Hi everybody:
I got home from work about 5 pm, 70 degrees, went in the house to start some paperwork, heard one chirp! Went outside, two ASY males flying around in lazy circles over my back yard. I had the gourd rack up with the arms installed, NO GOURDS up at this time. It is a GR-12, I hurried to get 6 gourds up, they came in and landed about 5:45, checked out the gourds, chirped while they investigated. Just as it was getting dark, they both took off for the night, not unusual, I am sure they will be back in the morning and most likely will spend the night tomorrow. Good luck to everybody this year, hope we have good weather, I am prepared with nest material, food, and hand warmers, they worked well for me last year. It seems we always have one or two pesky very cold snaps each year. So far we have had a very warm winter, just one cold snap, but it was warm in the days, cold nights.
Martins in Melbourne, FLorida, right now!!
-
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.
They must have bought their tickets in Cancun yesterday!
Congrats Mike must be sweet.
Congrats Mike must be sweet.
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.
-
Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2441
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged
Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged
Mike --
Congrats and hope you have a grest year..
It's really something when you hear that first "chirp"... it will stop you in your tracks in a heartbeat, turn you around and start looking every where until you see him or her.. March is not that far away for us here in Ohio. Wish me luck..
Dave -- in Little Hocking, Ohio
Congrats and hope you have a grest year..
It's really something when you hear that first "chirp"... it will stop you in your tracks in a heartbeat, turn you around and start looking every where until you see him or her.. March is not that far away for us here in Ohio. Wish me luck..
Dave -- in Little Hocking, Ohio
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
-
Linda Reynolds
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:33 pm
- Location: Adamsville, TN
Oh my gosh, Mike. I am so thrilled for you...............Only hoping you have the best of martin seasons.
Ever-Grateful,
Linda
Linda
-
Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
-
James Strickland FL
- Posts: 2249
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
- Location: Reidsville NC
- Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair
Congrats Mike you are just up the road from me. You got them before the others.-
John Barrow
- Posts: 982
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 4:12 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi / Sandia , Texas
Hi Mike,
Finally glad to see martins arriving in Florida. I have been in San Antonio early week and stopped by Michael Humprhis' place just south of Pleasanton to observe and visit with him. You two are leading the parade this year. Let's bring them on. The spectators are waiting.
Have a good year friend.
Finally glad to see martins arriving in Florida. I have been in San Antonio early week and stopped by Michael Humprhis' place just south of Pleasanton to observe and visit with him. You two are leading the parade this year. Let's bring them on. The spectators are waiting.
Have a good year friend.
~~TEAMED WITH A MARTIN GODDESS~~
Member/Mentor-PMCA. I do regular nestchecks and participate in PROJECT MARTINWATCH!! Coordinated 3 geolocator studies-2009, 2010 & 2013. State and Fed licensed bander (retired Jan., 2020)
Member/Mentor-PMCA. I do regular nestchecks and participate in PROJECT MARTINWATCH!! Coordinated 3 geolocator studies-2009, 2010 & 2013. State and Fed licensed bander (retired Jan., 2020)
Finally! And the first one in Melbourne! Good on ya Mike! My partner said he thought he heard one when he came home tonight but we couldn't be sure. I got home after dark and will leave for work before sun up so I won't be able to verify if he is right or not. (He usually gets to see the first martin before I do because he works normal type hours and leaves and returns from work before dark.) Hopefully there are a lot more out there and the reports will start flooding in now!
Congrats again!
Congrats again!
James Mejeur
-
marshainpuntagorda
- Posts: 177
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2004 7:58 pm
- Location: Punta Gorda/Florida
Great News!!! I know you are excited...best of luck with you Martins this year!
Think Purple!
-
Tim Stover
- Posts: 505
- Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:04 pm
- Location: Tennesse/Madisonville
congrats Mike here they come
2009 2pair 2010 24pair 2011 106 pair
2012 124 pair
2013 145
2014 170 pair
+
2012 124 pair
2013 145
2014 170 pair
+
-
Mike Dingman
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 7:03 pm
- Location: Florida/Melbourne
Thanks for the good luck notes for this season from everyone. It is now 7:15 am and my two new arrivals just made a grand entrance, and this time they landed right away after a few fly bys.
-
Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
Melbourne!!!! What a surprise. I was looking towards SW FL and they snuck in just north of me here in Pompano Beach. :-)
Let the season begin!!!!!!!!!
Carl
Let the season begin!!!!!!!!!
Carl
WOO HOO, let the games begin. So glad to finally see them in FL and hope you have a great year!!!!!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
D'Nese in Tennessee
2009-new house up, many visitors no one stayed
2010-3 pairs, 14 eggs, 9 babies 9 fledged
2011 20 pairs, 106 eggs, 79 fledged
2012 37 pair, 120 fledged
2013 37 pair, 173 fledged
2009-new house up, many visitors no one stayed
2010-3 pairs, 14 eggs, 9 babies 9 fledged
2011 20 pairs, 106 eggs, 79 fledged
2012 37 pair, 120 fledged
2013 37 pair, 173 fledged
Hello Gang, Well still no Martins here in South Ga. We are about
8 Miles from the Florida Line here in Quitman, Ga. Hope to have
a lot of Martins This Year. Have not had any for 5 Years now ever since
our Snake episode, Surley Martins don't Remember that long.
mayhaw10
8 Miles from the Florida Line here in Quitman, Ga. Hope to have
a lot of Martins This Year. Have not had any for 5 Years now ever since
our Snake episode, Surley Martins don't Remember that long.
mayhaw10
-
Bill Pec
- Posts: 545
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:21 am
- Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Virginia
- Martin Colony History: 2010- 2 pr. Fledged 6
2011- 20 pr. Fledged 75
2012- 35 pr. Fledged 143
2013- 37 pr. Fledged 153
2014- 40 pr. Fledged 198
2015- 40 pr. Fledged 183
2016- 42 pr. Fledged 189
2017- 42 pr. Fledged 168
2018- 43 pr. Fledged 172
2019- 43 pr. Fledged 193
2020 -44 pr. Fledged 181
2021 -43 pr. Fledged 184
2022 - 40 pr. Fledged 160
2023 - 39 pr. Fledged 151
2024 - 40 pr. Fledged 154
REJOICE 
THE MORE ONE LEARNS THE MORE ONE SEES! While the ignorant person sees only a blackbird the enlightened person sees a Purple Martin.
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
-
Mike Dingman
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 7:03 pm
- Location: Florida/Melbourne
Mayhaw10, your right, they don't remember 5 years back, mostly because it isn't unusual for a martin to live only a few years in the wild, like 4-6 is normal if my memory is working. What this illustrates is how hard it is to get a colony started, but once you do because of site fidelity, they keep coming, even if your site is less than desirable. That is until the snake or raccoon attack, then you start all over again... Good luck to you this year.