Pictures from my Cell Phone

Chriscreole · Sat Mar 19, 2011 11:45 am

Here are a few pictures taken with my cell phone 3/19/2011 11:00am. I have about 13/15 martins 5 pairs are in this house and 3 of the gourds are occupied now. I have been watching them bring nesting materials to the rooms and gourds all morning. I'm pretty sure I have a few SY's in this group and I tried to get their pictures. So you tell me, since this is my first year at this, do I have any SY's ?

JamesG · Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:04 pm

I could not tell for sure, but there were none that struck me as being SY.
They all looked like ASY's to me.
Congratulations on a beautiful set up.
Maybe someone else can tell you for sure.
James

Charles B · Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:08 pm

Those are pretty impressive images--especially from a cell phone camera. My cell phone contract is up next month; maybe I need to get one like yours. What is it?

I can't tell if you have any SYs, but I'm impressed that you have so many ASY birds in just your first year. Did your neighbors take down their housing? I had only one pair in 2009 and again last year, and so far, only the one male has shown up this year.

Charles

ToyinPA · Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:13 pm

I didn't see any SY's either.

I have the same house. In fact I have 2 older ones with round holes. The end cavities are very hard to clean out & do nest changes in. I use a long handle paint scraper. I NEVER wash the houses out at end of season. I just scrape them out.

If your end perches come loose, just wrap a little electric tape around the end & push into the groove.

ToyinPA

Chriscreole · Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:16 pm

My phone is through T-Mobile a Samsung Galaxy S 4G, it has several different camera modes even cartoon effects and camcoder video mode, and a 8x zoom.

My neighbors house is up and he also has martins. his martins are also building nests and I know for sure he has 3 nesting pairs, and some hang arounds. We may have stolen all the martins from one other neighbor about 5 houses down. he has similar setup but he painted his house a darker color to match his real house. All our backyards face this big nice park. There is a bad Sparrow problem here tryin to take over my gourds but the Martins and kickin their butts. I'll have to lower the housing to check to see whats in the gourds remove anything that the lil buggers brought in.

We also have several colorful finches and a few bright red woodpeckers , Barn sparrows, mini doves, a pair of owls and 2 red tail hawks in this park area. they stay on the greenbelt side of the park.

KathyF · Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:41 pm

Nice pictures, Chris! Wow - a lot of ASY martins. You sure this is your FIRST year?

Hard to pick our SY's with these pictures.

Best way to tell is if you have some binocs, watch them and when you hear the male 'clicking' sound and he has a whitish chest, speckled with purple, then you have a male SY!

Looks like you may fill up before the SY's get there anyway!

KathyF · Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:42 pm

By the way, Chris - since you're being blessed with so many martins your first year, please ensure that you have snake/predator guards on your pole!

MingjoMartins · Sat Mar 19, 2011 7:44 pm

I'm pretty certain you should play the lottery this week - and split the winnings with me since you are clearly the luckiest person I have ever met! Very impressive first year effort - CONGRATULATIONS!

Before it gets any later in the season, go online and order a predator guard, you need to protect your investment, and one snake can ruin all of your good work! They are cheap and well worth the peace of mind!

John

bigfootokie · Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:55 pm

Amazing pictures Chris. Congrats on your first year. Keep posting new pic's. I really enjoy them.

Jim

Chriscreole · Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:07 am

Thought I'd try a video, look at how many Martins are in the air around here.

Jeff Robinson · Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:36 am

Wow Chris - now that is a DREAMERS way to start your first year as a martin landlord. Super pics and video - the sound quality from your phone recorder is unreal.

And remember what Kathy and John said about predator control. Keep in mind though, that a baffle predator guard will NOT protect your colony from rat snakes (I'm proof) - you need the netting for that. Search/read the forum for many articles on that subject.

Congrats Chris!

Don~VA · Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:49 am

Hi Chris,

I'll add my Wow to the other posts! All that from a cell phone! Congratulations to you and like John said I think you better rush out and buy a lottery ticket

Have a great season.

Bill Pec · Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:52 am

For those beginners who keep asking if they have a chance of attracting early arriving ASY birds (birds two years and older) to their new colony site just look at the great photos and video Chris provided. His new site is being mobbed by ASY birds. Chris, with this start you might win the Rookie of The Year Award.
Chis, congratulations and enjoy the passion,
Bill

Chriscreole · Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:01 am

I'm ordering a snake guard today, i see that I can get one for my triangle pole through this forum and at the same time become a member to get that whopping discount haha. I might pick up the signage that says this is a protected sanctuary for our Purple Martins so when the people passing by in the park can read it and learn. in the park is a sidewalk and picnic benches. people have been stopping to see and listen to the birds sing their song. Just how kewl is that!

Chriscreole · Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:04 am

The Rat Snake netting, is that something someone just made up or is it some wire netting materials attach it to the pole?

Jeff Robinson · Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:44 am

Here ya go Chris,

First link is example on how to make them. The key is to have the netting bunched up and hanging so that snakes have to try to go thru the netting. You don't necessarily have to go as big as show on link. Second link shows how they'll bypass the 4-legged predator guard, like one did to me last year. This year I have netting.

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... highlight=

http://www.purple-martin.org/BlackRatSn ... nLock4.htm

Bill Pec · Sun Mar 20, 2011 2:13 pm

Chris,

The netting used as snake guards is actually deer or bird netting used to protect gardens from these critters. It is sold at any good plant nursery or Lowes and Home Depot.

Bill

Laverne · Sun Mar 20, 2011 3:59 pm

Hi Chris.

I agree with everyone else... your housing is beautiful - especially because it is occupied by the "right" birds. When I look at your photos I do see what appears to be an SY female. Notice how light the feathers are on her crissum. If you go to the following link you will see photos of both SY and ASY females and you will see what I mean.

Then, you decide for yourself...

http://purplemartin.org/MartinID/martinid.html

Chriscreole · Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:45 pm

Bill Pec wrote:Chris, with this start you might win the Rookie of The Year Award.Bill

I'll be more than happy to display that award on my mantle above the fireplace, but I don't think the PMCA hands out awards.

Thanks for the kudo's

Bill Pec · Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:58 pm

I think awarding a PMCA Rookie of The Year Award is a good idea. What do you think Louise?

Bill