First Arrival
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Don~VA
- Posts: 391
- Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:01 am
- Location: Virginia/King George
- Martin Colony History: Had a colony many years ago which dwindled over a couple of years and then did not return. Kept trying each year for almost 20 years and finally had a small success in 2011 with two pairs nesting. Colony has grown slowly each year with 22 pairs in 2015. In 2016 my gourd rack of 18 gourds filled up so I added 4 more gourds and then put up a small rack of 6 gourds. All of those were claimed within a few days so I believe I have at least 25 pairs this year.
Happy Day ! My first Purple Martin came back yesterday. He is an ASY male and I believe he is the same male from last year who never attracted a mate. He seemed glad to see me and I sure was glad to see him !!
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Don~Northern Neck of Virginia-PMCA Member
Congrats Don,... It will not take him long to find a mate this
year. I had a ASY male to show up Sat the 24th he had a female
with him last night when he came in for the night, Your male will
find a female before you know it.
Good luck to you with your martins this season.
This is my third season to have martins. But i can't seem to get
past only having one pair a year. I sure hope I get a few more
pairs this year so my colony will grow.
year. I had a ASY male to show up Sat the 24th he had a female
with him last night when he came in for the night, Your male will
find a female before you know it.
Good luck to you with your martins this season.
This is my third season to have martins. But i can't seem to get
past only having one pair a year. I sure hope I get a few more
pairs this year so my colony will grow.
1990 -2009 trying
2010 1 pair 2young fledged.
2011 1 pair, & 1 SY male...6 young hatched 5 fledged.
2012 1 pair...4 young fledged.
2013... Back to starting over...
2010 1 pair 2young fledged.
2011 1 pair, & 1 SY male...6 young hatched 5 fledged.
2012 1 pair...4 young fledged.
2013... Back to starting over...
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DornCounty
- Posts: 2169
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
- Location: Rural SE Kansas
- Martin Colony History: .
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Trio-Jedi
Nice!!
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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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.
Great news Don.
Sounds like you will get a real colony back again this year.
Doug
Sounds like you will get a real colony back again this year.
Doug
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.
Congratulations, Don!! I thought mine were back last week. I had one for 2 days, but he disappeared.
Folks further up the road have PMs, but none here yet! Not even seeing them flying through?
Hope the deluge in the midwest brings more my way.
This is my third year. I couldn't bear not getting any Martins.
Folks further up the road have PMs, but none here yet! Not even seeing them flying through?
Hope the deluge in the midwest brings more my way.
This is my third year. I couldn't bear not getting any Martins.
2010- 1 pair, 5 eggs, 3 fledged (First Year)
2011- 8 pair, 5 nesting pair, 22 eggs, 11 fledges
Lost one female and her 4 eggs, 5 eggs
destroyed by HS!
2012- 12 pair (10 nesting pair), 48 Fledglings!
2013 - 17 pair - 80 Fledglings!!
2011- 8 pair, 5 nesting pair, 22 eggs, 11 fledges
Lost one female and her 4 eggs, 5 eggs
destroyed by HS!
2012- 12 pair (10 nesting pair), 48 Fledglings!
2013 - 17 pair - 80 Fledglings!!
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Guest
Oh he's beautiful Don! Mine should be here in another week. There's still some of us out here waiting for our PM to get home. I'm sure they're just taking the scenic route.katkola wrote:Congratulations, Don!! I thought mine were back last week. I had one for 2 days, but he disappeared.
Folks further up the road have PMs, but none here yet! Not even seeing them flying through?
Hope the deluge in the midwest brings more my way.
This is my third year. I couldn't bear not getting any Martins.
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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.
My friend from Chesapeak Va was visiting two weeks ago and saw my PM gourd rack and said "wow! great PM housing!" I looked at him and said "you know what that is?!"
We had no idea we were both landlords. He had not put his housing up yet. When he saw my pair flying around he said he didn't realize they were down here so early.
He put his housing up last week and now has his martins back. He's been a landlord for 8 years and has 8 gourds. His are full every year.
Funny what you don't know about your friends sometimes. We have been friends since the mid nineties while stationed together in Norfolk. I moved away in 02 and he put his rack up sometimes afterwards. We remain close friends today, but we've never discussed martins before. Now it's probably the first topic we discuss.
We had no idea we were both landlords. He had not put his housing up yet. When he saw my pair flying around he said he didn't realize they were down here so early.
He put his housing up last week and now has his martins back. He's been a landlord for 8 years and has 8 gourds. His are full every year.
Funny what you don't know about your friends sometimes. We have been friends since the mid nineties while stationed together in Norfolk. I moved away in 02 and he put his rack up sometimes afterwards. We remain close friends today, but we've never discussed martins before. Now it's probably the first topic we discuss.
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Don~VA
- Posts: 391
- Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:01 am
- Location: Virginia/King George
- Martin Colony History: Had a colony many years ago which dwindled over a couple of years and then did not return. Kept trying each year for almost 20 years and finally had a small success in 2011 with two pairs nesting. Colony has grown slowly each year with 22 pairs in 2015. In 2016 my gourd rack of 18 gourds filled up so I added 4 more gourds and then put up a small rack of 6 gourds. All of those were claimed within a few days so I believe I have at least 25 pairs this year.
Thanks for the comments all. That male martin has returned two mornings now since his arrival. I was hoping he would find a friend real soon but I guess he is still looking.
Thats a nice story David and actually "our friend Joe" and I served together and I don't think either of us ever knew the other was a Purple Martin enthusiast. I keep a close eye on the reports from the Norfolk, VA Beach, Richmond areas so I hope your friend is posting his colony events. : )
Thats a nice story David and actually "our friend Joe" and I served together and I don't think either of us ever knew the other was a Purple Martin enthusiast. I keep a close eye on the reports from the Norfolk, VA Beach, Richmond areas so I hope your friend is posting his colony events. : )
Don~Northern Neck of Virginia-PMCA Member
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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.
He's a beauty against that clear blue sky.
Hope you have a crowd this year Don!
Carl
Hope you have a crowd this year Don!
Carl
Congrats Don on getting your birds back. After your success in 2011, I know you are looking forward to a great 2012. Lets keep the trend going.
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
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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MingjoMartins
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 3:28 pm
- Location: Pataskala, OH
Congrats Don - My colony was started by a single bird who returned his second year and eventually brought home 7 friends (3 pairs and 2 extra guys for guys night out!)
John M
John M
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
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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Don~VA
- Posts: 391
- Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:01 am
- Location: Virginia/King George
- Martin Colony History: Had a colony many years ago which dwindled over a couple of years and then did not return. Kept trying each year for almost 20 years and finally had a small success in 2011 with two pairs nesting. Colony has grown slowly each year with 22 pairs in 2015. In 2016 my gourd rack of 18 gourds filled up so I added 4 more gourds and then put up a small rack of 6 gourds. All of those were claimed within a few days so I believe I have at least 25 pairs this year.
Thanks again for the replies. My ASY male is here again this morning which is the fourth day so he must be interested. Fingers crossed !
John M - I'm happy to know your colony was started with one returning male martin. I'm hoping my male will find some friends this year too
John M - I'm happy to know your colony was started with one returning male martin. I'm hoping my male will find some friends this year too
Don~Northern Neck of Virginia-PMCA Member