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Old 08-12-2013, 12:00 AM
bjh
 
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Originally Posted by LookinForMayberry View Post
I want that emoticon!


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Originally Posted by puginabug View Post
It's been in the nineties here for a couple of weeks. Every day in the afternoon it seems we get some clouds and thunder. Then it leaves, leaving sprinkles in it's wake. It's been soooo hot.

Seems like a trend that's been nationwide?

bjh, I will keep my hose handy to spray you!!
They keep forecasting us for some percentage chance of rain. We may or may not get any. Sometimes a sprinkle. Sometimes a bit more. Just makes it more humid for a while.
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Old 08-12-2013, 08:53 AM
 
Location: West Virginia
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WOW, woke up this morning and looked out back as I always do and I couldn't believe my eyes. Purple Martins everywhere, sitting on my gourd rack, my barn style house, literally shoulder to shoulder on the power lines and even sitting in the tassels in my corn patch. I counted over a hundred one day last week but I've never seen this many before. There had to be at least 300 or 400 birds, all waiting on the 3 little nestlings to fledge....AMAZING.....;>) Let the migration continue!
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Old 08-12-2013, 05:55 PM
 
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Originally Posted by HomersBoy View Post
WOW, woke up this morning and looked out back as I always do and I couldn't believe my eyes. Purple Martins everywhere, sitting on my gourd rack, my barn style house, literally shoulder to shoulder on the power lines and even sitting in the tassels in my corn patch. I counted over a hundred one day last week but I've never seen this many before. There had to be at least 300 or 400 birds, all waiting on the 3 little nestlings to fledge....AMAZING.....;>) Let the migration continue!
That is great news. We recently watched a video informing us that they were heading toward the endangered lists because they are so dependent upon human interaction (building nesting boxes, maintaining the nests). DH and I don't have a yard large enough with sufficient open space to accommodate them, so we had to just pray that others take the initiative. Sounds like you are one of those. God bless you.

We had a lull in the heat, and even a bit of rain one night, but now the temp is rising again, the clouds are burning off and they've increased even today's forecast. I am starting to hate summer.

Only sighting today that is out of the ordinary is an Anna's Hummer. Before the neighbors removed their big holly from behind our back yard, we had families of them. I used to constantly get dive-bombed in my yard. This spring, I saw only a few, and lately I had not even seen them. I think it must be the heat. Yesterday and this morning was cooler and I saw two on my honeysuckle, my fuchsias, and my crocosmias.
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Old 08-13-2013, 08:01 PM
bjh
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HomersBoy View Post
WOW, woke up this morning and looked out back as I always do and I couldn't believe my eyes. Purple Martins everywhere, sitting on my gourd rack, my barn style house, literally shoulder to shoulder on the power lines and even sitting in the tassels in my corn patch. I counted over a hundred one day last week but I've never seen this many before. There had to be at least 300 or 400 birds, all waiting on the 3 little nestlings to fledge....AMAZING.....;>) Let the migration continue!
Cool I wonder if that's typical for the time of year. I mean it's not a sign of autumn migrations is it?
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Old 08-14-2013, 07:24 AM
 
Location: West Virginia
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Originally Posted by bjh View Post
Cool I wonder if that's typical for the time of year. I mean it's not a sign of autumn migrations is it?
Yes, it is typical for this time of the year for the Purple Martins to start their migration although this year they seem to be a couple weeks behind due to the cold and rainy Spring we had. Last year they were all gone by the 1st of August. Yesterday they were still here in good numbers but as I look out back now, they're all gone. I haven't checked yet but I'm guessing the 3 nestlings took their wings and joined the migration. I'll miss their chatter as I work in my garden but they'll be back in late March and early April.
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Old 08-14-2013, 07:35 AM
 
Location: West Virginia
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Just think of all the flying insects these birds must consume to sustain their strength for their journey back to South America. No doubt, the birds I had in my back yard will join a roost like this to continue their migration.


Purple Martin Roost Louisville 2013 - YouTube

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Old 08-14-2013, 08:53 AM
 
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Originally Posted by HomersBoy View Post
Just think of all the flying insects these birds must consume to sustain their strength for their journey back to South America. No doubt, the birds I had in my back yard will join a roost like this to continue their migration.


Purple Martin Roost Louisville 2013 - YouTube
Thank you for sharing this wondrous video. We have a similar occurrence in Kenmore only with crows, but they never leave! (I like the Martins better!)

I am surprised that the schools don't have programs to promote nest boxes and maintenance in their student populations. DH and I looked into it but learned that our lot was too cramped by trees. Schools tend to have wide open spaces. Do you know of such programs?
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Old 08-15-2013, 12:15 PM
 
Location: West Virginia
515 posts, read 774,346 times
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Originally Posted by LookinForMayberry View Post
Thank you for sharing this wondrous video. We have a similar occurrence in Kenmore only with crows, but they never leave! (I like the Martins better!)

I am surprised that the schools don't have programs to promote nest boxes and maintenance in their student populations. DH and I looked into it but learned that our lot was too cramped by trees. Schools tend to have wide open spaces. Do you know of such programs?
I'm not aware of any local programs in my area but there are a lot of groups that support them.

Check out their site and also their links page.

Welcome to the PMCA

PMCA Web Links
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Old 08-15-2013, 06:59 PM
 
9,229 posts, read 8,492,547 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HomersBoy View Post
I'm not aware of any local programs in my area but there are a lot of groups that support them.

Check out their site and also their links page.

Welcome to the PMCA

PMCA Web Links
I think this might be where DH got is info about building and maintaining the nesting boxes. I will have to check. Thanks, again.
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Old 08-16-2013, 12:22 AM
bjh
 
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The other day we watched a nature program about big cats. One of our little cats watched it too. I mean she sat and watched it. She was sitting in my better half's lap, looking at the screen, really following the show. I got a bigger kick out of that than the show.
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