So worried

[kborder]

Here in Ohio we are in our second winter!! Last week we had two consecutive days of no bug weather, but luckily day three they could forage. Now today is day two of 40's, with constant rain and wind and wind chill in the 20's and 30's
We have had the birds literally "fall from the sky" from starvation in previous years. We had a few trained 5 years ago to catch crickets, but this late in the year we have about 40 birds. Flipping won't help and ours won't eat from the tray feeders. Tomorrow doesn't look great. 52 forecasted by late day with maybe a peek of sun. I guess I don't know if anyone has advice, because we are seasoned landlords. I just want to share my concern with others who also love these birds. I am sick to my stomach and can't sleep. We are 30 degrees below normal. Mother Nature is such a female dog

[randyM]

Similar story here in SD. We just experienced 3 days of cold and wind. Birds went out to feed in afternoons, but came back hungry. Fortunately I flipped thawed grasshoppers each year for the past 3 years to the first arriving martins of the year. I flip the insects taken from an elevated feeding platform. The birds soon related the feeding platform to a food source. I then put eggshells/oyster shells in the feeding tray with an array of insects I've collected the previous summer. Once the birds learn to take grasshoppers, etc. from the trays, I keep eggshells and dried mealworms in the tray throughout the nesting season. Last evening I flipped insects to some that came back from feeding early. I have about 50 birds now, and many of them were eating from the trays after they returned a bit later.

Try flipping some crickets taken directly from an elevated feeding tray. If they don't accept the offerings, keep the feeding tray up all nesting season (this year and all years going forward) with shells and mealworms and hopefully they will train themselves to feed from the trays during future cold spells. The key for the whole colony to learn is to have insects in the tray with eggshells. Martins likely won't learn to simply take food from a tray without training, but they likely will learn to take eggshells from an elevated tray without training. If shells and food are mixed in the tray, hopefully they will learn the tray is a source of food and go there when they can't find enough food on their own.

Good luck.

Randy

[white-out]

Mine just started eating by flipping last week. I go by the poles and they fly right at me as to say, we're hungry! I have feed over 2000 crickets and 1500 meal worms since this cold front came. I only have 13 birds so far and was very happy they finally took to flipping. Like you, it sickens me when I know they are starving. I'ld try flipping anything you can get your hands on quickly cause you may save some of the 40 birds you have.

[CTMartins]

Can one not keep a bin of mealworms and put em on a tray?

[kborder]

Thanks to all. I guess I'll know today and tomorrow how many are affected. At dusk last evening, I watched them jockey back and forth. As all settled, I saw tail feathers at a compartment opening. I fear it may be a dead Martin. Strikes against us, I still work full time and my husband is taking care of his elderly mother, post surgery. Can't be here to find any that may go to ground today.
Good luck to all.

[bootjack farm]

We are going through the same cold in NW Pa. I had to be persistant over several years with meal worms until they took to my trays. I never did have luck flipping crickets, though I did try. You might try placing meal worms on the housing porches as well. I did this using a long pole and a small cup. That way you don't have to bring the housing down. No proof, but I believe one bird caught onto this porch feeding and then moved to the tray. Others eventually followed. You might also get lucky that a bird from another supplement fed colony shows up at yours. Don't give up! Good luck.

[Dave Duit]

When food source is low for martins in the sky, supplement feeding of crickets is a must / or no oil prepared scrambled eggs. Flipping is fine at the beginning of the cold and rain. But, I suggest placing a handful of crickets or mealworms directly inside the entrance. Be sure not to plug the entrance with crickets. I place my crickets just to the left or right inside of the entrance, not directly in front. By placing crickets inside the entrances or cavity itself, the martins won't have to expend their valuable energy in chasing crickets during flipping.