle.

Best wishes to you and your martins

Astrid

Trishy · Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:06 pm

Thank you for your replies. There is a pet store about 40 miles away. Maybe I will make a trip there tomorrow. I would like to teach them to eat crickets or worms now so I can be ready next spring if they return. I do have trays up and have put mealworms in the trays, but the martins haven't figured out they are for them. The bluebirds have though. I wanted to put mealworms in a dish on the trio porch, but was afraid the martins would be scared of the dish and not come back to the house.

The Olsons · Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:53 pm

Trishy,

Since you put meal worms in a feeder tray and the blue birds are eating that is a good way for the martins to catch on if they are really hungry. Maybe you can fling a little bit into the direction of where the feeder is so whatever they do not catch falls near or in the feeder. I like to be able to put some crickets out for them when the weather is not very favorable, and I do not see too many bugs around. Then it is their choice if they want to take advantage of it or not.

Best wishes and please keep us posted

Astrid

Trishy · Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:47 pm

Thanks Astrid,
I think I will get some crickets tomorrow. It will make me feel better anyway. They did no foraging today and I don't imagine tomorrow will be any better by the sounds of things.

The Olsons · Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:08 pm

Trish,

That sounds great

I am a a little (much) overprotective with my martins but it has proven to b working. I am glad you are going to get some crickets....

Astrid

drdoo55 · Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:56 pm

Trish Lower the house down and put the thawed dead crickets inside the compartments next to the entrance hole and they will find them, thats how I taught my birds and after a few days I then put them in a tray,I went through 1000 crickets in the last day and a half.I have 33 hungery pair and it dont take long to go through a thousand or so.Tony

Trishy · Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:39 am

Thanks Tony, I will do that. How many do I put in the nesting compartment? I have a pair in the trio grandpa and one in a gourd.

drdoo55 · Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:54 am

About 20 to 30 in each compartment

Trishy · Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:33 am

O.k. Thank you. I'll be there when the store opens.

Dennis D · Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:09 am

Trishy wrote:O.k. Thank you. I'll be there when the store opens.

Also if you have a bait shop close by you can get crickets there and they will be a lot cheaper than a pet store. Good Luck!

Trishy · Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:20 am

Thanks Dennis, I tried the bait store and they don't sell them. They recommended the pet store. The store only had the large crickets. I bought 100 and hope they are not too big. I figure that should get them through the day and tomorrow is suppose to be in the 60's. ( I hope) If it will stop raining long enough, I will put some in their compartments. Thanks again you guys. I appreciate the help.