Something Different

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
Harold Green
Posts: 44
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2004 3:30 pm
Location: Georgia/excited

I was watching the martins feeding their young yesterday and they were
flying real low to the ground like tree swallows. I couildn't see what kind of insects they were catching but this went on for about an hour. Most of the time they were only about one or two feet off the ground. I have never seen this before and wondered if anyone else had witnessed this kind of feeding. This was in a meadow with the grass cut low, and the only thing that I could think of was that a big hatch of insects had come out and the martins had some easy pickings.
Top
CUL Lou~Mich

Harold. I'm sure you are correct. Probably some sort of insect was hatching. I'd imagine they are opportunistic, in that they'll probably take an easy meal if it's offered to them. CUL Lou
Top
Laverne
Posts: 2216
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
Location: TX/Alvin
Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.

Yes, Harold, Lou is correct. Were you at my house, yesterday? :lol: Our hay was cut and baled a week ago and the PMs have been feeding low almost every evening since it was cut. I know that the June bug is emerging now and I know that there are a lot of dragonflies hanging low over the fields. Both of these insects make a big, juicy, morsel for hungry nestlings and adults alike. I don't know about the fledglings. I think they have trouble catching everything!! I've been seeing a lot of begging from fledglings as they sit on the arms of the gourd racks...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Purple Martin Forum”