What you're experiencing happened here last year. We had ice storms and terrible winds after the TRES had already begun laying. They disappeared for three or four days and then came back. Do you have a body of water nearby? Around here they take off for the local conservation area and feed low over the water.

Kendra, there are lakes all around. Is that where they go? I feel so bad for them. I haven't even seen the bluebirds
:( I guess we all hates this weather.

Karen

I don't know Karen, I worry about them more than the others. I think the rain was good, it will bring out more bugs. I saw moths out a few days ago. Four of them came zooming through my yard on the 12th and I haven't seen them since. I am hoping this horrid wind dies down soon. I may take a walk down to the lake this afternoon to see if I can spot them. Be just my luck Ill get hit in the head with a tree branch!
I have not seen my Blues in 3 days either, they have a partial nest so I am sure they will be back. Come on SPRING!

Same thing here in WI, we had accumulating snow on Saturday and the winds and the cold have been wicked! Haven't seen the TRES since Thursday and we had at least five to six pairs, no nestbuilding yet though. Still haven't seen a Bluebird since March 19th. It didn't even get to 40 degrees today for a high!

I remember last year when we got the cold rainy weather in the middle of May, we had three eggs in two different TRES boxes. All the TRES left except for four of them who all roosted in one of the boxes that had the three eggs, I know this because I saw them all go in the box one after the other, it was weird. Once the weather got nicer the TRES in that box didn't lay any more eggs but those three eggs did hatch. In the other box that had the three eggs those eggs got pushed into the nest and the TRES added some more nesting material and laid new eggs.

Donna

I walked down to the lake, still pretty cold and windy. Some folks have put their docks out, no Martin houses up yet. I think I spotted TRES on the far side of lake zooming back and forth low to the water. It was where the water jets inland a bit (protected from the wind)? I can't be positive but the flight looked right. I know there is a little bayou down on the other end but I could not see it from where I was. There is also a much smaller lake with bogs and heavier woods near by. I will try looking there tomorrow. I did not see any bugs hovering over the water
but then they may seek shelter from the wind too.

Oh you poor poor people. I cannot imagine living in cold and snow in April. I hope that spring will be with you very soon. It was so glorious and sunny here yesterday. I wish that I could send some to you. I really and truly do. :o)
Karen, have you had this issue in the past with the TRES? I know that after mine showed up last spring, it was a full 3 weeks after they arrived before they got busy on building their nest. I wouldn't worry too much. I bet they will be back soon.
Lisa, I am AMAZED that those Purple Martin landlords do not have housing up yet. They had better shake a leg and get it done. The migration is in full-on mode now with even the later arriving subadults already halfway up the country. You can check out their migration map here if you are interested. http://www.purplemartin.org/scoutreport/

Ok, are we sure it is Spring or what. We are under a Winter Weather Advisory starting tomorrow afternoon through Wednesday morning. 3-6 inches of snow expected! What!! Is this an April Fools joke or what? Another storm (with snow) is expected on Friday into Saturday. I looked outside this morning and saw a lone TRES out there too, what the heck is it doing back...fly south birdie...fly south!

Donna

I know this stinks...I am starting to give up hope they can survive :( going on 2 weeks with cold, snow, rain and windy conditions!!! I makes me so sad to think the TRES flew all this way and they may not survive. I have not seen them if fact, I still have not seen the bluebirds that were here all winter. Frickin' weather!!

I heard a Bluebird today but could not spot it from my window. Have been watching to see if they would come to the box but didn't see them. I wish those poor TRES would eat meal worms. We got a lot of rain and are to get up in the 50s tomorrow so I hope more flying bugs pop out. I really hope they went in search of food and found enough to regain their strength. The hummers are do any day last sighting was in Kazoo so get you feeders out.

Just put out the hummer feeders!!! I could have sworn I saw one fly by the window...might be wishfull thinking, but they are up. The blues have finally chosen a box and I think the female is building :) just gotta get that dang hosp way out in the field and should be good to go :)

People dont panic The tree swallow is very hardy and in fact they over winter
here in the north east. When temps in Jan are no higher than 20 degree's
They live on berries. I have see they threw spring storms that last five days
of rain they will be weak but they will be ok. They often die when they hold up in box's to weak to climb out there often found dead. Deep narrow box's kill
many swallows in the spring. PVC that is deep is one of the biggest killers
they can not spread there wings and climb out. In bad storms they will hold up
in box's like Martins. And ride the storm out. A five day spell of rain would kill a entire Martin colony. (have seen it first hand they are not hardy at all)
Ray