Big Surprise Today

[bigfootokie]

Last year I added a new pole with 12 gourds since I had such a great year in 2010 (my first year).

I thought that since my first year was a breeze, my second year would at least double the number of nesting birds. Surprise, Surprise...A pair of Bluebirds decided to defend both poles and tried to build nests in most of the the 30 compartments available. The Martins came but were drivin away time and time again. I continually lowered the house and gourds removing nesting material, but the Bluebirds kept driving the PM's away.

I finally decided to close off all the compartments and see if that helped. It did after about a week, and the BB's moved to one of the houses I have had for years just for them.

Within a few days, the martins returned. I opened all of the entrances and had 5 pairs make residence. Thought I had it made...then the wind blew for weeks hard enough to bend both poles, I saw one hawk attack on the gourds, and the Crows started landing on the gourds trying to reach inside for a meal. Then it got HOT!!! And stayed HOT!!! The PM's stayed, but there were at least 6 young birds I found that died from the heat.

I was pretty upset about 2011 and considered not putting my housing back up this year, but I decided I would wait until the last minute so the BB's would be nesting and try it again. Today my son helped me make repairs to poles and we put it all back up.

I had not heard a Martin this Spring before today and was almost in shock about 10 minutes after we finished when I heard that unmistakeable sound. I stepped out of the barn and there were 6 PM's circling above the poles. They all landed and went into the gourds like they were coming home. I'm sure they were some of the same ones returning from last year since they went right into the same compartments that were used in 2011.

I was completely in shock...not 10 minutes before, all of the housing was in my barn. All of a sudden my friends were back. They spent the afternoon and evening making a LOT of noise, flying in and out of the area, and I know that 1 pair stayed for the night. Had work to do so I couldn't watch all evening.

Anyway, I made a short story long...but it was a great thing for me today after my horrible year in 2011. Maybe 2012 will pan out.

Jim

[Waydog]

Sounds Great and wishing the best for you thus far! That was a heck of a first year huh?!!
This is my first year. I have a pair that have been hanging around for 6 days so far. No overnight stays yet. I keep the sparrow nests cleaned out daily and the pellet gun close by! Starlings here also, already breached the SREH! Got my hands full, with these pests but itll pay off!

[DornCounty]

cool.. wonder if they were hanging out in a tree or something .

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

If you do not have the housing up, the martins will hang around for maybe a week or two and they keep checking out their old site, waiting for their housing. I don't know where they stay while they are waiting, maybe at a neighbors place, or maybe in the trees. If you wait too long to put up their housing, they may move, but I don't know the approx time before they do not return.

Congrats, glad you got yours back. You did the right thing with the BB

[Dave Reynolds]

Jim -- That's good news. I think I 'm going to take my housing down for a few minutes and then put it up..... maybe it will help me, like it did for you.. Just kidding... Have a great year..
Dave

[Laverne]

So cool, Jim!! I would say those birds were soaring overhead, watching as you erected their housing. Can you imagine the excitement in their little hearts as they realized their favorite cavities were back?

My hope is that 2012 will be better for all of us. I've been hosting Purple Martins for 16 years and have never seen a year like 2011 before. What I'm trying to say is years like 2011 have been rare in the past. On the other hand, every year brings difficult times somewhere in the Purple Martin breeding range. Cold spells and floods are just as hard on them as drought and heat. We should all see a better season this year. Your Purple Martin colony needs you. Please keep putting up their housing. It at least gives them a chance to raise their young. I thank you for it.

[bigfootokie]

Well...it appears all six PM's stayed here last night. Lot's of activity all day long and I observed several of them just before dark coming in and landing. Maybe this will turn out to be a good year.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

It is looking better than ever before here at our colony. I too think that we may have the best year ever this year. Our gourds are practically full, I know that we have 2 empty gourds out of 250, but today I saw some SY females, so maybe they will all fill up...At this time, it looks very good.