2017 season about to arrive.

I look for my Martin's to arrive any day now. Today the calendar page turned to March and it arrived roaring with wind rain and cooler temperatures. Last years first arrival came on March 16 but with the very mild winter and early arrivals happening this year I expect an early date as well.

New addition for 2017.  

My new ChirpyNest rack Is shown , ready to raise after today's high winds.  This rack is a big test for my ChirpyNest housing and will be one of two attempts at growing a colony with the system. 

My Purple Martins are back.

Last Wednesday March 16 my first Martin arrived bridging the gap that started August 19 of 2015. My first arrival was an ASY female and it wasn't until the evening that I saw her.  I was fortunate to spot her that evening because I was leaving town the next morning, going to visit my nephew in Ashville NC. It was a weekend of March madness basketball with Jason and two of my brothers Donnie and Terry.  I was saved from checking in with my wife asking the question " Any martins?"  Upon my return, disappointed that my KY wildcats went down in defeat to Indiana, I was happy that my first arrival was still around albeit still alone. 

 Today, one week later, another female and my first two male birds arrived.  I could only see them briefly before going to work but was able to spend some time this evening enjoying having them back.   

my excitement level went up a notch after dinner, even though I had to sit with an umbrella in order to see if any of the birds would investigate the ChirpyNest houses. The four martins were checking out many of the three of the poles, sitting on the new tunnel porches of the gourds as well as the porches of the ChirpyNest boxes.  It wasn't until the birds went to the wooden T-10 house that I saw any of them enter a compartment. As the rain fell harder I was headed in for the evening. As I passed the T-10 the birds flushed and I stood under the eave of the garage watching with binoculars as one of the females landed on the second from top porch of the prototype ChirpyNest box.  All the sudden she was gone but I knew she didn't fly off.  About ten seconds later she squeezed herself out of the crescent opening and stayed on the porch for another 30 seconds or so.  I was and am still thrilled!  First day back and the martins are checking out my ChirpyNest houses.  It was mid May last year before any martins investigated the 26 room trendsetter.  It wouldn't have surprised me if something similar happened with my ChirpyNest houses.  The fact that the ChirpyNest houses are on poles in the same spot martins nested last year makes a big difference but I couldn't ask for a better start.  

The birds finally acted like they were going to settle in for the night in the T-10 but the rain ran me in before I could be certain. tomorrow starts the weekend and hopefully more martins and more chances to get reacquainted with my martins.  

First EVER photo of Purple Martin on a ChirpyNest Hygienic Martin house! 

I was able to snap this picture before the rain moved in as my first four martins were visiting the housing and gourds. I don't know if any martins went in the houses while I was at work but one of the females did enter later in the evening.  

Owl protection

Today was cold windy and a bit of snow fell. I was able to make the last of the owl guards for my gourds. Since 2009 my colony declined from 79 active nests (a nest where at least one egg was laid) to last years 36 active nests. I attribute the decline to disruption and predation by the resident great horned owls.  

    Until last year I took no additional measures against the Owls other than providing large gourds, double size compartments and starling resistant entry holes, which are speculative as far as owl protection, but I do feel they make it a bit harder for owls to reach into compartments.  

      For this year I am completely overhauling the colony  and owl guards of some sort are a part of all of the 129 compartments I am offering for my martins. I am optimistic the measures taken will get my colony back to its former numbers and then some.  I will keep you posted as to the progress. 

Wind express

Today with the wind blowing steadily from the south south west I expect more scout reports for Tennessee. That means my martins will be not far behind.  Typically reports from Kingsport and Rogersville preceded my scouts by a week or so.  

   Tree swallows are usually seen here before martins (but not every year) but so far this burst of warm weather has not triggered their arrival.   

We are due for another round of winter like weather for a few days so it looks as if my early date of February 25 2008 for first scout will hold up.  

March 5 ,2015 first Martin  

This is my first arrival from last year. That is ice dripping from the perches. Not uncommon for scouts to be greeted by a bit of winter.  It was another several days after he arrived before more followed.