My first martin of this new upcoming season....

Mike Dingman · Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:06 am

It was 8 am this morning, I was outside and heard the familiar cher, cher, from an ASY female purple martin. She was circling my back yard. I have 3 gourd racks, 12 gourds each, all installed but lowered and covered with sheets to keep them out of the weather. I uncovered the frist rack and raised it up. She didn't land, but I do expect to see her again either this afternoon, if I am around, or this evening before dark. It was about 70 degrees this morning, very mild, nice weather. This past Saturday I was noiticing the warm southerly wind blowing to the north and I figured it would be a good time for martins to ride the wind north, if they were inclined to leave at this time of the year. I have had early arrivals as early as December 26 in the past....

Louise Chambers · Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:10 am

Congratulations, Mike! This is so exciting!

Thanks for sharing the news. We know she's at a great colony site, and in good hands. Yippee, I am so excited!

Tim Mangan-Kansas · Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:39 am

Mike:

Your report just raised the anticipation level of every landlord.

Tim

madattiver · Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:51 am

Wow! that is awesome... It looks like Christmas came early for you this year. It is kind of crazy how the martin season varies so much throughout North America. I have about 4 months to go until I see my first purple martin. I look forward to seeing all the updates as the martins move north.

Steve Kroenke · Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:52 am

Hey Mike,

Thanks for sharing that great news with us! We are all getting excited thinking about the upcoming martin season!

I am hanging gourds on lowered racks and still building pre-nests! Still have some work to do!

Steve

Anthony Neira · Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:53 am

Congrats Mike , Thanks for giving the rest of us Hope!!!

Mike Dingman · Tue Dec 23, 2014 10:50 am

After I posted on the PMCA's web site, I got an automated reply that more less said, are you sure? They wanted a little more info. on the bird, and I was actually questioning myself, for a second or two. I went back outside at 9 am and she was back, this time circling closer to the raised gourd rack. I told my wife, Diane that she was going to start practicing some touch and go's to get used to the site, again. The returning females are much more cautious than the returning males, especially the first ones.

Chuck4 · Tue Dec 23, 2014 10:54 am

Woo hoo! That's awesome news! Congratulations. I knew touchdown would be soon.

Louise Chambers · Tue Dec 23, 2014 10:54 am

Mike,

I am pretty sure you have had the first martin of the new season at least 2 or 3 times now?

taxidermy lady · Tue Dec 23, 2014 11:03 am

wow Mike that is our beginning of this Martin season ! Thanks for sharing!

tim414 · Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:43 pm

congrats...you must be far south Florida??

wow, no, east central...(I goggle

)

James Strickland FL · Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:14 pm

Great News Mike.

Mike Dingman · Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:48 pm

Louise, I am pretty sure this is the first time for me for the earliest report. I can check the archives, but most of the time they come up the western edge of the gulf and Texas, north and finally to the panhandle of Florida. While that is going on, some come to South Florida via Cuba then move up the state from the south. This one must have come over the water up from the southern end of Florida. I am sure other landlords have martins now in their areas too, they just haven't heard them yet. Anyway, thanks for all the well wishes today, it is still exciting for me too, every year, and every year I demand of myself better protection for my birds. They flew a long way to raise young, and it is a dangerous time for them to raise a family, it's my job to care for them the best way I know how. Also, tonight, she was flying around at 5 pm until 5:30, I was sure she wouldn't stay in a gourd as she has not inspected them yet, that will take a few more days for her to get comfortable. I have PVC guards, owl guards, a wire fence cage around each gourd rack, I am as ready as I can be. Looking forward to a good season.

Jose Rodriguez · Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:57 pm

Congratulations Mike! I'm next! Lol! Best of luck to everyone this coming year! Happy Holidays!

steve r · Tue Dec 23, 2014 6:23 pm

Great news Mike. Your right about other landlords might have birds already. If your not outside all the time it might be days before you ever notice them. I do believe that when the first ones back they come as a small flock and not on there own. I'm off for the next 10 days so I will be keeping a look out. I think one year I had one return Dec 26th.

Gary W · Tue Dec 23, 2014 11:25 pm

Congratulations, Mike! I wish you a great season!

Gary

tonyg · Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:55 am

Sounds like you have your site well prepared for the up coming season Mike! Congrats on your arrival!

~Ray~Gingerich · Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:24 am

Congratulations on getting the first martin! When did your last martin leave last season?

Mike Dingman · Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:38 am

Hi Ray:
My last bird left on June 21, 2014, it was a Saturday.
All totaled I had 154 eggs laid, 132 hatch, 115 fledge, which is a 75% fledge rate. Which is normal/average for me here in the warm south.

Dave Reynolds · Wed Dec 24, 2014 11:31 am

Mike ---- Love it... Love it.... Love it.... Congrats

Dave