martins everywhere !

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loco for purple
Posts: 187
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:06 pm
Location: arlington/texas

I just got home from work and counted over eight martins all over my housing. I have never had so many show up at once, my season begins !!!!
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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

That is unusual, congrats. I have never had that many come at one time. There is a possibility that they have been there a while, they slip in and out real fast early in the season, and I think everybody often misses the first few on some occasions. What difference does it make, it makes you happy to have them back!
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Fredmyyster
Posts: 280
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:30 pm
Location: Tennessee/ Nashville

Wow ! :shock:
Empty POOLS are a Delight ! !
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loco for purple
Posts: 187
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:06 pm
Location: arlington/texas

Yes it was strange to pull up to my house and see so many martins. I had always seen one, maybe, two martins show up at once. -The were not here this morning around 8:30 . I have been looking out for them since the end of January. In the end only five have stayed -two in the housing and the rest are spending the night in supergourds. They also are spending the night alone-three males and two females-that is kind of strange.
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

Maybe the BIG purple wave did come thru. Great to hear

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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DelmaWhisenhunt
Posts: 778
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:17 am
Location: Idabel, OK

After reading your good news, I sent a text to my son that lives south of Weatherford and told him he better raise his martin condo. Well he let me know right away that he had already raised the house and expected a flight in almost anytime. He has always teased and said, he had a direct flight from DFW. He built such a nice accomodation for the martins, hope they recognize it as theirs. He had many martins until last year, the first year he had the new house up. So didn't know if it was the change in the house or something else. Guess this season will give him a clue. I hope to be visiting at his place sometime soon, maybe I will get to enjoy his martins and hopefully this will be my year.
Delma Whisenhunt
Idabel, OK
Martin Lover
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klcretired
Posts: 2174
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
Location: Grand Prairie,Tx

Congrats on your first arrivals , mine came in on 2/12/11
Let The Games Begin!!!!!
I sent you a pm, email me please
Thanks
Kenny
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.

Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,

K.C.

[email protected]
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Jim Spetzman
Posts: 77
Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:26 am
Location: Minnesota, Forest Lake

I had 3 come back about 3 weeks ago and none since but today they came back like crazy and are flying in the sky everywhere here in Mission, TX
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geezer
Posts: 311
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2004 2:21 pm
Location: Texas/Anna (north of dallas)

I had a beautiful pair arrive about 5 PM today..13 days ahead of last year. Of course, the weather has been beautiful. They flew round and round singing "Hello Again...we're BACK". Then went into a Troyer Horizontal attached to the T-14.

There appears to be a general influx to the DFW area.

Good Luck
geezer
#PMCA #birding #birders
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M.Stephens
Posts: 1130
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:14 pm
Location: Texas/Texarkana

I had 5 males and one female show up today so they are moving on! Yesterday was my Scout report!
Image
Malcolm
2015 (110 nesting pair)
2014 (92 nesting pair)
2013 (75 nesting pair)
2012 (35 nesting pair)
2011 (20 pair)
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PMCA Member
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parkerdes
Posts: 417
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:41 pm
Location: TEXAS/Weatherford

I reported a scout on Friday Feb 18th but he must have been an "Oakie" just passing through because I haven't seen him since...still waiting for my residents to return!
Last year, my patriarch, Abe, was almost a month later than the year before. With these warm temps, hopefully my ASYs will be home soon!
Hope everyone has a great season!!!

Edit...2/21/11---must have been my patriarch, Abe after all! I saw him today for the first time since Friday & he had another ASY male & a female with him checking out my housing!!!
Like Kenny says, "let the games begin!!!"
Last edited by parkerdes on Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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DelmaWhisenhunt
Posts: 778
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:17 am
Location: Idabel, OK

Well if an Okie, he or she didn't stop off at my place. I'm waiting, keep checking at the neighbors as I drive through, the ones that seem to always have martins and I keep trying. If they were on the way to Okla. maybe they didn't get GPS working properly. Gotta be some logical reason. Where-ever they landed, hope the land lord is happy and the martins thankful for a summer resort.
Delma Whisenhunt
Idabel, OK
Martin Lover
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Carolyn C
Posts: 172
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:45 am
Location: Georgetown, TX

I'm still waiting in Georgetown. Hope they have not passed by me. I know there is still lots of time. They didn't come here until March 14 last year but hearing everyone's sightings has made me anxious! I"m always at the window watching the PM house.
Carolyn
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

There is a lot of time yet, Carolyn - I would estimate we have no more than 1/4 of our birds back - they will be flying north for months yet.
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DaveHRRTX
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:43 pm
Location: Texas / Round Rock

Carolyn C wrote:I'm still waiting in Georgetown. Hope they have not passed by me. I know there is still lots of time. They didn't come here until March 14 last year but hearing everyone's sightings has made me anxious! I"m always at the window watching the PM house.
We have had at least one or two scouts every day since last weekend. No boarders yet; but they won't be far behind.

Dave, Round Rock, TX
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Carolyn C
Posts: 172
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:45 am
Location: Georgetown, TX

Dave, you are up the road from me--even though I"m at the north end of GTown. It's hard waiting isn't it???
Carolyn
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DaveHRRTX
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:43 pm
Location: Texas / Round Rock

Carolyn,

Yes it is. I get a bit anxious for them to show up every year. But I use the time to make sure the house is clean, looking good, and ready for their return.

I really look forward to their return every year!

Dave, Round Rock
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Matt F.
Posts: 3978
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Houston, TX

M.Stephens wrote:I had 5 males and one female show up today so they are moving on! Yesterday was my Scout report!
Great photo Malcolm!
Judging by the bulging chin/neck area, I'd say you caught him right in the middle of crooning :lol:
Image
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