I am just trying to see how the Illinois landlords are doing thus far this year.
I am not expecting much at my main site, because of heavy losses last year. By this time, I usually have between 8 - 10 back, but I have none. I think this site will be staring over this year (if any come at all).
Remote site had 3 ASY males last week. Two stayed for 5 days and one for just 2 days. I have not had any stay since Friday April 9th. This location had 11 nests that fledged young last year, so not sure why these 3 males left.
Just curious to see how the rest of the Illinois landlords are doing this year.
Thanks!
Bob
Illinois Landlords
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Frank Hargis-IL
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 5:22 pm
- Location: Illinois/Flora
Bob,
We live in Flora, IL. Our first arrivals were a week later than last year. March 16th this year. We have too many to count and nest building has just started so can't count that way. Just guessing that we have maybe 50 birds at present. Ended up with 52 nesting pair last year. Hope to get close to that this year.
Luck in the up coming year.
Frank
We live in Flora, IL. Our first arrivals were a week later than last year. March 16th this year. We have too many to count and nest building has just started so can't count that way. Just guessing that we have maybe 50 birds at present. Ended up with 52 nesting pair last year. Hope to get close to that this year.
Luck in the up coming year.
Frank
Bob:
We live up in the Rockford, IL area and last year was our first successful year for PM. We had one pair and 4 fledged.
We have had housing up since early April and playing the Dawn Song all day. Experienced many "fly By's" the past few weeks but no takers. Still having a never ending battle with HOSP and Starlings, but they are losing numbers rapidly.
Finally Saturday (4/17) while having breakfast we our son and his family, we got what we had been looking for. Had 4 or 5 PM's show up swarming the house and it looks like they are here to stay. Maybe even our original pair because this pair took right up in the compartment that was used last year. They took to the SREH entrance like old pro's.
Out of town now and won't be back for a few days but we are hoping maybe our season has started.
Larry
We live up in the Rockford, IL area and last year was our first successful year for PM. We had one pair and 4 fledged.
We have had housing up since early April and playing the Dawn Song all day. Experienced many "fly By's" the past few weeks but no takers. Still having a never ending battle with HOSP and Starlings, but they are losing numbers rapidly.
Finally Saturday (4/17) while having breakfast we our son and his family, we got what we had been looking for. Had 4 or 5 PM's show up swarming the house and it looks like they are here to stay. Maybe even our original pair because this pair took right up in the compartment that was used last year. They took to the SREH entrance like old pro's.
Out of town now and won't be back for a few days but we are hoping maybe our season has started.
Larry
I've had an adult male stopping by my sight since April 10th.
He spent quite a bit of time checking out the gourd racks on Saturday the 17th. I usually see him at least twice a day.
Last year I had 3 nesting pair with 8 fledglings, and it was my first nesting year. Things didn't really start getting active last year until May 1st.
I had hundreds of birds stop by my place and stick around for several days last August before the migration to the south. I'm optimistic that my colony will grow this year!
He spent quite a bit of time checking out the gourd racks on Saturday the 17th. I usually see him at least twice a day.
Last year I had 3 nesting pair with 8 fledglings, and it was my first nesting year. Things didn't really start getting active last year until May 1st.
I had hundreds of birds stop by my place and stick around for several days last August before the migration to the south. I'm optimistic that my colony will grow this year!
Kevin
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
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Guest
We have three birds spending nights here for sure but see four and five birds here in the morning so far. Two to one on the male to females. All are adults. The male of the pair is doing some nest building. Late last week we had a female looking bird calling and raising hell like a SY male but could not get the glasses on her.
The kids and I took our old river boat out for a test run and bird checking on Lake Springfield last thursday. Lots of Nature and Trio houses with what looks to be very few maitained. At one property, two nature houses that looked maintained had three to four pair. All and all not as many birds as I have seen there in the past, yet.
Seems to be late around here I believe. The Barnies are just starting to show up.
The kids and I took our old river boat out for a test run and bird checking on Lake Springfield last thursday. Lots of Nature and Trio houses with what looks to be very few maitained. At one property, two nature houses that looked maintained had three to four pair. All and all not as many birds as I have seen there in the past, yet.
Seems to be late around here I believe. The Barnies are just starting to show up.
I failed to mention that my barn swallows are not back yet. I saw 2 south of me in Ivesdale where my Dad lives yesterday, so they're around. I had at least 4-5 nests that all fledged last season with the swallows. 
On a real bright note, my wife & I ran up on a nest of 4 young Killdeer last evening in our horse pasture. They're cute little guys!
On a real bright note, my wife & I ran up on a nest of 4 young Killdeer last evening in our horse pasture. They're cute little guys!
Kevin
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
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Glen Webb Jr
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:03 pm
- Location: Illinois/Stewardson
I have well over half my birds back. I have 47 gourds and all were occupied last year. Right now I am guessing 50-60 adults are here, maybe more than that. It's hard to tell right now, but when they are spooked, the sky is littered with martins.
The tree swallows are super abundant this year as well. Those little rascals have taken every box not occupied by bluebirds. What a joy they are.
I wish we would start getting some rain. The lack of rain bothers me, but the martins and swallows are clearly enjoying the nice sunny days.
On a sad note, the Ballard Nature Center in Altamont, IL lost their martins. They swear martins fledged last year, and I believe them, but an owl or something attacked them. There is not a single martin at that site. I don't care if they saw baby martins fledging, something had to have caused those birds to abandon the site. It really is sad as it's a perfect location for martins...lots of restored prairie and 15+ acres of shallow and deep water wetlands.
The tree swallows are super abundant this year as well. Those little rascals have taken every box not occupied by bluebirds. What a joy they are.
I wish we would start getting some rain. The lack of rain bothers me, but the martins and swallows are clearly enjoying the nice sunny days.
On a sad note, the Ballard Nature Center in Altamont, IL lost their martins. They swear martins fledged last year, and I believe them, but an owl or something attacked them. There is not a single martin at that site. I don't care if they saw baby martins fledging, something had to have caused those birds to abandon the site. It really is sad as it's a perfect location for martins...lots of restored prairie and 15+ acres of shallow and deep water wetlands.
Well I'm depressed! 
I haven't seen a bird for over 2 days!!! Still no swallows either. It's to quiet on the Rumple Ranch!
I'm trying to keep the faith and hope that my colony is still on the way!
I haven't seen a bird for over 2 days!!! Still no swallows either. It's to quiet on the Rumple Ranch!
I'm trying to keep the faith and hope that my colony is still on the way!
Kevin
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
I guess I need to pay attention.
I was out adding predator guards to both of my poles last night and the male scout flew out of the gourd about halfway through the time I was working on them.
Still waiting for the flock to arrive!!!!!!!
I was out adding predator guards to both of my poles last night and the male scout flew out of the gourd about halfway through the time I was working on them.
Still waiting for the flock to arrive!!!!!!!
Kevin
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
3 ASY Males 1 ASY Female
The Dawn Song is back on the Rumple Ranch!
1 ASY Female The Dawn Song is back on the Rumple Ranch! Kevin
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
We have fewer than normal, but it is still earlyl. I think we now have around 20 pair here in Baldwin. Last year we had 46 pair and fledged 212 young ones. Everything seems to be going fine if I can keep the starlings and sparrows down. I have taken care of a lot of them already this year but they keep coming. I need more ammo....lol
Look after everything as if it belongs to God,,,,,,It Does !!
I almost hate to say it out loud...but I have 2 ASY males as of yesterday. Back on April 5th, I had 2 ASY males and the next day another ASY male joined them, by April 10th all 3 were gone.
I had not had any birds spending the night since April 9th.
Hopefully they will attract mates and stay.
I had not had any birds spending the night since April 9th.
Hopefully they will attract mates and stay.