I'm trying to start a colony in the McKinney, TX area and have a couple of questions:
1. When should I open up my housing and start playing the dawnsong for the SY arrivals in my area? The first scout was reported 04Mar in my area, so from what I read, the recommended opening should be early to mid April, correct?
2. I currently don't have my housing up. Should I put it out but use entrance covers to deter sparrows/starlings until I get martin activity?
Thanks for any advice you can provide!
When to open my housing in North Texas for SY martins?
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Jim Rockford
- Posts: 81
- Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:35 pm
- Location: Texas/North Richland Hills
You should have your housing up and open now. Use SREH's for all compartments and set traps for starlings and HOSPs. There's lots of good information here on those topics.
I saw my first martins here in North Richland Hills (about 40 miles west of you) 10 days ago, about 3 weeks later than last year. Those birds evidently continued migrating. Today I saw the first birds take up residence in my house. So far, it looks like two pairs have returned from last year. I'm expecting a couple more pairs.
I've noticed that, in addition to the martins arriving late, I've not seen near as many HOSPs and starlings as I have in years past. Maybe that's because I've eliminated quite a few over the last 4 years. I've trapped far fewer, and not one sparrow has taken up residence (yet) in my house.
Good luck.
Ed
I saw my first martins here in North Richland Hills (about 40 miles west of you) 10 days ago, about 3 weeks later than last year. Those birds evidently continued migrating. Today I saw the first birds take up residence in my house. So far, it looks like two pairs have returned from last year. I'm expecting a couple more pairs.
I've noticed that, in addition to the martins arriving late, I've not seen near as many HOSPs and starlings as I have in years past. Maybe that's because I've eliminated quite a few over the last 4 years. I've trapped far fewer, and not one sparrow has taken up residence (yet) in my house.
Good luck.
Ed
I agree with Jim...now is the best time to have it up & open! I got my first pair last year & it wasn't an SY pair...it was an ASY pair! They attracted an SY pair that came the end of March & both nested & successfully fledged babies! I now have my ASY pair back & had 2 male ASYs visiting for the last 2 days...so hopefully, they will bring back ladies & my site will grow!
There are lots of opinions about playing the dawnsong once you have residents but I play the chatter all day...not too loud but it definitely attracts visitors to my site when my pair is gone!
Good luck & the SYs will be here shortly!!! But you may be like me & get an ASY pair to start your site! Don't wait!!!
There are lots of opinions about playing the dawnsong once you have residents but I play the chatter all day...not too loud but it definitely attracts visitors to my site when my pair is gone!
Good luck & the SYs will be here shortly!!! But you may be like me & get an ASY pair to start your site! Don't wait!!!
Hello 4thebirds, and welcome to this forum....
I am just up the road from you in Anna. My first PM's arrived in early March, and now I have about 50 ASY's and the number is increasing daily. It is a real ZOO around here. The birds are fighing over mates and nesting units.
My recommendations....play the Purple Martins songs daily and open up your housing. Don't allow the House Sparrows to take over. If you have starling resistant housing, then the starlings shouldn't be a problem.
If you attract PM's this year, then we can discuss protecting your colony from snakes and other varmints.
geezer
I am just up the road from you in Anna. My first PM's arrived in early March, and now I have about 50 ASY's and the number is increasing daily. It is a real ZOO around here. The birds are fighing over mates and nesting units.
My recommendations....play the Purple Martins songs daily and open up your housing. Don't allow the House Sparrows to take over. If you have starling resistant housing, then the starlings shouldn't be a problem.
If you attract PM's this year, then we can discuss protecting your colony from snakes and other varmints.
geezer
#PMCA #birding #birders
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shiner
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:31 pm
- Location: Texas/McKinney
- Martin Colony History: Landlord since 2009.
Welcome to the forum 4thebirds. Open it now. I live in McKinney also and last year was my first year. Don't expect just to get SY martins. My first year I opened my housing early and got 2 pair of ASY.
Keep the sparrows away and use SREH and you will do alright. There are alot of Martins in the McKinney area
Good luck to you
Keep the sparrows away and use SREH and you will do alright. There are alot of Martins in the McKinney area
Good luck to you
Robert Shine
McKinney, Texas
McKinney, Texas
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Guest
Thanks everyone for your replies and suggestions. I put up my house yesterday and starting playing the dawnsong this morning. Now all I need are some curious martins looking for a good home.