Big updates on Iowa website. Welcome to register as a member. (free)

[Dave Duit]

Hey everyone up north. Just wanted to extend the big news about our Iowa website updates. We now have increased capabilities, software and user friendly options and links. We welcome anyone to join our organization, regardless of what state you are from. We are all of the same purple mold, martin people stick together. Visit us and consider registering; free and easy and painless. Thanks.

PS The ASYs are pushing north, hopefully they can make it through the predicted snow on the northern Iowa boarder and southern Minnesota border on Friday April 12th.

[SYmywa]

Hello Mr Dave,
Congrats on upgrades, Hope u get a class of Wannabes ready for insight
on starting the PM endeavor!
How many Purple Friends in your areas?
See Purple Pins half way across MN & ND already!?
We're still walking around Snow Banks, with Storm scheduled!
Spose I need to Pre-nest & get some housing in the air
Waiting in the wings
Jerome

[Dave Duit]

I have 7 martins at my colony in central Iowa as of April 9. The Minnesota and South Dakota purple pins are encouraging for the northern states. the cold and snow are the devil when it comes to martins. Covers the ground and halts bug activity. Time for the scrambled eggs and crickets and mealworms. Best of luck Jerome.

[SYmywa]

So, what are temps doing in central Iowa?
Are U making or buying bugs?
Can we add mealworms to oyster trays & do u presoak them?

[Dave Duit]

Temps have been cold at night, down to low 30's. Stretch of three days rain and windy during the day and cold at night. I buy around 7-10 pounds of frozen crickets each year from a local cricket farmer for my martins. I also scramble eggs and put them out on a raised platform feeding tray. I soak the frozen crickets in water and then microwave for about 30 seconds. I have heard you can presoak in pedialite prior to offering them to the martins. Seems like every April is always the same in keeping the martins well feed and warm.

[SYmywa]

Dave
Best of luck keeping them Swooping.
Fingers crossed that they stay South till we get Bugs!
No feeding in last 2 seasons.
Although in 2013, four PM Swooped in & stayed in 30 deg temps
for most of 3 days than left, possible they moved back to Forage?

Jerome

[Dave Duit]

Hi Jerome,
I may have gone overboard years ago when I added removable and insertable ceramic heating box to vent into the back of my modified grandpa sytle metal houses to keep the martins warm during cold weather in early spring. It is hard to explain how it is set up but it really does keep them warm.

[SYmywa]

Dave
Nice gesture to try protect them from Cold.
Have heard PM can perish in Adverse conditions.
But, what if our intervention, interferes with Their Natural Defense system?
For example; when TS arrive ahead of Their Forage, they move off!
One spring TS returned 4 times before they Stayed!
By than temps moderated and all Systems were Go.
Food for thought.

Jerome

[Dave Duit]

Dave
Nice gesture to try protect them from Cold.
Have heard PM can perish in Adverse conditions.
But, what if our intervention, interferes with Their Natural Defense system?
For example; when TS arrive ahead of Their Forage, they move off!
One spring TS returned 4 times before they Stayed!
By than temps moderated and all Systems were Go.
Food for thought.
Hi Jerome,
It has been a concern about altering normal evolution as far as migration arrival. I think the benefits may out weight the downfalls. I wonder if the PMCA has any hard date concerning migration and the long term effects of supplement feeding and heating sources. In my 14 years of landlording, I have not seen a major change in earlier arrivals, but 14 years is hardly long enough to make a determination.