Central Texas
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Guest
Here it is the 11th off June and no Matins here. I have check other landlords houses and do not see any birds. What has happened here in the hill country?
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
It could be weather related, probably a combination of the hot dry summer last year, and the cold winter this year. Did you have snake problems? hawk problems? mites?...Usually a complete failure is due to a predator problem. My first guess is a predator problem, second guess is the weather.
Its only about 300 miles to the hill country, but we are having the best year ever. Lots of bugs, weather has been wonderful. Over 1/2 of mine have already fledged. Many nests had 6 or 7 eggs, a lot more than normal this year.
Its only about 300 miles to the hill country, but we are having the best year ever. Lots of bugs, weather has been wonderful. Over 1/2 of mine have already fledged. Many nests had 6 or 7 eggs, a lot more than normal this year.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Guest
Thanks, it must be the weather.We only have one house, but have tried for the last three years with no success. We played the dawn song, put out nesting material. ect., by the book, one might say. Any suggestions for next year. We are in Fredericksburg and have seen no Martins anywhere.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
If you didn't have any last year, then your house could be too close to trees. However, there are not a lot of trees in your area, but if you do have some yard trees, then it may help to move the house to a more open area. But if you saw no martins, its hard to get them, just a scaricity of martins could be the problem
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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FredZ
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:16 pm
- Location: Marble Falls, TX
- Martin Colony History: 2012 2 pairs, 12 eggs, 12 fledged
2013 7 pairs, 28 eggs, 19 fledged
2014 10 pairs, 51 eggs, 33 fledged
2015 16 pairs, 80 eggs, 54 fledged
2016 17 pairs, 90 eggs, 85 fledged (it was a very good year :grin: )
Tom,
I live in Marble Falls and noticed the same thing. I am luck and have 4 pairs this year. My next door neighbor use to have 10-14 paris and he doesn't have any this year. It is the same story for a friend down the street a couple of blocks.
I think the heat and drought of last year did alot of damaged to the martin population. I only fledged 8 birds and I doubt that they survived.
I live in Marble Falls and noticed the same thing. I am luck and have 4 pairs this year. My next door neighbor use to have 10-14 paris and he doesn't have any this year. It is the same story for a friend down the street a couple of blocks.
I think the heat and drought of last year did alot of damaged to the martin population. I only fledged 8 birds and I doubt that they survived.
Fred Z
Marble Falls, TX
2012 2 pairs, 12 eggs, 12 fledged
2013 7 pairs, 28 eggs, 19 fledged
2014 10 pairs, 51 eggs, 33 fledged
2015 16 pairs, 80 eggs, 54 fledged
2016 17 pairs, 90 eggs, 85 fledged (it was a very good year
)
Marble Falls, TX
2012 2 pairs, 12 eggs, 12 fledged
2013 7 pairs, 28 eggs, 19 fledged
2014 10 pairs, 51 eggs, 33 fledged
2015 16 pairs, 80 eggs, 54 fledged
2016 17 pairs, 90 eggs, 85 fledged (it was a very good year
)
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Peggy Riley
- Posts: 885
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:21 pm
- Location: TX/Tolar
Of course! This year is going really good for a lot of Texas
landlords. The fledge rates appear better than normal, at least
at my site. That would hopefully mean a good number of SYs returning
next year.
Don't give up!
Peggy
landlords. The fledge rates appear better than normal, at least
at my site. That would hopefully mean a good number of SYs returning
next year.
Don't give up!
Peggy
This is a good year for me too. There are 2 nests in my quad pod, if they fledge it will be the first ever to fledge from the the QP. One nest in the old cheapo house.
I live in Round Rock and my house and several of the neighboring landlords are all full. At last count I had 14 pair and a number of fledglings. Mine showed up a bit late, about mid March, but they have made up for the late arrival by really getting to work!
We live on a golf course. The Dragon Flies and other insects have been plentiful this year, so our PM's are well fed.
Dave
We live on a golf course. The Dragon Flies and other insects have been plentiful this year, so our PM's are well fed.
Dave