Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
Toyin;
Glad to hear about your subbie, hopefully more to come. From the posts on the forum it sounds like there is quite a bit of SY activity now up here in the north. Still waiting and hoping here, but reading the posts gives me encouragement. Continued success to you.
Hanover Bill.
2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
I also had a SY male tonight around 5pm. Don't know what happened during the day because of work.
When I got home I turned the dawnsong tape on for about 30 min's and he showed up. It took him awhile but he did manage to get in the modified excluder SREH in one of the gourds. That was good to see.
After changing to all SREH on my TA-14 and the four gourds under it I was thinking of putting 3 gourds on a line with round holes to better my chances of attracting the martins.
I have lots of starlings around and would rather not.
You know Dover I guess that would not hurt any to put out some round holes But I started my colony out with only SREH's. Never used a round hole. I honestly believe I got my birds from the colonies over on Pond Fork. Most of them 19 to 25 air miles from me & its in another county. Many gourds over there & are all round holes. I probably have the only colony in my county. The county is well over 600 Sq. miles in size. I even put up a Dually entrance which is IMO the most restrictive SREH on the market. One pair learned to negotiate it pretty quick. I did not even have porches on those Clingers & Crescents when I first started either. My site is real open. Over 225" to the nearest trees & about over a half mile in two directions no trees. I also believe if they think your site is safe they will stay & nest no matter what kind of entrances you have. Good luck my friend.
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
ToyinPa I know the starlings would give me trouble using round holes so for right now I will hold off. I had to shot at one this morning but only made the feathers fly.
The SY male was here at 6am and when I got home from work he had a female along but, she didn't land.
Ronnie I have some gourds with portchless crescents that I might put on a line if they don't like the T-14 house.
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
I agree....if you have starling problems then hold off.
I have a male English Sparrow that is also smart to the traps and us. As soon as I open a window or door he takes off. I watched today as a few of the AY males chased him off tho. Hope he doesn't come back.
It might take your SY male a few days to encourage her to land, but once she spends the night you can pretty much figure she'll stay.
I played it a little but, not sense the SY has been coming and trying to get the female to stay. He was in and out of a gourd several times tonight but I don't know if their spending the night or not.
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.