Martins Nesting In Street Lights

[BW Fowler]

I ran across several martins nesting in some parking lot streetlights. Never seen this before. Matt@atx, perhaps you could help me out by verifying this. There are about five of these street lights surrounding the Sonic Drive-In at 1626 and 967. If you have a chance to check it out, please let me know. I think there are at least 3 pairs of martins nesting at this location.

Thanks,
BW

[Gary W]

Very interesting! It indicates that there must be a shortage of good housing sites in your area. I hope the Martins can successfully fledge their young from those light fixtures!

Gary

[ToyinPA]

BW:

Are there actual nests or are they just perching on the light? The reason I ask is my colony sits on top of a street light that is near me too, but they don't nest in it. When chicks fledge they always end up on top of the light.

Toy in PA

[Ed Svetich-WI]

A number of years as go there was an article in the Update about martins nesting in similar street lights in Florida. They successfully raised young.

[Vern1]

One other possibility is they have been displaced by the extreme weather we have had here in Central Texas.
I had a major influx here last week of 8-10 pair that I assume came from someone's damaged or destroyed colony.
The reason I think they were displaced is because all the males are ASY birds.

These extra pairs just showed up, picked an empty gourd, moved right in and got busy building nests.
While I love to see my colony expand, I hate to think what they and their landlord had to go through before they arrived here.
I am thankful I had some space for them.

Is this the Sonic in front of the Cabalas right off IH35?

[Matt@atx]

Hey BW


I never noticed anything up there at the Sonic but then again I was not looking either . Next time I'm up there, I will take a look.
A couple years ago I was up at those office clusters off the 967 toward Buda for a Dr appt which are just across the street from Cullins Pond ( filled up and over by the way ; ) which is straight down the street from you. The pond is maybe a 1000 or so yards on the 967 right after you pass the 1626.
I was in the parking lot over there and there were Martins on the phone lines over the lot. I looked at them maybe 25-30 feet up and they started squawking at me. They did not go anywhere but just did that so I was thinking they were mine since mom's is right up the street and they recognized me.

Maybe your looking at your own birds hanging out BW

I remember reading that posting some time back where Martins had nested in the crease/cubby near the top of a big metal street light (like a highway light) and how that was unusual.

I will see if I can check them out soon. Pretty sure we got at least 2- 3 gourds so I wish they come up the street some

Hi Vern,

This Sonic would be behind Buda proper off the 967 and 1626. Its not too far west from the one off the 35 by Cabelas . Its a little strip mall "for now" on the 967 & 1626.

How are your water tanks looking right now? I was wondering if you have restocked them between 2011 and this season?

[Vern1]

Hey Matt,
Finally, all of our stock tanks are running around.

All of my stock tanks went dry in 2009 and I lost all my fish.
Filled up in 2010 and I restocked.
Almost went dry in 2011 but I kept enough water in it to keep fish alive from water well.
They are doing well now!

[Matt@atx]

Hey Matt,
Finally, all of our stock tanks are running around.

All of my stock tanks went dry in 2009 and I lost all my fish.
Filled up in 2010 and I restocked.
Almost went dry in 2011 but I kept enough water in it to keep fish alive from water well.
They are doing well now!

That's good to hear Joe, What do you keep in em. Any bass or catfish?
All the tanks I can see around appear full to the brim now and I believe they looked that way back in January as well.

[BW Fowler]

Toy,

I was wondering the same thing. I filled-up my car at the Shell station next door this evening around 7pm. I saw several martins flying around one of the lamps and two more flying around another one. I walked over to the nearest one and saw some nesting materials up underneath the lamp. One bird was perched on a wire hanging underneath the lamp. It does look like they are actually nesting up underneath the lamp housing, probably on top of the lamp. I'll keep looking in on them as I go by there every day on the way to work.

Joe,

This Sonic is probably roughly 5 miles west from the Cabelas, at the intersection of FM 967 and RM 1626. I noticed you had some birds fledging a few days ago. My first nest was fledging today. I've also noticed lots of recent newcomers hanging around. One SY male was bringing in some nesting materials today. Maybe like you said they were displaced by the heavy rains and floods. I did notice a lot of 'new' birds around last year just before fledging started, but they were just hanging out and didn't seem to be looking for new nest sites.

BW

[wyatt]

I have martins nesting in the street lights near my house in Florida. There are lights that line the 4 lane street and it is a sizable colony. They return every year. I have looked at the lights up close and there is a dark cavity accessible behind the light. I'm a 9 year martin landlord and can confirm that they are martins. The lights are slowly being replaced with LED's which I don't think have the same dark cavity inside, so I'm not sure how much longer they will be able to nest there.

[BW Fowler]

There was another report this spring about martins nesting in a brick wall where some bricks were missing. They are amazing birds.

[EGunterTX]

Darn. I was at Cabela's yesterday. Would have had a look if I knew. Looks like I have an excuse to go back....

[Vern1]

That's good to hear Joe, What do you keep in em. Any bass or catfish?
All the tanks I can see around appear full to the brim now and I believe they looked that way back in January as well.

They have been mostly full since January of this year.
I have one tank in the middle of a pasture that I cleaned out when it went dry.
When I cleaned it out, I put some of the dirt in the wrong place and blocked one of the inlets so it takes lots of rain to fill it up....the 25+ inches we got did the trick!

My big stock tank with fish covers 5+ acres right and is about 200 yards from my Martin colony.
It is stocked with Channelcats, a few perch, redears and flathead minnows that are going on 5 years old the catfish get fed regularly.
Prior to drying up 2009, we had lots of perch, BIG bass and a few catfish we had put in there.
It also has a few families of Woodducks living in the creeks and is a stopover for Mallards and Teals.
Lots of various cranes, herons and other waterbirds use the area almost daily.
It's a favorite of the Martins since it has lots of room for approach and exit after a drink/bath!