First Pair!

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sjsmith
Posts: 66
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 5:52 pm
Location: Texas, College Station

Well it's been a couple of weeks since I reported in. It's been about a week now that I have had an ASY pair move into my gourds. I've seen another pair checking it out the last couple of days but haven't seen them enter anything yet. By all appearances, I think I've started a new colony. Keep up the faith all who are trying. It can happen any day, you just never know.
Steve Smith
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MingjoMartins
Posts: 312
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 3:28 pm
Location: Pataskala, OH

Steve -

Congratulations, thanks for sharing your story, it really hits home for me as I know that I will placed in your situation at some point down the road. We currently live on 5 acres, and just purchased 20 acres down the road less than 2 miles which we will be building on in the future.

Keep us posted on your progress - wishing you the best of luck, and many more pairs this year since it is still early in the season!

John
2013 - 37 pair-179 eggs,142 hatched,139 fledged
2012 - 32 pair-163 eggs,141 hatched,134 fledged
2011 - 19 pairs - 78 fledged successfully!
2010 3 pairs - 9 eggs - 8 fledged!
2009 - 1 Sub Adult Male (only) - LOTS visitors
2008 - 58 Visitors by year end
2007 - 13 Visitors by year end
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sjsmith
Posts: 66
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 5:52 pm
Location: Texas, College Station

Thanks for the encouragement John. Yes, leaving behind an established colony is no fun. Especially after all the years of hard work one puts into it to make it a safe place for martins. Too bad there is no way to know where my old colony ended up. I'm sure they have found a new home somewhere though. Thanks again and I will update as things happen around here.
Steve Smith
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Laverne
Posts: 2216
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
Location: TX/Alvin
Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.

John, if I lived in Ohio and knew I would be moving to another site, I would go ahead and erect some housing at the new site. I believe this would make the transition more enjoyable - and... just maybe... when you finally move, your present colony will find your housing and move with you...

:roll: Just a thought - ever how hopeful - I would truly erect housing at the new 20 acre homesite today - before the subbies arrive!!!
Sincerely,
Laverne
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MingjoMartins
Posts: 312
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 3:28 pm
Location: Pataskala, OH

Laverne - there is absolutely no people establishments around the site for about a 1/2 mile so I doubt that I would be able to attract them. I have two martin houses in the basement, and as soon as we start to build (date tbd - could be years) we will erect the new housing when we break ground. Until then, I am building my existing colony, and working with two mentees who are each less than a mile from the new site - I figure if my colony and these two colonies are successful, I am right in the middle and should be able to attract birds quickly.

John
2013 - 37 pair-179 eggs,142 hatched,139 fledged
2012 - 32 pair-163 eggs,141 hatched,134 fledged
2011 - 19 pairs - 78 fledged successfully!
2010 3 pairs - 9 eggs - 8 fledged!
2009 - 1 Sub Adult Male (only) - LOTS visitors
2008 - 58 Visitors by year end
2007 - 13 Visitors by year end
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