Martin Update--Carroll County--Northwest Missouri

[Show-Me-Mike]

The martin season is off to a running start in NW Missouri. The first of 50+ returning martins touched down on my houses on March 22, four days earlier than last year. I have two T-12 houses with conley SREH entries and eight Troyer horizontal gourds with conley 2 tunnel entries. Each day brings me a little closer to full occupancy. I've never had so many martins so early in the season as this year. If this keeps up, there will be no room for the sub-adult trouble-makers when they start winging in early May.

I have to echo other Missouri landlords who have observed fewer starlings and HOSP this year. Don't know what to think of it all, but I know I like it! Early on,I had a few supersized starlings attempt to breach the conley entries to no avail, although I have to give them credit for trying. I also had a young, hapless male HOSP make a feeble attempt at claiming a compartment only to be chased off by a multitude of martins. I think they were a little testy after the long migration. I haven't even bothered to get my traps out, don't need them....yet. We'll see.

Other landlords here in Carroll County are reporting similar experience in numbers of martins. The Amish have a good-sized colony 3 miles north of me and have lots of returning martins so far. The farmers I've checked with have been reporting numbers equal or better than last year. I attribute these results to the highly successful martin season of a year ago. We had spectacular "martin weather" all season long last year and the martins took full advantage of it. This year is shaping up in a similar fashion though it's way to early to celebrate and I prefer to avoid premature celebrations.

Carroll County is situated in NW Missouri and is completely bordered on the south by the Missouri River and is prime martin territory. We have miles and miles of fertile farmland with more flying insects than the martins could eat in ten lifetimes. The apple and peach orchards that lay along the south side of the Missouri River from the Waverly bridge to the Lexington bridge are in full bloom now, which means only one thing. (other than a bumper crop of apples and peaches) The sub-adults are on their way and will arrive within a reasonably short time! Usually the young-uns arrive with the flowering of the fruit trees, but all is late this year due to the long winter. Average arrival time for them is May 1. It's going to be a mad scramble for little available remaining housing this year. If someone were so inclined, it would be an ideal opportinity to add additional units. I wish I had, oh well.

Best wishes to all for a successful martin season!

[John Miller]

Mike

Enjoyed your report. If the stock market holds and I ever retire, I hope to visit all the best martins sites in Missouri. But neither is a sure bet...so don't worry (grin)..just take care of those Missouri martins.

John M