Tag: purple martins

Purple Martin Update

Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Donna Lewis

Right now, it is very hot here in Central Texas. In fact, we are setting records for elevated temperatures.  So, how does this affect the Purple Martins who live here part of the year?

The Martins that arrive here first around January and February get their eggs laid first and their babies leave the houses first. Once they fledge and are living outside in the trees like other birds, they are not living in the houses. The trees provide shade and are so much cooler for them. So, the earlier the better. Of course, the early Martins also risk late freezes. Nature is always a challenge for any living creature that lives outside.

This year the Martins at my location have fared pretty well.  I have noticed some heat related deaths now in June and July.  As of today (July 4, 2023) I have only two babies still in the gourds and they should fledge any day now. Believe me, they need to. I don’t know how these two have survived the heat. I am sure the parents will be happy also.

Babies!

Most of the Martins are training their new offspring to hunt and fly right now. The trip to Brazil will be coming soon. If they are not strong enough, they will not make the journey to their winter home.  Keep in mind, the new Martins have never been to Brazil before. Their first try must be successful.   

I always think of it as the young are getting their “driver’s license” now.  Martins live from 5 to 7 years as a rule.  So, if they are lucky, they will make the trip to the US and back to Brazil several times. It is amazing that any of them survive at all.  Weather, lack of insects to eat, and predators are always out there.

The Martins sing a lovely song when they court in the spring. It is one of the reasons humans love them so much.

I am sure they are talking to their young now and saying, ” What an adventure you are about to undertake.” 

Happy birding.

Purple Martin Day at Mike McCormick’s Ranch

Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Carolyn Henderson

The skies over Mike McCormick’s ranch were awash in Purple Martins on Saturday, June 24. He estimates that he has 800 adults that have laid 3 to 8 eggs per pair – most of which have hatched. When the babies are air born, they may black out the blue above. 

A small, but resolute group of El Camino Real Texas Master Naturalist braved the heat to get an annual report on the expansive Purple Martin breeding grounds a few miles outside Buckholts. Thankfully, there was a nice breeze and shade up on the hill where the birds take up residence in the specially made houses on the McCormick place.

McCormick made all the houses in his workshop. He also created an impressive trap house for English Starlings and sparrows. Starlings are notorious for taking over Purple Martin houses. Sparrows are known to do it, too. Apparently, starlings and sparrows are just too curious for their own good when they see others of their kind. The trap is somewhat large and made to let them in but not out. He keeps a few as “pets” so the newcomers will see them eating and join them in the cage. 

McCormick told the group about Meteorologist Andy Anderson, formerly of KCEN, telling him that two years in the 2008 to 2010 range, the Purple Martins were “seen” on his radar because of how thick and black they looked when they do their daily hunting circles. The radar picked it up as a moving dark cloud. 

He did state that he would be making some more to be sold soon.  

Purple Martin 2023 Update

Sue Ann (Suna) Kendall2 Comments

by Donna Lewis

Hello, everyone who loves Purple Martins. As of today, February 21, 2023, I have five Martins. They arrive one at a time.

The birds

I have opened up all of the gourds now on the rack today. The apartment house is still vacant, so all the northern compartments are still blocked.

When we get straight line rains those compartments get wet sometimes, and I have to remove all the wet pine-needles and replace them.

Last year I only had three pairs in the apartment house. I do not know why since in years past all twenty-seven cavities were occupied. It may be because trees in the vicinity have grown taller and it is harder to gain entrance to the house?

Anyway, it is so nice to have some happy little friends singing to me.

Since our place suffered from the recent ice storm, and trees and limbs are down, it shows us that life goes on. There is always something to sing about.

I also placed the oyster shells out that the birds use for grit. Many other birds visit the platforms I put it on besides the Martins. The Bluebirds and Cardinals really like the shells also.

The grit

So, if you have Martin houses, the birds are on their way to you now!! Yay!

The platforms

Remember which birds you are trying to attract and put out what they need.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Unknown

The First Martin Arrived January 31

Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Donna Lewis

January 31: My first Purple Martin to arrive at my site. It was an adult male. Oh, I was excited…

The scouts are first to arrive. They are normally the older birds. They are really not scouting anything.  Who gave them that name?

So, my little friend first sat on top of the gourd rack until the bluebirds ran him off. After many more Martins arrive, the Bluebirds give up and mind their own business.

He then flew to the front pasture, where the apartment house is. He stayed there an hour.

I watched him with my binoculars until I remembered to go and get my camera. In the few minutes I was away from the window he left and has not returned.

The picture was for the blog only, not for me.  After over 50 years I know what they look like pretty good!

So today, February 1st, we had an ice storm…no wonder he left. I might like to leave too. I hate cold weather!

So, what happens if the Martins cannot find food for five days or so? It’s not a good thing. They usually do not survive. They are picky eaters, only using live flying insects as their food.

And when it is bad weather, especially ice, the bugs don’t fly. Just like airplanes. They are grounded.

So sad. Yes, I have tried dried meal worms and throwing up live crickets to them. No success. By the way, the crickets that went up in the air and back down on my face now reside here with me in the pasture. I can hear them singing in the summer months.

I stepped just outside for a few minutes and took these photos of the ice on the Martin housing.  All I can say is burrrrrrr.

I may not pass through this world but once.
Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature,
let me do it now.
Let me not defer or neglect it, for I may not pass this way again.

Stephen Grellet

The Martins Are Close Now

Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Donna Lewis

It is now time to have your Martin Housing ready to open.  If you noticed, I said ready, NOT open yet.  You do not want to open the cavities till you hear the Martins at your site.

If you do, you will have a House Sparrow hotel.  You cannot allow the House Sparrows to live in the Martin housing.  They will kill the Martins for the nest.

So, when you see or most likely hear your first Martins arrive, roll down your gourds or apartments and open only a few of the entrances. Open more as more Martins arrive.

It’s a delicate dance for sure. The more you do it, the better you get.

Putting everything back after the Martins have been gone for six months is hard on us senior folk. So, I was lucky this year to have some wonderful volunteers from our Master Naturalist Chapter come over and install the gourds and the Owl Guards for me. Cindy and Gene Rek came last week and did this for me.

The photo of my gourd rack shows the Reks installing the gourds.

As of 1-20-2023 the updated scout report has Martins arriving in Louisiana and Florida. So, they could arrive here in three to four weeks. 

The rack is in its down position for now.

I get asked why I would go to so much trouble for these birds.   Once you hear their beautiful songs, you will know why.  It’s truly a wonder you will not forget.

The Gourds with our friends in 2020.

I will run the houses up the first week in February and I will let everyone know when my first Martin arrives. Martins depend on human-supplied housing now, almost exclusively.

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world” 

–Anne Frank