We lost our PUMA colony last summer
SU: the summer season at B-CC IWLA was difficult for many of our native birds largely as a result of the unusual spring weather. The aerial insectivores suffered the most. The Barn Swallows did not nest on the speaker on the east porch of the Chapter House as usual. The Tree Swallows were seen during migration, but were nearly absent during the nesting season. And, the B-CC Purple Martin colony totally crashed this year.
We did our part: during the Spring cleanup we installed nest boxes newly built, and rebuilt by John Novak around the big pond, the small pond, and in the field between the Chapter House and the Archery range. A crew of volunteers opened, cleaned, and raised the Purple Martin (PUMA) houses. And we watched and waited for our usual occupants.
The weather during spring migration for these long-distance migrants was especially tough. The Accuweather forecast of February 4th accurately predicted that cold air masses and a few snowstorms would continue to impact the Great Lakes, Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions as late as March before the winter season comes to an end. This time the weatherman was right on.
We experienced alternating spring temperatures and wintry cold in Montgomery County on a weekly basis for nearly two months. The aerial insectivores; which depend on airborne insects came to Florida early and pushed on into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast only to find no food available. They quickly used up their fat reserves and died.
Some PUMA colonies did better than ours because the owners supplemented natural food with mealworms. A few early migrants, called “scouts” visited our PUMA colony, but none stayed. The total loss of our colony last year to the Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) didn’t help either. It appears that there is something else going on as well.
Aerial insectivore populations have declined steeply throughout eastern North America in recent decades according to a major scientific study. According to the study, Bank and Cliff swallows, Purple Martin, and Olive-sided Flycatcher were found in 39 to 65% fewer census blocks in the last decade. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Chimney Swift occurred in 38 and 26% fewer blocks, respectively. Declines in aerial insectivore populations have been most severe in the north and east, and began in the 1970s. Species that migrate to South America have declined to a greater extent than have species that migrate over shorter distances.
At B-CC we are looking forward to watching the fall migration, and participating in the winter feeder counts. Then we look forward to making up our 2014 losses next breeding season.
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