hope it's just weather related ? i'm a bit confused, help?
last week several pairs of martins arrived at the colony, and staying the night with a few weak nests started. Several gourds show activity of martins staying in all night. However this week with periods of cool nights and rain during the day, i have seen less activity. Are they somewhere waiting for the return of warm weather? and then will pick up where they left off? I'm not seeing the numbers since this weather change. Anyone else notice it ??
2007- 1 pair, 6 fledge
2008-12 pair, 45 eggs, 34 hatch, 12 fledge of only 4 pair ( year of flood and gnats )
2009-26 pair, 113 eggs, 98 hatch, 84 fledge
2010- 40+ pair approx 180 fledge
2011 45 + pair (max). Fledge about 220
2008-12 pair, 45 eggs, 34 hatch, 12 fledge of only 4 pair ( year of flood and gnats )
2009-26 pair, 113 eggs, 98 hatch, 84 fledge
2010- 40+ pair approx 180 fledge
2011 45 + pair (max). Fledge about 220
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~Ray~Gingerich
- Posts: 2122
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: Delaware/Dover
My martins have almost stopped nest building during these cold windy days, and not as much activity.
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Don't go out there to verify it, but they are more than likely huddled in the nest cavities keeping warm!
I have almost 100 birds here in the gourds / house, but you wouldn't know it yesterday!
I have almost 100 birds here in the gourds / house, but you wouldn't know it yesterday!
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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Guest
About 3 weeks ago there was a lot of martin activity at my 12 condo house. Now there are only sparrows. I have closed up all but one condo. Will they return?
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
If you only leave the one condo unit open, there will be intense pressure to occupy it by the sparrows. You need to open up all 12 of the units and rid your colony of the house sparrows, or they may not return - and if they do return, they may not stay.txstarr2003 wrote:About 3 weeks ago there was a lot of martin activity at my 12 condo house. Now there are only sparrows. I have closed up all but one condo. Will they return?
Trap or shoot the house sparrows.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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Indiana_Tom
- Posts: 288
- Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 10:01 am
- Location: Paragon, Indiana
Hi rtolliver,
It is about the same here. I only had the one pair last year and hoped to increase my numbers this year. I had a pair that had settled in and a single SY male staying the night. A second ASY and his mate started staying. Then the colder weather showed up and a seemingly systematic schedule of cold rain.
Several things have happened here. I found an SY dead in the road. I can only assume being hit by a car. My housing is 150 feet from the country road. My neighbor had a Trio House set in front of his place but it was very close to the trees. I sent word through another neighbor that it would be better if it was farther from the trees and he moved it. My second ASY pair moved to it. I don't know if they preferred the round holes, preferred the house type home, or liked the 6 x 6 cavity because of the cold weather.
I sure wanted to keep the second pair but am glad my neighbor got his first. They may help attract future pair to the area so I guess it will turn out to be a win / win situation. The only thing I worry about is he had a HS and a starling pair trying to build in the same house and I don't think he is prepared to do anything about it. From what I have observed lately, the martins seem to be winning and have control of the house.
My gourds had a few green leaves in them but that seems to have all stopped now. I believe it is because of the cold weather (nights down to high 30's) and the off and on rain. I hope things warm up soon. I am sure they are ready to get their family started.
Good luck
Tom
It is about the same here. I only had the one pair last year and hoped to increase my numbers this year. I had a pair that had settled in and a single SY male staying the night. A second ASY and his mate started staying. Then the colder weather showed up and a seemingly systematic schedule of cold rain.
Several things have happened here. I found an SY dead in the road. I can only assume being hit by a car. My housing is 150 feet from the country road. My neighbor had a Trio House set in front of his place but it was very close to the trees. I sent word through another neighbor that it would be better if it was farther from the trees and he moved it. My second ASY pair moved to it. I don't know if they preferred the round holes, preferred the house type home, or liked the 6 x 6 cavity because of the cold weather.
I sure wanted to keep the second pair but am glad my neighbor got his first. They may help attract future pair to the area so I guess it will turn out to be a win / win situation. The only thing I worry about is he had a HS and a starling pair trying to build in the same house and I don't think he is prepared to do anything about it. From what I have observed lately, the martins seem to be winning and have control of the house.
My gourds had a few green leaves in them but that seems to have all stopped now. I believe it is because of the cold weather (nights down to high 30's) and the off and on rain. I hope things warm up soon. I am sure they are ready to get their family started.
Good luck
Tom
2009, 1 pair of SYs w/4 eggs - wait, no 4 babies and all 4 fledged. What a great experience.
2010, 2 ASY pair and 2 SY pair 18eggs / 14 fledged.
2011, 12 pair with 49 eggs, 43 fledged.
2012, 20 pair with 113 eggs as of 1 June
2013, 22 pair with 112 eggs as of 9 June
2014, 23 pair with 113 eggs
2010, 2 ASY pair and 2 SY pair 18eggs / 14 fledged.
2011, 12 pair with 49 eggs, 43 fledged.
2012, 20 pair with 113 eggs as of 1 June
2013, 22 pair with 112 eggs as of 9 June
2014, 23 pair with 113 eggs
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Guest
Still virtually no activity here. A few scouts, a couple of overnights, but none staying. I cannot remember the last time there was not nesting activity in the first week of May. Last year fledged 84 according to records.
I hope this is not a sign the population took a massive hit with the cold weather in the SE.
I hope this is not a sign the population took a massive hit with the cold weather in the SE.