You KNOW you're a Purple Martin LUNATIC when...

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TammyBears
Posts: 135
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:00 pm
Location: Bridgecreek, Oklahoma (SW of OKC)

You know your a PM looney when you have this dream:

I was looking up in the sky and saw a big group of martins swooping around. They begin to get closer and started flying all around my two housing units. I moved in closer to see them, there is at least 20. As I get closer and closer I can hear them talking! One said "oh look mom I like this one" another said "yes this one is nice too" this was as they all were going in and out of the gourds and rooms each excitedly picking the one they like best. One says "I like this place!" another "I like meeting new people" Then I see some trying to get in the house I have plugged up, so I move in closer and as I approach the martins, they are now human size...and even nuttier is that now I'm talking to them! I tell them I have the plugs in there to keep the S&S out. They thank me for that. I told them I would take the plugs out, one said "oh yes we would like that" I then slowly backed away from them and they were all normal size again chatting away and all saying to each other they'd love to stay at this new place. :lol:

I am not kidding, I actually dreamed this last night.

So am I officially a Purple nut or what :?: :!:
Tammy
RIP my precious Josie, 7/5/2000-11/6/2014
2015: 22 pair plus lots of bachelors
2014: 25 pair and some bachelor subbies
2013: 17 pair
2012: 7 pair (first year)
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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.

Yeah, Tammy, pretty much a nut... :wink:

Glad you could join us... and hope your dreams come true... 8)
Sincerely,
Laverne
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dsonyay
Posts: 1677
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
Location: Louisiana/Broussard
Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.

2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)

2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.

2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged

2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(

2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.

2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.

I'm becoming a PM lunatic too-- I've changed out all the exterior doors of my home to Crescents.
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Tim in VA
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:29 am
Location: Virginia/South Prince George

I had a dream too just the other night. I dreamt I was outside tossing crickets up to the largest group of Martins you would ever want to see. My wife walks up and asked could she toss one to them. I said sure, try one. Just as soon as she tossed that cricket, everyone of those Martins disappeared. I was so mad, I woke my wife up and told her don't you ever do that again. She looked at me like I was nuts and asked what are you talking about. I told her nothing, go back to sleep. I laid awake the rest of the night, still mad, till it was time to go to work. I don't know if I will ever forgive her for that. :wink:
Tim
2014 - 36 gourds, 163 fledged, F.R. 83%
2013 - 18 gourds, 61 fledged, F.R. 87%
2012 - 14 gourds, 29 fledged, F.R. 74%
PMCA Member
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TheCav-MO
Posts: 64
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:56 pm
Location: Missouri/Macon

Yep, it's official you guys are losing it :shock:
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Emil Pampell-Tx
Posts: 6743
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas

March madness in basketball, March madness in Martinville. :lol: :lol:
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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TammyBears
Posts: 135
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:00 pm
Location: Bridgecreek, Oklahoma (SW of OKC)

Tim: :lol: :lol: :lol:

An update....and this is true! I just came home from getting groceries and
as I pulled onto the driveway there they were!! About 10 purple martins!!!! flying behind my house.
They were gliding and swooping all over my houses/gourds :eek: :eek: :eek:
I couldn't stop the truck fast enough to get out and go see. There were about 3 perched on the castle, and the others flying around. I watched for few mins and they left.
I have a neighbor across the way, bout 1/4 mile and they have a Mac looking house(only 6x6), I got my binocs out and the first time this season there they were...purple martins!
No doubt the ones visiting me are their martins. I'm sure the daytime chatter got their attention. Now, not that I would want to steal their martins....but....I'll sure try.
So I lowered the one house and unplugged the entries, as I did in my dream!
Here they will have roomy large condos with eggshell, pine needles and all the amenities!
Woohooo...I'm really excited now :P :P
Tammy
RIP my precious Josie, 7/5/2000-11/6/2014
2015: 22 pair plus lots of bachelors
2014: 25 pair and some bachelor subbies
2013: 17 pair
2012: 7 pair (first year)
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Emil Pampell-Tx
Posts: 6743
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas

I would recommend that you unplug everything as soon as you see martins. I put up my housing and leave it open about 2 weeks before the martins arrive. This gives us a good chance to trap in nest box traps a lot of starlngs and sparrows before the martins arrive...good luck and have fun.

Woohooooooo!
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Tim in VA
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:29 am
Location: Virginia/South Prince George

I hope you get all the birds you want.
I would try to get some birds anyway I could, even if they are from the neighbors.
I wish I could fold one up, put it in my pocket and bring it home. I swear I would do it, if I could.
Hoping all the best for you.
Tim
2014 - 36 gourds, 163 fledged, F.R. 83%
2013 - 18 gourds, 61 fledged, F.R. 87%
2012 - 14 gourds, 29 fledged, F.R. 74%
PMCA Member
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TammyBears
Posts: 135
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:00 pm
Location: Bridgecreek, Oklahoma (SW of OKC)

I've been watching the neighbors house and it looks like he is completely full up. It's a Mac house that has 12 6x6 compartments. I've watched his house everyday for the last several weeks and there had been zero, it's like the whole colony showed up at once! And what is good is along with my castle I have a house exactly like his too, but I made mine into only 6 big rooms. As jealous as I am :evil: I am also thrilled because I think this can be very good for me with his colony to capacity, and they know I'm here now! 8)
Tammy
RIP my precious Josie, 7/5/2000-11/6/2014
2015: 22 pair plus lots of bachelors
2014: 25 pair and some bachelor subbies
2013: 17 pair
2012: 7 pair (first year)
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pugsleyhall
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:28 pm
Location: Alabama/Grant

Tammy,

Thank you(and Tim) for the laugh about the dream, I've had similar ones. Best of luck to you this season.


Melissa
Proud member of the PMCA
2008-0
2009-0
2010-Several Lookers
2011-Quite a few visitors but none stayed
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