what's happening at opma manitoba purple martin...
TRANSCRIPT
What's Happening at OPMA
Manitoba Purple Martin Club Sends Information
In the most recent issue of the Manitoba Purple Martin News, I read an article about a martin house called the Salisbury House. I thought I would send out a note to have the information clarified by Melody Boszko who manages their emails, newsletters and dues. Within days, I received a reply through Melody by way of Ernie Didur. Here is her response and some pictures from her email. I thought this was worth sharing and I thank Melody for following it up.
Hi John,
I spoke with Ernie and I have attached 3 pictures. In two of the pictures I have marked in a Yellow border around the picture of the Salisbury House.
Ernie also says:
These Salisbury Style 18 room houses can be cleaned by lifting the second and third or top floor. There’s 2 hinges on the bottom of the second and third floors and screw eyes with a hook on the other side to keep the floors and compartments together. These are from the entrance side with the 5 entrances.
Ernie goes onto saying, he always wanted to make this house to go up and down like the castle style house but never got around to doing that.
The Salisbury house (restaurants in Manitoba) are always Red & White and they have a pleated roof, that’s why these houses were named Salisbury Houses.
In the picture with the 2 houses together, the guy attached spring loaded shutters to cover the entrances.
Take Care
Ernie
I really like their display table and the Taverner style martin houses in the display. The miniature martin houses are also very captivating. Thank you Ernie for sharing!
Here is a picture of the Salisbury House (restaurant) we have in Winnipeg which Ernie is saying where the name came from for this style of Purple Martin House. Melody B.
"Purple Martin Update Mails Soon", says Louise Chambers
We hope PMCA members will enjoy this issue, with articles on geolocator results from South Dakota and South Carolina; Purple Martins on Cape Cod, MA; the Austin TX roost; fund-raising tips for public martin projects; news, letters, photos, and more - should reach some of you later this week and most of you next week.
The PMCA appreciates your support - membership donations keep our projects going. Why not join and keep up to date on the latest purple martin news.
Louis Kociuk From Port Rowan/Long Point Writes about his Martin Experience
Hi John: I started with homemade wooden 12 unit martin houses in the 70’s. Switched to Trio’s in the 80’s. Added Troyer wooden in the 90’s and have replaced all with the poly super gourds since 2000. I’ve made and keep making updates on my super gourds (starling resistant). I believe they’re
the best manageable martin house on the market. Too bad they aren’t manufactured in Canada. I also make sure my horizontal gourds have a slight dip to keep the rain out. Louis
PHOTOS:
Some of my gourd racks.
My grand-daughter helping return an early jumper. Her face tells her admiration for the baby.
My lab notifies me of a captive starling.
PHOTOS:
1. My grand-daughter helping return an early jumper. Her face tells her admiration for the baby.
2. My lab notifies me of a captive starling.
Creative Universe will stop selling retail effective 11/28/13. For more information about this very important announcement
please click HERE
Some of us have difficulty hearing but for some the song of the purple martin is truly a sound you can hear. I hope you enjoy this brief clip that was shared on You Tube....
May your THANKSGIVING be rich with Family Love,
warm with Friendships, Happy with Life's goodness,
filled with Joy and Blessings for your continued
good Health and Happiness, today and always.
God Bless and enjoy the long weekend!
Walpole Island Press Release
Susan and Richard Carr were interviewed by the Observer this past weekend and their story appears at:
http://www.theobserver.ca/2013/10/02/couple-establishes-successful-nesting-program
Dreaming of Next Season
It won't be long and the martins will be returning again to investigate their housing as these sub-adults do.
Cooper Hawk Colony attack and the need for hawk cages around our site.
Wow! The Canadian Taverner Martin House makes a hit in Prescott City, Wisconsin......Give it a read!
End Of Season Purple Martin House Cleanout
Public Nest Check by Jack
Lou Kociuk's Purple Martin Sites in Port Rowan, Ontario. Lou recently joined the OPMA!
Thank you for sharing. What a wonderful site!
Gray- Breasted Martin
This past Monday, September 2, I returned from a ten day tour in Costa Rica which included both birding and touring and I was happy to see the beginning I believe of a southern migration of swallows and martins both on the Pacific as well as the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. The largest flock of martins was seen on the Pacific side, near Liberia and consisted mainly of Gray -breasted martins. There were numerous other swallows including rough wing swallows associated with this massive flock. Throughout Costa Rica there were other swallows including the Mangrove swallow which were present in Tortuguero as well Liberia. Most of these swallows were en masse on the rivers and channels we travelled. I was able to film some of the martins as they assembled close to our boat dock. There was ample evidence of HY martins in the group. It was indeed a thrill to encounter them in this neck of Costa Rica as they prepare for their trip to South America.
The following is excerpted from Wikipedia:
The Gray-breasted Martin (Progne chalybea) is a large swallow.
The nominate race P. c. chalybea breeds from Mexico through Central America south to central Brazil, and on Trinidad. P. c. macrorhamphus breeds further south in South America to central Argentina. The southern subspecies migrates north as far as Venezuela during the southern hemisphere’s winter, and the nominate form also undertakes local movements after the breeding season.
The Gray-breasted Martin nests in cavities in banks and buildings, or old woodpecker holes. 2-4 eggs are laid in the lined nest, and incubated for 15–16 days, with another 22 to fledging.
Adult Gray-breasted Martins are 18 cm in length, with a forked tail and relatively broad wings, and weigh 39g. Adult males are a glossy blue-black with the grey-brown throat, breast and sides contrasting with the white lower underparts. Females are duller than the male, and juveniles have dull brown upperparts.
Gray-breasted Martins are gregarious birds which hunt for insects in flight. Their call is a gurgly chew-chew, similar to that of the closely related Caribbean Martin. The latter species is slightly larger, and has more contrasting underparts.
Lyle Papp's Wife
Josie was a dedicated martin lover as well who accompanied Lyle to many meetings and was a gracious hostess whenever we were banding at their location. Please keep Lyle and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Hello everyone. Sadly, the OPMA Board learned yesterday of the August 23rd passing of Josie Papps, wife of Lyle Papps. Some of us remember Josie from the early years of the club, when she accompanied Lyle to meetings. And we all know Lyle as a long-time member, contributor, natural gourd expert, and most recently, a member of our Board, as well as a wonderful friend to the purple martins and to our OPMA and members. For the convenience of anyone wishing to send condolences, Lyle's address is below, as well as the link to the announcement.
Lyle Papps,
8435 Middle Line Rd., RR #1
Charing Cross, Ont. N0P 1G0
http://www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com/schedule.asp?id=3607
What's Bugging Your Martins?
A La Salle Ontario purple martin landord called recently to inquire why her 60 or so purple martins perished claiming the nests were filled with parasites. She anxiously awaits a determination from the labs at Guelph as to what could have caused the martins to perish. I couldn't determine whether the martins were young or adults which perished. It is not unusual to find in excess of 100 adult fleas and a couple of thousand immature, wormlike larvae in a martin's nest during the summer. One martin nest that collected during the summer of 1982 in Pennsylvania and held in a zip-lock bag over the winter at room temperature hatched out 1900 adult fleas. Fleas can and do overwinter outdoors in martin nests. They have an antifreeze-like substance in their bodies that enables them to survive extremely cold temperatures. Overwintering martin fleas must fast for 8-9 months between blood meals, while their hosts are in Brazil. Now you know why it is important to clean out your martin housing!
In the meantime you may wish to review the following PMCA article on this topic: http://purplemartin.org/update/Parasites.html
The Walpole Island Roost
The Walpole Island Roost was Reported By Ania Czerwieniec on August 2005. We know the roost exists as I have located it for several days using the local weather radar showing the early morning doughnut rings which are often illustrated. Richard Carr has been trying to access it for a few weeks now but many of the former dike roads leading to the site are in disrepair. So far we have been able to locate the approximate location between Harsen's Island and Goose Lake. The area is adequately covered with tall grasses making it a desirable location for an evening roost. There are also tall Willow Trees in the vicinity. What we would like to do is take photographs of the roost location . Richard indicates that swallows returning in the evening consist of barn, tree and bank swallows.
Roost Location: Walpole Island, Ontario, Canada (Chatham-Kent County)
Coordinates: 42.47230, -82.48005 (Google Map | MapQuest Map)
This roost was detected with NEXRAD Radar in 2004 and classified as Significant
Possible way into roost area location by dike.
Phragmites where martins are landing and staying.
Suspected roost area as of August, 2013
The Roost location was confirmed on August 20, 2013 at the tip of the Johnston Channel outlet.
The martins were landing in the phragmites but the roost center was not viewable .August 20,2013
August 20,2013- on the way to the roost along the Johnston Channel
Looks like a great spot for martins! Some are flying around......
The following description is from the PMCA article on roosts.
Estimate of Purple Martins Present: thousands
Description of Roost's Location: After seeing the roost location by Doplar Radar on this website I made two trips to the area in question on August 2nd and 3rd 2005. Unfortunately I was unable to
get to the exact loacation of the roost as it is surrounded by marsh and water. I travelled along a narrow dirt road to the southern most end of Walpole Island where farm fields meet marsh, (this road is a dyke). From 8:30 pm until 9:10 PM thousands of birds were flying low over our heads
towards a single point. In addition to purple martins, tree swallows, red wings and possibly bank swallows were present. Although I did not see the roosting birds in one spot it was quite obvious
they were flying to one location. In the distance I could hear thousands of birds squawking, and it was primarily martin vocalizations.
Public Access to Roost?: No
History of Roost: Unknown.
Description of Roost's Habitat: Walpole Island is a First Nations community. The Island is primarily agricultural surrounded by water. The marsh at the southern end of the Island consists of a labrinth
of smaller Islands with reeds and cattails. Some weeping willows and poplars are scattered about. According to first hand accounts from local boaters one can easily become disoriented
amongst the tall grassy reeds in this area. Both evenings the birds were flying from the north and west heading south.
Threats to/Problems with Roost: Last year the Walpole Island First Nations community began investigating some troubling issues concerning the wild life on the Island. I believe much of the
concern is warranted as they are down river from Sarnia Ontario, also known as "Chemical Valley", home to many chemical plants etc.. A number of spills have occurred throughout the years and
certainly every town along the river has been affected in some negative way. I believe contamination of the soil/water is the biggest threat to the roost. As it is impossible to access the roost by foot or car
I would imagine people in general will not be a concern. It seems the birds have found an ideal location in many ways.
Opportunities at Roost: Because this is such an isolated area I would say no.
Further updated information on this roost is now available on the Purple Martin Conservation Association Website at the Project Purple Martin Roost .
Boaters tend to stay clear of this area for fear of becoming lost or hung up in the shallow water areas.
Video of Austin Texas pre-migratory roost.......have you seen one in your area? Please let us know!
Martinfest 2013 at Victor Stoll's ......just in case you missed it...have a look.
A Purple Martin Colony on an Amish Dutch Farm in Norwich Township
Did you find a dead Banded Martin?
Please report it...... for Canada and U.S The number to call is 1-800-327-BAND (2263) or report it at their website http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/ .
Check out the latest pictures from the Tuckette Farm at Don's Bluebird Corner.
The Yellow Banded Purple Martin Mystery.....read more
2013 Prognosticator in Electronic Form
Roger Lee from the Central Indiana Purple Martin Association has allowed us to post this in honour of Ed Donath its inventor. This is similar to the PMCA Prognosticator Wheel used to determine
hatching dates etc.
Prognosticator208
Walpole Island/Lake St. Clair Roost Ring-August 8,2013
Richard Carr from Walpole Island has confirmed that the swallows are beginning to gather just north of Walpole Island. I was able to capture a number of shots of a possible roost ring on Lake St. Clair today and am sharing some photos of a large group of possible martins and swallows. These photos
used two radar sources: Detroit and Cleveland. The photos are still images of roost rings as they appear on the radar. To see the roost ring from the Cleveland radar as it moves and disperses, click
on the August 11, 2013 link: http://weather.rap.ucar.edu/radar/displayRad.php?icao=KCLE&prod=bref1&bkgr=black&end
Date=20130811&endTime=11&duration=2
To see the ring from the Detroit/White Lake radar click on the August 11, 2013 link: http://weather.rap.ucar.edu/radar/displayRad.php?icao=KDTX&prod=bref1&bkgr=blac
k&endDate=20130811&endTime=11&duration=2
Both images can be slowed or stopped by using the control at the top of the display.
Nestling and Fledgling Deaths-Last week of July
Some of our landlords have reported that they lost young in their housing which were old enough to fledge for apparently no reason at all. In one case the landlord reported repeated hawk attacks on the
colony with several young left dead while another reported a lack of activity after last week's cool weather which lasted for several days. A third landlord reported several jumpers around the housing
site in a malnourished state. We thank and empathize with our landlords on their losses and for their reports. iI would be advisable for landlords to do a nest check to see if any of their young
nestlings have died and are now blocking entrance holes thus preventing the remaining young from being fed. Please advise us of any further losses.
Oldest Purple Martin on Record? From the United States Banding Lab
Purple Martin
13 years 09 months
07/01/1933Banded on this date
Illinois
In its Hatching Year
Unknown
83/99/1947Date
recovered
Illinois
Found dead.
Dead/Unknown
Looking For A Roost...Check out this tip.
If you're looking for a roost, this is a way to locate them by observing a location for a few days to get a pattern....http://www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/research/birds/
Bird ring detected on Detroit River and Lake St. Clair on August 19th, 2012. You'll be amazed....
Based on this previous Doppler image, it could be possible that this roost ring may be forming soon or is already forming. Please email me if any of you see it ........
Smallest Taverner Purple Martin House ever!
Austin City, Texas pre-migratory Roost......Have you seen one of these in your area? Send us your video or let us know where it is.
Banded female with 6 young now banded at Suasan Dobbin's Colony, Niagara Falls on July 16,2013. Notice the hawk preventative wire cages around horizontal Troyer gourds. Today we have officially
concluded banding martins as several are now fledging from their housing.
Horizontal gourds can be protected from hawk or owl predation with homemade screens adapted to the tunnels on Troyer gourds. If you look closely, you'll see martins hanging inside and out of the
gourds.
Owl/hawk guard installed on Trio house and gourds over the Niagara River.There is a homemade one now designed by Karl Pesson available from the Nature Society website I
believe: http://www.naturesociety.org/owlguard.pdf
This week at Robert Daubs' Purple Martin Colony in Forest, Ontario
Robert Daubs' Martins Forest Ontario
Check out the latest pictures from the Tuckette Farm at
Don's Bluebird Corner.
Holiday Beach Banding July 2, 2013
Happy Banding to You! Happy Banding to You! Happy Banding to You! Happy Banding to You! -Lyle (sung to Happy Birthday Tune)
101 young purple martin nestlings were banded today at Lyle Papps' place in Charing Cross. It was his birthday today and we celebrated the Tim Horton way..........doughnuts.
Purple Martin Banding - Friday, June 28
Today we were able to visit a number of member colony sites: Marieanne Knapp, Dennis Shady, Al Hamill, and Rob Cornies. Despite the threatening forecast the weather co-operated and we were able to band a total of 180 nestlings. Marieanne's colony site seemed to have the oldest nestlings as about 40-50 young were ready to fledge in the next few days. Al Hamill's site contained the youngest with both new eggs and hatching young. We were able to band an SY female while she tended her 1-2 day old young on her nest at Al's place. This was a pleasant surprise and we have a photo of her on our
front page. Our last banding site was met with a sudden downpour but after it later subsided and we were able to continue banding Rob's 30 or more nestlings that met the age criteria. Thanks to our members for allowing us to band at their sites and for the hospitality that they shared. Richard,
Rob and John (Your banding Team)
Martins are at High Park, Toronto Grenadier Pond........ here are some of the pictures taken there-
A Visit To High Park, Toronto -Martins in Residence June 20-2013
There was a pair of Tree Swallows in residence on one side of the house feeding their young and one pair of Purple Martins on the south end of Grenadier Pond when we arrived today. The ASY male was bringing in leaves as I waited for the female to come out. Evidently she was sitting on eggs and
would not be disturbed. As I moved through the high fragmite grass, I was able to catch another photo of a Barn Swallow sitting on one of the strands of grass.
Last year the colony was featured in the Toronto Star for their return to the High Park. This year the colony was highlighted in the Toronto Star since a group of Grade 11 students from Bishop
Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School : Victor Lopes, Joseph Scamolla and Frank Coelho, under the direction of construction technology teacher J.P. Cromien, built the martins their
new house. The previous one constructed in 2007 blew of its pole and was not salvageable.
The Latest Eastern Wisconsin Newsletter is available here. Check it out. 2013_June_newsletter-EWPMA
Lyle's Purple Martin Gourd Houses-June 17, 2013
Walpole Island and school visit to martin site.......read more
Holiday Beach Site Update! June 13, 2013
Rob Cornies and I did a nest check at Holiday Beach on Thursday and we are pleased to report that there are 8 pair there with 39 eggs and one hatchling. There are 7pair in the Trio castle and 1 pair in the Trio Grandpa. After a devastating summer storm last year this colony has sprung back quite well. The tree swallow box next to the colony site also had young ready to fledge. Many thanks to Rob C. ,
John C. and Claude C for assisting with the nest checks.
An interview with Kevin Fraser in Alberta.....June 6, 2013
Birds migrating at wrong time for warmer climate - Technology ... - CBC
www.cbc.ca/news/.../science-bird-migration-climate-mismatch-martin.html
3 days ago – Purple martins too late to catch crucial spring peak in food supply, Canadian researchers find. By Emily Chung CBC News. Posted: Jun 4, 2013 ...
Plucked and Prodded-What's Happening to the Purple Martins?
Check out the video that accompanies this article.
Received from the Eastern Wisconsin Purple Martin Association.......2013-05-May_newsletter
Banded Martin Recovered at Sue Dobbin's Place in Niagara Falls-Here's her story....and rehab in progress.
On June 1st went over to check on things at the dock, everything where it should be and off to hair, bank etc. On returning had already done my check and had no reason
to return ,but for some reason pulled over and almost ran over a bird that wasn't getting away very quickly. Get out of the van and it is a purple martin injured. I'm like you have
got to be kidding! What next this year? Not only that , it is banded. Bring it over to the house to check it out and do you know it is the first bird banded last year at the
dock-2531-31605. So this bird has some blood coming from his trachea, not a lot but some,and can't see anything else yet. Anyways, ends up the bird has upper wing
fracture on the right side that connects near the trachea causing the bleeding there. Could hear some creaking sounds in lungs so talked on the phone to the lady from
SOAR in Rockwood and probably has pneumonia from the blood seeping down into lungs, so bird was started on Baytril and Metacam and she helped me over the phone with dosages. Is a male and weighed 2.2ounces so was not malnourished. Was not
until yesterday when I took him out of a box with a heating pad on low and put him on a perch and he was holding his right wing up further than the other side that the fracture was again diagnosed over the phone. Judy tells me this is a good fracture, as it does not involve a joint and that should heal with rest in about a week; Carlyle's book says two weeks but that might be a different kind of fracture. Have to speak to him as well.
As of today 2531-31605 looks better ,lungs sound better, has to be force fed every hour , weighs the same everyday, is on acidopholus as well and had some sun yesterday.
But can only be on a low perch , no flying while the fracture heals.
We'll keep you posted on his progress.....
Wow. That's a neat story. Many people wouldn't / couldn't go to those lengths to save a bird. Mary
This is a great story. Glad she has the time to devote to this as many of us would not be in a position to do what she is doing.Al
oh, wow - a good news story - I hope. So nice to read - thanks, John nancy
Tommy Thompson Park
I was just sent this wonderful article from Bird Canada so I thought I would share. Another Good Article just received on Tommy Thompson Park………nice follow up to mine last week..
A New Gourd Rack Worth Looking At
Phil Carnie was certain that he would win a prize at the February Purple Martin Conference on Walpole Island . He was correct and took home four supergourds something he has wanted to add to his colony for a while now. He debated whether he would hang them under his Rondeau Houses and whether the martins would take to them. Phil usually hosts over forty pair of martins at his place in
Morpeth. Knowing Phil wouldn’t just do something usual, he and his brother put their talent together and welded a fountain gourd rack with four arms. The martins have been inquisitive but they have yet to settle in. They are still favouring his wooden houses. The photo below gives us an
idea of what he has been up to lately. Great job Phil!
Artificial Fecal spotting as an Martin Attractant…..from Nature Society News , April 2013 -Del McKinnon, Purple Martin Conservancy
Hard to start sites often have difficulty attracting purple martins using traditional martin attractants but adding this extra step may make you more successful. By using “artificial fecal spotting”, many hopeful landlords have now attracted martins.Have a look at this article if you get a chance.When field testing the worth of fecal spotting folks who had never been active, or had lost colonies more than three years ago were chosen as primary study participants. With this type of site bypassing
martins returning to last year’s cavities were fecal spotted. The ASY and SY returning martins chose spotted cavities over non-spotted.
Use non-toxic quick drying craft paint “fecal spot” your cavity walls ,apply non-toxic spots up to approximately 4-1/2? on the side walls; spot heavily around the entrance. Use a small sponge, a rag, and a Q-tip, to dab the spots. It will look like a youngster martin misfired and defecated on the walls
or entrance.
This is another technique, along with other attractants like pre-built nests, dawnsong etc. for martins that peek into your housing when they stop by to investigate. It sounds like a great idea and Del’s
investigation has proven that it works.
Remember that we worked with Del during our red band project. Thanks Del for this great idea.
For further information check this fact sheet out Attracting PUMA.
Purple Martin Success
Equals
Suitable Housing + Suitable Site + Nest tray + Nesting material + Mud + Fecal spotting + Martin decoy + Martin chatter
Richard Crossley has just published a new ID Guide about Raptors. Check it out. If you want to learn about the hawks which attack your martin colonies, you’ll be happy you purchased a copy.
Marieanne Knapp’s Colony enjoy their breakfast feeder. There are two versions of the same movie so you can watch in either format.
MartinsFeeding8 (Quicktime);
MartinsFeeding8 (Media Player)
Comments about the Spring Purple Martin Status has been moved to BLOG. Feel free to add a comment directly on the page and I will add it to the blog after the comment is
approved.
Rob Cornies Gourd and Alamo Nest Pictures
Check to see what nest material they have added.
Hillman Marsh, Leamington ,Ontario Bird Banding
Rob Cornies has been actively involved with banding at Hillman Marsh this Spring with HBMO. The following is a report from there for May 19 provided by Todd Pepper. If you have a chance, get out your Bird ID book and look up some of these specimens. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to see what they have banded. One of the things you will notice is that many of these specimens are often not
seen due to their allusive behaviour. They are little net treasures which banders often encounter in the Spring and Fall. Better yet take a drive out there and see what is going on.
Another good day of banding at Hillman Marsh with 88 birds of 28 species banded and 3 re-caps. The best bird of the day was the first ever Clay-colored Sparrow banded by HBMO at either Hillman or Holiday Beach. Close behind were
a male and female Scarlet Tanager.
Clay-colored sparrow
Birds Banded:
Acadian Flycatcher – 1 Red-eyed Vireo – 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 1 Veery – 7
Swainson’s Thrush – 5 Wood Thrush – 1
American Robin – 2 Nashville Warbler – 2
Yellow Warbler – 4 Chestnut-sided Warbler – 1
Magnolia Warbler – 8 Yellow-rumped Warbler – 4
Blackburnian Warbler – 1 Palm Warbler – 3
Blackpoll Warbler – 1 American Redstart – 6
Ovenbird – 2 Northern Waterthrush – 1
Common Yellowthroat – 15 Wilson’s Warbler – 2 Scarlet Tanager – 2
Clay-colored Sparrow – 1 Lincoln’s Sparrow – 5 Swamp Sparrow – 2
White-throated Sparrow – 1 Indigo Bunting – 2
Red-winged Blackbird – 1
Looking Back April 21, 2007.....We remember our past martin acquaintances!
An Unforgettable Visit to Tommy Thompson Park May 18, 2013
Located on the Toronto Waterfront, Tommy Thompson Park is Toronto’s largest green space and provides critical stopover habitat for migrating birds. There have been 314 native species, plus 10 introduced, recorded to date at the park! Where is TTP? Tommy Thompson Park is located at 1 Leslie Street, Toronto (at the foot of Leslie St, south of Lake Shore Blvd E).
After giving you a brief description of the park and its whereabouts I do have to describe this Saturday morning visit to the park. I left Mississauga at 8 a.m. allowing for enough time to find and get to the other side of Toronto to Leslie Street. By 8:30 a.m. we were already through Timmy’s, had
a coffee and within minutes we were parked and on our journey. As we walked toward the entrance, I noticed two purple martin houses in a community garden: one a Trio Musselman model and the second a wooden 12 compartment house. There were no martins present.
Our brief Google on the Internet indicated that no vehicles were allowed into the park except bicycles so not having brought one really told us that we would be walking for a while. A round trip walk is 2.5 hours one way to the end of the park and another 2.5 hours out. My wife and I decided that we would try to make it to the banding station in the park since that seemed to be where all the action would be. Off we went hoping for the best with overcast, cloudy conditions, and blustery winds out of the east off of Lake Ontario. Once we got going we knew that the extra stuff we were carrying only weighed us down but that didn’t deter us. I scanned the sky and to my amazement there were dozens of swifts, barn swallows, tree swallows and bank swallows darting about in the prevailing wind snatching whatever morsels that could be found. To my dismay there were no purple martins among them. Who knew that this was just the beginning of a wonderful birding experience.
As I manoeuvered to snap a photo or two I was struck by the trails to either side of me dotted with tree swallow boxes, courting red wing blackbirds and stream after stream of double crested cormorants in the overhead sky. Little did I know that this area was home to over 6000 cormorant nests. My wife couldn’t believe that there could be so many cormorants in eye shot of Toronto skyscrapers.
As we hastened our pace to cover the distance, we were passed by cyclists, runners and a sundry of other folk returning after their morning
What’s Happening at OPMA ? An interview with Kevin Fraser in Alberta…..June 6, 2013 Birds migrating at wrong time for warmer climate – Technology … – CBC www.cbc.ca/news/…/science-bird-migration-climate-mismatch-martin.html 3 days ago – Purple martins too late to catch crucial spring … Continue reading ?
Dale Huber has some new visitors at his T-14 Housing.....IMG_0873
Is there any truth to sy's showing up at these times?
A pair at dawn ... soon will spawn..... a pair midday.... is out to play.
How to Conduct a Nest Check -New Information 2013 A new article was sent to me today and puts forth the problem and question about Nestcamming.
Some of you use nest cams to monitor your purple martins, so this article sheds a little light on this sensitive topic. Do read it when you have a moment. The Hazards of Nestcamming
I came across this article from Penny Halstead, Rehabber on the topic of Wing Entrapment and Window Hits from the PMCA and I post it for viewing in case you didn’t see it. These are probably the two worst scenarios martins encounter at our colonies and Penny addresses both very well.
As Landlords, you are the first line of defense in helping your Martins or other birds survive when they are sick or injured. Every year landlords experience wing entrapment and window, fence, tree or other types of hits. This information is provided in hopes that it will help anyone that experiences these events. I know there may be questions, please bear with me and I will try to answer them in a timely manner.
WING ENTRAPMENT: Our first instinct is to free the bird and release. Please don’t do this! When the bird is found, there is no way to determine how long it’s been in that situation. If immediately released, the birds’ natural instinct tells it to fly away as quickly as possible and it will. This is great…..but later due to the fact that the bird may have been struggling and it may have strained the muscles or tendons in the wing or shoulder, swelling or bruising hasn’t started to occur. Immediately releasing the bird enables it to fly away, but as the unseen injury starts to set in, the bird becomes unable to fly, feed, perch or reach the safety of its home or nest. Giving the bird a day or two of rest will allow any swelling, bruising or strain, to subside somewhat. If there is any doubt about its flying ability, take it in a room of your house and if it can fly circles around the room and you have to chase it down, that is a good indication that the bird has recovered enough to be released.
For Example: Imagine that you have stuck your arm into a hole and can’t get it out. You pull and pull, twist and turn and FINALLY it’s out. It feels a little sore but still works. The next morning upon rising, that arms is so sore you can’t even scratch your nose. That’s ok, because you don’t have to use your arm to get around; you have two legs to walk with. A bird’s life depends on its flying ability and if it can’t flap it, it can’t fly.
The worst that can happen is the shoulder is dislocated or broken and the bird will never fly again. The shoulder joint of a birds is NOT like ours and is designed differently to give more mobility. A break or dislocation CANNOT be repaired. The same can be said of a break in the joint of the elbow or wrist of the wing. If a break should occur other than a joint, it could take up to 2 weeks for the bone(s) to heal. A wing break MUST be wrapped to realign the bones for them to heal properly. This is best done by a rehabber or Vet with bird experience.
For those of you that would like to become more familiar with the workings of a birds’ wing and you trap or shoot Starlings, use that opportunity to feel exactly what the wing structure is like. A birds’ wing has the same bones as a human arm, minus a few fingers. On the underside of the wing, pluck the under covert feathers off and you will be able to see, through the thin skin, the bones, muscle and tendons. Using your thumb, on the top side of the wing and middle finger on the other side, you can feel what undamaged muscle, joints and bones feel like. This will help when trying to determine a wing or shoulder injury should it occur. If the shoulder is swollen you can actually feel it, when comparing it to the other. If you can take pictures, do so for future reference. Please remember to dispose of any birds that have been shot with lead pellets properly. Lead is very toxic to birds & mammals if ingested.
WINDOW STRIKES: Birds can and do suffer from concussions just like humans. Anytime you experience a window hit by a bird and you approach it and it immediately flies away, chances are it was only slightly stunned. You probably can’t chase it down. If it doesn’t fly, pick it up immediately and bring it in. Don’t leave it on the ground. Leaving it alone subjects the bird to other birds attacking it, ants, cats or dogs. Place it in a box (with a lid), or small kennel, etc. Plan on keeping it overnight, this is best. Provide heat if possible, (ie. heating pad on low). If the bird cannot stand or stumbles around, do not give it water. It can stumble into the water and drown. If standing and is able to walk around, offer a shallow dish or small lid no more than 1/2? deep with water, if thirsty it will drink. Don’t worry about food. A bird will not starve overnight. Test fly, as described above, the next morning. If able to fly…Let it go!
If the bird is unable to stand after 24 hours, you have a more serious problem and the bird needs medical treatment. We have a steroid that we use to reduce swelling in the brain and spinal column and greatly increases the chances of survival. I know all of you don’t have access to a rehabber for this, but sometimes with the help of a local vet (with bird experience) they might be willing to help. The bird will not be able to eat or drink until it’s able to stand, unless you provide hand feeding. If the head injury is serious, the bird may not be able to swallow and choke if force/hand fed and can aspirate the water into its lungs.
In either case of entrapment or hits, if the bird is of good weight, going 2 days without food, as long as heat is provided, will not hurt it. Birds rely on fat reserves to keep their organs functioning and provide body heat when injured or sick and can’t feed. Normal body temp for a bird is 106°. After they deplete these reserves, they draw their energy from muscle tissue and after three days can deplete their flight (breast) muscle just enough to prevent them from flying.
Please note: That holding a bird in your hands will not help a bird keep warm. You can actually draw heat away from the bird due to the fact that our body temp is much lower. Placing the bird in a bucket with pine needles or a large container will not help it retain its body heat either. The best thing is to place the bird in a small container on a towel or old t-shirt with a lid (ie. shoe box, small kennel or critter keeper) and place a heating pad on low under one end. If the bird wants to move closer or further from the heat source it can. Depending on the type of heading pad you have, it might be necessary to put extra toweling between it and the container. Occasionally feel the bottom of your rehab container to make sure it’s not too hot to the touch.
Good Luck!
Penny Halstead Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center 972-225-4000 214-417-0958 Cell Phone LANDLORD BY PROXY State & Federal Sub-permitted Rehabilitator 2009 – Received 150 Nestlings/Fledglings for Rehab Released: 102 2011 – Received 173 Nestlings/Fledglings/Adults for Rehab Released: 133
