Please help my Martin sy pair are not back after a strong storm with wind and heavy rain.
I only have the one pair and 5 babies that are 18 or 19 days old. The storm started about 3 1/2 hours ago and let up over an hour ago. Raining again not hard and no wind. I checked and the babies are fine. It has cleared enough at times for them to be back. What should I do if they don’t come back? The wind could have had gusts of 40 or 50.
Help
It’s probably been close to 5 hours since they were last feed.
We live on a lake and if I should need to feed them I would do it. The bait shop has crickets and meal worms. I’m just thinking ahead. I understand it’s against the law but I really don’t want them to die.
We live on a lake and if I should need to feed them I would do it. The bait shop has crickets and meal worms. I’m just thinking ahead. I understand it’s against the law but I really don’t want them to die.
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- Posts: 816
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:15 pm
- Location: Plano, Texas
- Martin Colony History: See Signature
M-
I don't think a storm will run your pair off. They should return in good time. I've seen my martins high tail it during a storm but they always came back once it was over. I think they follow the winds and fly around the back of it and come back in behind it. I can't prove it but that's what my observations have led me to believe. Sounds good any ways. I just don't think they would abandon their babies due to a storm. Their instincts are strong.
Feeding them crickets will help them if they don't return.
Others here have had experience with feeding crickets so I hope they will chime in and offer advice on how to effectively do so. I've never done it but have read a lot about it but, for accuracy sakes, I'll let experience talk rather than me repeat.
Coolwhips
I don't think a storm will run your pair off. They should return in good time. I've seen my martins high tail it during a storm but they always came back once it was over. I think they follow the winds and fly around the back of it and come back in behind it. I can't prove it but that's what my observations have led me to believe. Sounds good any ways. I just don't think they would abandon their babies due to a storm. Their instincts are strong.
Feeding them crickets will help them if they don't return.
Others here have had experience with feeding crickets so I hope they will chime in and offer advice on how to effectively do so. I've never done it but have read a lot about it but, for accuracy sakes, I'll let experience talk rather than me repeat.
Coolwhips
2016 - late to put up, many visitors
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
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- Posts: 816
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:15 pm
- Location: Plano, Texas
- Martin Colony History: See Signature
I know it's tough. Hang in there. She will be back.
2016 - late to put up, many visitors
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
Good to hear that he's back. I had to feed a chick this year for 5 days. I fed it crickets. Also fed meal worms, dragon flies and June beetles. It did fine and fledged with another nest of chicks. I think mom will be back. I had a female take care of 4 chicks by her self.
I am happy to say The female finally appeared about 4:00 yesterday. They must have blown to Arkansas with the wind. There was a lot of feeding until sundown last night. Thank you for your reply’s it helped. 
Learning something new everyday with these guy’s.
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- Posts: 213
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:30 am
- Location: Iowa
I'm so relieved that your birds found their way back. It really makes you wonder what must have happened to them and where they got to in that storm.
Diane Porter
Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield, Iowa
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- Posts: 178
- Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:58 am
- Location: Awesome Florida
- Martin Colony History: Newbie in 2020: 2 pair of SY with 4 eggs each in Troyer Horizontals
fledged a total of 7 Martins
so glad to hear your pair made it back MKaye!! This happened to me this year, I understand what
you and your chicks have been thru.
you and your chicks have been thru.
