There is a report of seeing a scout in Northern Virginia in Orange. I am in South central, the Piedmont, and haven't seen any at my place. I am not sure but maybe I saw an adult male at another site nearby.
Does this mean my last year's PMs are not coming back or can sporadic returns be expected?
Does no scouts mean they are not coming back?
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Guest
Its way to early in that area to say that your last years birds are not coming back .
dick
dick
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
This is something I was just thinking on.
These "scouts" we believe are older martins -- probably three or more years old -- and they tend to arrive several weeks before other ASY two year old martins and two months before the sub adults, in the middle states. For example in St. Louis, we might have a scout March 15, and finally sub adults about May 15.
That said, it's not that simple. Some established colonies just seem to get their martins a month later than other established sites in the same areas. This doesn't full add up -- if you have some ASY birds one year, some survivors should return as early as the first senior scouts the successive years. But not so from what I observe around the St. Louis area -- colonies even with ASY birds may vary several weeks to a month in arrivals.
Probably very large colonies tend to get arrivals first -- the odds favoring you will have a few old survivors -- but something as you say, sporadic, is going on, like a pot starting to boil and splatter here and there.
John
These "scouts" we believe are older martins -- probably three or more years old -- and they tend to arrive several weeks before other ASY two year old martins and two months before the sub adults, in the middle states. For example in St. Louis, we might have a scout March 15, and finally sub adults about May 15.
That said, it's not that simple. Some established colonies just seem to get their martins a month later than other established sites in the same areas. This doesn't full add up -- if you have some ASY birds one year, some survivors should return as early as the first senior scouts the successive years. But not so from what I observe around the St. Louis area -- colonies even with ASY birds may vary several weeks to a month in arrivals.
Probably very large colonies tend to get arrivals first -- the odds favoring you will have a few old survivors -- but something as you say, sporadic, is going on, like a pot starting to boil and splatter here and there.
John
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Guest
PMS
JUST HOLD ON
THE DO DATE IS 15 MARCH
I HAD MY TREE SWALLOWS SHOW UP TODAY
IM HAPPY
GIVE THEM MORE TIME
I WALKED AROUND THE POND AND THE BUGS ARE HERE
THE MARTINS ARE COMING
LATER DENNIS
JUST HOLD ON
THE DO DATE IS 15 MARCH
I HAD MY TREE SWALLOWS SHOW UP TODAY
IM HAPPY
GIVE THEM MORE TIME
I WALKED AROUND THE POND AND THE BUGS ARE HERE
THE MARTINS ARE COMING
LATER DENNIS
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Ed Gutshall
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2003 7:04 pm
- Location: Va. / Goochland
Hi, I live in Goochland Virginia and have had a colony since 2000. Last year my birds started showing up around the first of March. This year none have showed up and I really haven't expected them to. It has been cold all over the south causing slow migration. I expect them to show up around the 20th. The first year, my asy didn't show up until April. Ed
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PMS in Virginia
- Posts: 91
- Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 9:48 am
- Location: Virginia/ Bassett
Last year the starlings were around but seem to give up on my round hole natural gourds. I don't know if my trying to shoot them with bird shot had any affect since I was unable to kill any. This morning they are being really persistent even after shooting at them with 38 caliber bird shot.
I am now debating whether or not to try to change to all SREH which will be somewhat difficult since my natural gourds have only the conventional round hole entrances. Maybe if I just keep shooting they will give up like last year?
I am now debating whether or not to try to change to all SREH which will be somewhat difficult since my natural gourds have only the conventional round hole entrances. Maybe if I just keep shooting they will give up like last year?