El Nino Weather For All

[Terry Suchma]

Dear Landlords,

Please be prepared for this spring season, and possibly for the summer season for folks in the north.

El Nino is no friend for most. For Florida, it means a wetter and cooler winter/spring. And, as we have witnessed in the last two days, tremendous storms, too.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/product...off01_temp.gif

It appears from this NOAA map of three month prediction (Feb-Apr 2007) that the Upper Midwest, areas south to just above deep South, the New England and Mid Atlantic willcontinue to experience above winter temperatures translating that martins may arrive earlier in shaky spring weather conditions. Above normal doesn't translate into continuous good above weather conditions. It probably means more that these areas will see bursts of spring conditions early and more frequently than in other years.

For Florida and the south and southern coastal areas, it shows that weather temps will be fairly normal.

For the Southern Plains, it is an equal chance of both warmer and cooler--which tells us nothing.

For Feb-Apr 2007 precipitation, look at this map:

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/product...off01_prcp.gif

This map shows that Florida, the Gulf Coastal area, Texas, OK and Kansas will see above amounts of precipitation in the first three months of 2007.

In the Upper Midwest,where the first three months of 2007 are expected to be very dry, landlords there should not worry yet; PMs are not expected yet. However, for those in Tennessee and Kentucky, dry conditions will provide fewer insects for martins that arrive in spring.

All other states have equal chances for rain. It is a toss up for rain in these affected areas.

Areas with above precipitation amounts do not bode well for PMs. With cool, rainy conditions, martins are not able to forage well and can perish due to starvation.

When you are a Purple Martin landlord, you are not only an amateur wildlife manager but you should also be an amateur meteorologist. It is very important to keep your eye on weather conditions such as extended periods of rain and cold, dry and drought times as well as the obvious storm patterns.

Why?

Because these conditions can contribute to the deaths of martins. With both cold and rainy as well as drought conditions, there are fewer flying insects due sometimes to bad hatches. Conditions were not conducive to good insect hatches. Such conditions occurred in June, 1992 where, literally, thousands of martins perished from the Mid West to the East Coast. Don Wilkins, Park Rapids, MN, hosted a colony of over 100 pairs and lost most of his colony that year. Illinois and Wisconsin, as well as Ohio and Pennsylvania landlords suffered losses that year also. In June!

What can you do?

Make sure your birds are more comfortable with their ectoparasites by changing out the nesting materials and replacing with a great abundance of clean, dry and comfortable nesting materials. Or, if you use, artificial Styrofoam nests, dump the contents out and replace with clean one.

Read this article: http://purplemartins.com/2003-data-q...il.cfm?ID=6743

By reducing the parasite load, you improve not only the comfort of the parents and young, but you help to keep the parasites in check. In bad weather conditions, parasites can get the upper hand and deal a devastating blow to martins and their young. Parasites, by nature, are very opportunistic. Both hot dry conditions, cooland wet conditions can increase parasite load consequences to the birds.

Also, when it is not a stressful time for martins, it is best time to consider ordering and keeping mealworms or crickets. I am not a fan of jumping crickets but many, many landlords have luck using them in stressful weather conditions.

Better to be prepared before you are in dire need to do something. By the time, many of you realize your martins are in terrible trouble, you won't have time to seek out and purchase large numbers of "healthy" mealworms, crickets to be sent.

Few of you would have found time to teach your martins to eat exotic foods (to martins) like mealworms and crickets. You have to understand that since crickets and mealworms don't fly, martins do not readily recognize them as food--even if it means the difference to them between life and death.

Also, as I have mentioned in an earlier posting today on martin equipment integrity, it is vitally important to have the strongest martin houses and poles you can provide in case of extreme weather conditions.

Let's hope for a good weather pattern for all this spring and summer!!

Terry

[Terry Suchma]

Dear Landlords,

I opened my emails today to find a very sad note from Gisela Fregoe, President of the North Texas Landlords PM Association.

Due to the spate of bad weather in the southern areas, I now have a report of dead martins.

Please remember! PM landlords need to keep an eye on the weather and be prepared. Again, and it bears repeating.

Landlords need to be amateur meterologists!

Terry

From Gisela:

Hello my friend,


Well, this was not a good day for me..Our martin pair died. The male was found in our alley at 3:00pm and the female was dead in my warm gourd at 3:15pm. I waited till the temps were better to lower the house. This was a killer night last night. I wish I had a method to get the martins into my house. I am really crushed and know that no martin in our area could have survived last night. The temperature was 28 degrees F. with a windchill being like 15 degrees. There was also our other male martin, I saw him last yesterday afternoon 4:00pm on the tall perch (he looked stressed) and today I did not see him at all.

I was prepared with cricket and mealworms if I could have gotten hold of them. They both had a weight only of 38 grams, the normal weight is 56 grams. The combination of not finding food and the cold killed them. They both looked so perfect. A beautiful bonded pair that arrived at our colony on Monday, the 5th of February 2007 so happy to be back. I know more martins will come but this episode really upset me. If they only could have lasted for one more night. The weather prediction is now much better. Nature is so cruel.

Regards
Gisela, PMLNT

[Terry Suchma]

Dear Landlords,

The National Oceanic and Atmosphic Administration (NOAA) recently announced that the weak El Nino that we are experiencing will be followed by a La Nina weather spell.

For this summer, La Nina means that there will be most likely a heightened active hurricane season. For some areas, this may impact the martin nesting season. Even those of you that are far from coastal areas, these weather problems reach well into the Mid Atlantic or Mid West as the storms moves (and can weaken) as it move over land and brings extended periods of rain.

For instance, Hurricane Agnes hit the eastern seaboard as well as the Mid Atlantic areas hard. There was much rain and flooding during 1974.

Just a heads up on the upcoming weather and how it can affect martins.

Terry