Nest checks after the rain

[John Miller]

Made a round of checking housing this morning at several public sites in St. Louis. We have had three days of rain.

After a cold spell, I try to check compartments for casualties, and did so. But we have had three days of rain-- not cold -- and may be reason I found two dead on the ground -- one at Cahokia Mounds in Illinois and one in Forest Park here in St. Louis Sad to lose any, but finding on the ground may be more characteristic of rain mortality.

Sadly I also found wing entrapment in the interior two-inch hole of a Coates House. Dead ASY male and I freed the female. going to try to enlarge these holes this fall -- and will continue to advise not to use two inch holes in interior walls of Trios when modifying. Make it three inch, or cut a wide notch down from the top.

Spent a lot of time at Cahokia Mounds talking martins with bored school bus drivers who were "waiting" - ha. I was trying to look for bands using a scope and one driver said that I appeared to have a relaxing job. I said yes, but doesn' t pay well...

Just observations from the morning,
John M

[MamaBruff]

Thank you for the update. I have been wondering how everybody was faring with all the prolonged crummy weather. And you have quite a large territory to cover, my goodness! How many colonies do you manage? You must truly love what you do.
Mary

[John Miller]

M B

I mostly focus on Forest Park and the Missouri Botanical Garden...so within five miles of home, but yes, takes time. have more at Cahokia Mounds in Illinois and at Hidden Valley Ski Area but have help at those colonies. I enjoy going from spot to spot -- one can only stand and look at martins in one spot so long (grin). And you get to talk with interesting folks. this evening a woman in the park had found a goose egg -- floating -- ha -- and thought since I had binoculars I should know where the goose nest was. Afraid I was not much help, but she did learn a little about purple martins.

John M

[Show-Me-Mike]

Thanks for the report John. I too have been wondering how Missouri landlords have fared after the recent brutal weather. Here in Carroll County, (NW Missouri) we had snow on the ground for the first time on over 100 years on May 3. (last Friday) The high reached 37 degrees which came on the heals of rain and cold both the previous day AND the day after. Hope we don't have a repeat of that for another 100 years!

Our martins snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat over the weekend. They were on the edge of history Saturday but a fortunate turn in the weather on Sunday and a dramatic turn for the better today (high 76!) saved them. Nest building resumed in earnest this morning (can you believe it?) coinciding with arrival of a group of sub-adults and the fighting began! Ha! When they are nest building, I don't worry about them. (not having enough food that is)

Now the bad news. I lost three(3) ASY males and one(1) ASY female on Saturday, all four on the ground. The three males were the victims of either hawks or owls of which we have many. The female had no apparent injuries and I assume died of starvation. These are the only ones lost out of some 60+ martins residing in the houses behind our house. I'm currently at 2/3 capacity but with an influx of sub-adults this morning, I don't know exactly how many I have. (as if they would submit to a head count!) Ha!

Hope to hear reports from other landlords around the region regarding their colony status after the rain and snow. Best wishes to all for a successful martin season.

[GeneP]

Our martins snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat over the weekend.

Boy, that's what I felt after 3 days of rain, misting, cold, and wind from Wed. through Friday. Saturday afternoon they left to feed while it was still cloudy and around 50 - 54 degrees. They made it somehow. Today was sunny and warm. Should have another good day before the next rain event.

[daveh]

John, so sorry for your losses. Do you supplement feed the martins? Is it feasible? You probably don't have time to do that since they're so spread out.

Do you own the houses and gourds? If not who puts out the money to fix broken houses and poles that you maintain?

I agree about the 2 inch inner holes being to small. They should be larger. I lost several in my castle and minicastle with 2 inch holes. They are now 3 1/2 inches wide by 2 inches tall since the start of 2011 season. Haven't had any problems with wing entrapment.

It will happen to all sooner or later, one stuck in the hole and one or two in the back compartment. They can all die because you can't see the problem from the outside.

John, thanks for all the good advice you have given me and everybody else on this forum over the years.

dave

[John Miller]

Dave

On the two inch holes in interior walls...want to add: have concluded the reason these are risky is because the nest in the back unit frequently gets built up, creating a small crescent. This last entrapment, the male just appeared not to have wings out, but was just sort of stuck with his head out, but his "shoulders" in.

Good news is, I think he was an intruder and the original pair may be re-united. this morning I spotted an ASY female back in the unit, peering out the crescent door, and an ASY male sitting on the porch.

Re: funding. I own a little of the housing -- but mostly it's owned by the parks. I ask them for help as needed, but do fund minor stuff, and that's fine. I don' t have space in my own yard for martins and being able to stand in the middle of a big open urban park and watch martins coming in from miles around is something for which I'm very grateful.

John M