I tried to help out with sone pine needles but may be they were to long or to many or not enough but the Martins would not go back in the housing. I took the offerings back out and in they went.
What am I doing wrong is there anything else besides pine needles I should place in the rooms that look like an inviting nest?
Do Martins build their own nests?
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Chriscreole
- Posts: 781
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:31 am
- Location: Texas, Hutto
PMCA Member since 2010
Super System 24, All Troyer W/Conley 2 entrances.
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Fredmyyster
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:30 pm
- Location: Tennessee/ Nashville
I always add pine straw each season and toss a bunch on the gound surrounding the housing area 
Empty POOLS are a Delight ! !
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
I have never heard of pre nest material being the only reason PM's did not use a cavity. Some PM's will pull them out and not use them but not sure why they will only enter the cavity without the pre nest.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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Chriscreole
- Posts: 781
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:31 am
- Location: Texas, Hutto
Is pine straw the same as pine neeldes? we don't have any where close to find this stuff. I would have to order online pine straw.
PMCA Member since 2010
Super System 24, All Troyer W/Conley 2 entrances.
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James Johnson
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:30 am
- Location: Arkansas/Western Grove
Chris, pine straw and pine needles are the same. However, some Pine trees have longer needles than others. Dried needles that have been out in the weather a few months will be softer than those that have recently fallen. Make sure that the needles you use are dry. Any dried needles can be softened by putting them on a paved surface and running over them with an automobile. Put a handful or two of needles in the nesting cavity and make a bowl with your fist. The birds will sort out the rest and add too or take out. Good luck!
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- 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.
If you have any shrubs cut twigs for them. Strip off any leaves. I use honeysuckle, hibiscis, pine, etc. I break or cut them about 4-5 inches & lay them on my sidewalk. They watch me & after I go in the house they quick land & grab them.
Every day during nest building I go out & gather up the big long twigs (some are 2 foot) they drag in & break them up too.
Mine also like clumps of dried grass & pine bark chips.
Dried oak leaves, or any dried tree leaves, etc.
Pine needles/pine starw....the long needles from white pine is best if gathered after winter is over. They're soft & dry. Mine toss some of them out, but I replace them when doing a nest change.
Some of my pairs build a big nest with mud, while other toss a few twigs on the cavity floor & call it a nest.
ToyinPA
Every day during nest building I go out & gather up the big long twigs (some are 2 foot) they drag in & break them up too.
Mine also like clumps of dried grass & pine bark chips.
Dried oak leaves, or any dried tree leaves, etc.
Pine needles/pine starw....the long needles from white pine is best if gathered after winter is over. They're soft & dry. Mine toss some of them out, but I replace them when doing a nest change.
Some of my pairs build a big nest with mud, while other toss a few twigs on the cavity floor & call it a nest.
ToyinPA
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Michael Sanford ~ OK
- Posts: 233
- Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 9:00 pm
- Location: Oklahoma/Edmond
Hey Chris, did you put the pine needles in after the martins returned? If you did that's o.k. but you should add nesting material before the martins return. In the future keep that in mind. If they showed up to empty compartments and now all of the sudden there is nest material in them that might throw them for a little loop. I seriously doubt they will abandon your site over a little nest material.
Here in central Oklahoma I use wheat straw. I can buy bales of it for about six bucks and it lasts for many seasons. My martins add some leaves and pine needles to it that they find in my yard. Works like a charm.
Here in central Oklahoma I use wheat straw. I can buy bales of it for about six bucks and it lasts for many seasons. My martins add some leaves and pine needles to it that they find in my yard. Works like a charm.
MICHAEL C. SANFORD
EDMOND, OK
EDMOND, OK
Chris:
Personally, I don't think it's necessary to add nesting material except for some gourds.
Last year was the first time I ever added nesting material for PM's, and that was to the 3 THG's I installed below my Trio. Due to the depth of the gourd below the tunnel, it is recommended to fill to level with tunnel. I used plain old southern pine needles. I added some needles and dried bamboo leaves to a few of my house cavities this season. Second day I saw a PM removing the leaves from 1 cavity.
Martins will build their own nests, though sometimes they are pretty crude! Adding material probably helps early arrivals survive cold temps in metal houses.
Personally, I don't think it's necessary to add nesting material except for some gourds.
Last year was the first time I ever added nesting material for PM's, and that was to the 3 THG's I installed below my Trio. Due to the depth of the gourd below the tunnel, it is recommended to fill to level with tunnel. I used plain old southern pine needles. I added some needles and dried bamboo leaves to a few of my house cavities this season. Second day I saw a PM removing the leaves from 1 cavity.
Martins will build their own nests, though sometimes they are pretty crude! Adding material probably helps early arrivals survive cold temps in metal houses.
I am no expert but here are my thoughts...
I had bought a bale of straw & used it for several years with a few Live or Red Oak leaves on top. I then later went to one of the local feed or farm stores & purchased a bale of pine needles. They were the long needles so I break them in half. I had to call around to find a store that carried them. It cost about $8 here in the Fort Worth, Tx area.
I like the pine needles better because they dry out quicker but the straw works well also. I also have a feeder up & put both nesting materials & egg shells in it. There are cats in my neighborhood that I see passing through my yard & I didn't want to have the martins going to the ground for materials! Once they start nest building, they bring more in if they want. If I didn't provide pre-nests...the SY ladies probably would be laying their eggs on hard floors. My first year to have 2 pair, one female went to all the un-occupied nest cavities & "stole" the nests from them...that's one reason I decided to provide nesting material from a feeder.
I was offered the same advice...if the martins are at your site, be careful not to change things until they are committed!
I had bought a bale of straw & used it for several years with a few Live or Red Oak leaves on top. I then later went to one of the local feed or farm stores & purchased a bale of pine needles. They were the long needles so I break them in half. I had to call around to find a store that carried them. It cost about $8 here in the Fort Worth, Tx area.
I like the pine needles better because they dry out quicker but the straw works well also. I also have a feeder up & put both nesting materials & egg shells in it. There are cats in my neighborhood that I see passing through my yard & I didn't want to have the martins going to the ground for materials! Once they start nest building, they bring more in if they want. If I didn't provide pre-nests...the SY ladies probably would be laying their eggs on hard floors. My first year to have 2 pair, one female went to all the un-occupied nest cavities & "stole" the nests from them...that's one reason I decided to provide nesting material from a feeder.
I was offered the same advice...if the martins are at your site, be careful not to change things until they are committed!
Returning fledges from prior year (subbies) are clueless when it comes to nest building. They need all the help they can get. Make sure they have plenty of good building materials (including a nest full to begin with)
geezer
geezer
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