Just looked out to see two ASY males. One looking out of a gourd and another on the rack. 10 inches of snow, snow flurries and a high today of maybe 32 degrees. My first arrived last Friday. The last time I saw it was when he flew out during freezing rain and 30 mph winds two days ago. Tried to feed it but winds made it impossible. After that, ice and snow covered all of the gourds. No way to know where he was, or is.One of these two is either him or he is deceased and there are new arrivals- at least one of them.
The entire rack is ice covered and the winches are inoperable due to the ice coating them. To add insult to injury, tree swallows have paired up and are flying around checking out my lone house that I allow them to use.
Challenging Spring here.
Ed
ASY still arriving in Wisconsin
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
Last edited by Ed Svetich-WI on Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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MaryanneKaht IL
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2016 2:34 pm
- Location: Spring Grove IL
- Martin Colony History: Active colony of purple martins at this location since 2002.
We have 2 Trio converted Castles + one 8 compartment gourd rack and one 12 compartment gourd rack. 2025 summary: Best year ever! Fledged 100+ purple martins with zero sparrows at colony site this year!
We saw our first two ASY on Friday 4/13...same weather pattern you describe at our place (IL/WI border)...extremely disappointing! 
Wishing you both luck. I still keep watching but haven't seen any yet at all. But with this weather, I'm fine with that. I didn't think they would be moving in this stuff but apparently they may be. I am thinking it might melt tomorrow but today it's still about freezing temps with no sunshine and it's still snowing all the time. I think, if we (and the birds) can just hold on til Thursday - we'll be outta the woods, at least for a few days.
Billie from southern Wisconsin
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vman
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 10:42 pm
- Location: wisconsin
- Martin Colony History: have not had martins for last 20 yrs. trying to re establish a colony
2018 1 asy pair fledged 2
The wi. purple martin assc. is recomending checking your housing for trapped martins, a pail of hot water poured on the winches should free them up, it is starting to thaw a little here near oskosh, good luck!!
Jim
Jim
Jim
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
No trapped birds nor no dead birds here. 50s forecast by the end of the week, but they did not forecast record breaking storm either.
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John Evans
- Posts: 323
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:56 pm
- Location: Cocoa Beach Florida
Best of luck Ed. We've had losses here. Another big wave of martins late last week and now more cold. Fear it's going to be a tough year for northern landlords.
John
John
PMCA Member
My 2 cents worth for Wisconsin landlords, do not keep your houses up at your highest level, keep them about 8-10 feet off the ground if possible that way with a step ladder you can easily manage your housing, I had an adult male trapped in a cavity, there was no way to lower my house do to the massive icing problem I climbed just 5 feet up and was able to clear out the snow, and also try to keep housing open on the south side, limit the openings, and put feed in any open cavity, most will roost together for warmth, I also use a small reptile warming pad this works great and most cost less than $20.00 more snow is forecasted Wednesday, then finally a break. Good luck guys!
Greg Z