My colony of one

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Gobbler T
Posts: 1518
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:13 am
Location: Mississippi / Columbus

I'm kinda stuck in a rut round here. This is the third year in a row that all I can attract is one lonely SY male. I keep thinking every year, that next year he will be ASY and will have no trouble finding a mate, and thats probably true, but he's doing it somewhere else. What does it take to attract a female? Pink curtains? Lacy table cloths? WHAT? :???:
And why just one SY male? Never 2 or 3! I find myself thrilled to see the one bird every morning, and I guess I could be satisfied with a colony of one. At least I have the one! :lol: But I often think to myself, if it takes this long to attract a second bird, how long WOULD it take to get to full capacity filling 24 cavity's. I've heard it said many time here that martins attract other martins, but what happens if there are no other martins to attract? Which seems to be the case around here, or my SY could attract a mate.

This hobby is so fulfilling and frustrating! :roll:
Tony


2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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Aaron H
Posts: 88
Joined: Tue May 03, 2011 3:29 pm
Location: Alabama/Florence

Hello Gobbler T....Haven't you heard that it takes money
to get and keep females :lol: :lol:
Maybe you need to hang some Green backs in the martin
house then you would have to beat the females off with a
stick :)
I sure hope you get your start this year with martins
I will be pulling for you. :)
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...
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Gobbler T
Posts: 1518
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:13 am
Location: Mississippi / Columbus

Aaron :lol:
If money's what it takes, I might as well hang it up now! :lol:

I think I'm past my start this year. If not I'm getting real close. I know strange things happen, but if I can't get any during the main influx, I'm not putting much hope in the last straggler! :lol:
Tony


2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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lcline85
Posts: 192
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:22 pm
Location: Stuarts Draft, VA

Since I know you mentioned there are not many martin colonies in your area. You might get in touch with county wide rehabbers in the area. If anyone needs a purple martin released. Tell them you can do it at your site. I was thinking about doing the same? Worth a shot right?
2nd Year trying to attract martins! Wish me luck!
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Chriscreole
Posts: 781
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:31 am
Location: Texas, Hutto

Hey there GT, I envy you because at least you wont go crazy counting them all the time over and over and over.........
Image
PMCA Member since 2010
Super System 24, All Troyer W/Conley 2 entrances.
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april57
Posts: 232
Joined: Fri May 29, 2009 1:58 pm
Location: Wizard Lake Alberta

Chriscreole wrote:Hey there GT, I envy you because at least you wont go crazy counting them all the time over and over and over.........
The Dawn song really helps even in the rain. I played that for 2 seasons and finally got my pairs. I was very diligent and would watched and watched.

That kind of housing do you have and where is it located?
2007 none
2008 few landed
2009 - 2 pair - 9 eggs- 9 fledged
2010 - 1ASY pair and 4SY pair total 10 bird
2011 first ASY pair May 06
2012 first pair arrived May 01, May 21 total 10 pairs 49 babies
2013 May 04 martins 2 pair May 19 total 12 pair
2014 May 08 2 pair May 12 almost full 10 pair
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Gobbler T
Posts: 1518
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:13 am
Location: Mississippi / Columbus

lcline85
I've never thought about that. But I don't know of any rehabbers in my area. I would imagine if there is one it would be at MS state university witch is in the next town about 40 miles away.

Chriscreole, I'm still counting anyway! :lol:

april57,
I have a 6 room alum. house converted from a 12 room house With 2 natural gourds under it, and a 16 gourd, gourd rack with 14 BO11's and 2 natureline's. I have 3 different CD's that I play.
Tony


2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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Chuck4
Posts: 861
Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:05 am
Location: North MS
Martin Colony History: I started trying to attract Purple Martins in 2011. I got my first breeding pair in 2013.

2013-1 pair, 2014-4 pair, 2015-8 pair, 2016-12 pair 60 babies :-).

I have been following your situation, and it reminded me of mine. I had an ASY male (Buddy) that was attatched to my site-he visited frequently every day and stayed over-night and was attracting females, but he mysteriously vanished, and I think he was taken by a hawk. I believe something happened to him, because he was staying and visiting everyday, but suddenly this stopped two weeks ago. I was very disappointed by this.

However, now I have one subbie male that visits every day and stays all day. He has been coming for two weeks really since Buddy stopped. I've named him Albert. But I too have a colony of one :) I do think my time is running out for starting a colony this year, but I'm hoping Albert will return next year as an ASY male.
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Gobbler T
Posts: 1518
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:13 am
Location: Mississippi / Columbus

I'm hoping Albert will return next year as an ASY male
I hope he returns for you too Chuck. Not to discourage you but as I stated earlier, I've been counting on that for 3 years now. :lol: They have all returned ASY, but the first female that comes along is the end of that! For some reason they (females) refuse to stay here.

But I'm hanging on like a MS tick!
Tony


2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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Chuck4
Posts: 861
Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:05 am
Location: North MS
Martin Colony History: I started trying to attract Purple Martins in 2011. I got my first breeding pair in 2013.

2013-1 pair, 2014-4 pair, 2015-8 pair, 2016-12 pair 60 babies :-).

Gobbler T wrote:
I'm hoping Albert will return next year as an ASY male
I hope he returns for you too Chuck. Not to discourage you but as I stated earlier, I've been counting on that for 3 years now. :lol: They have all returned ASY, but the first female that comes along is the end of that! For some reason they (females) refuse to stay here.

But I'm hanging on like a MS tick!
I've also noticed that it seems the total number of martins is less than last year (considerably) in my area, and numerous new houses have popped up, so this is complicating things for me. :-(
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Gobbler T
Posts: 1518
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:13 am
Location: Mississippi / Columbus

Well, I can't complain about that. I actually convinced a man that lives half way between myself and the nearest colony to me, to relocate his martin house in hopes of getting some. I'm helping the competition! :shock:
Tony


2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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art
Posts: 94
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 3:12 pm
Location: Kansas/Holcomb

Tony,
THis my third year of attempting a colony (western Kansas) after building a T-14, hanging a gourd rack (6 gourds), and a cheap plastic 12 apt house that I have modified into a 6 larger apts house. Last year for the first time I had one lone SY male. He returned this year (ASY) and now has a mate which has taken a spot in the plastic house (to my dismay). She has finished a nest. What type of house do you have? Do you play a recording (dawn song) or use decoys? I've had to do all of these things plus offer various housing options to get this pair. I hope it will be a successful beginning.
Is your house in a good location (immediate surrounding area)for martins? Good luck to you.
arthur nonhof
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3788
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

I know several have mentioned the dawn song. I am guessing Gobble is not playing it and probably a good thing at this point. It is a great tool but the SY male will do as good a job or better of find martins and at least showing them the site. It is then up to them if they stay or not. Once you have a martin(s) staying at your site the dawn song is not necessary, and could confuse the martins you have there.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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DornCounty
Posts: 2169
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
Location: Rural SE Kansas
Martin Colony History: .
.
Trio-Jedi

gobbler did you build prenests?
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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Bulldog1
Posts: 700
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:33 am
Location: Mississippi/Hamilton

Gobbler,

I am still getting subbies visiting, so I would not give up.
PMCA member
2015 - 18 Gourds offered - 12 active nests, 62 eggs, 51 fledged
2014 - 18 gourds offered - 12 active nests, 52 eggs, 48 fledged
2013 - 12 gourds offered - 9 pairs, 56 eggs, 52 hatched, 49 fledged
2012 - 12 gourds offered -4 pairs, 20 eggs, 19 fledged
2011 - 6 gourds offered -1 pair, 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 fledged !!!!
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Gobbler T
Posts: 1518
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:13 am
Location: Mississippi / Columbus

Art
I have an alum. 12 apt house that I have modified into a 6 larger apts house also. I have 2 natural gourds under it and a 16 gourd gourd rack with 14 BO11's and 2 natureline's. I do have decoys on a separate pole. As for open space, Doug martin said I had cut down every bush in a 30 mile radius! :lol: Not really but yes it's pretty open around my set up. I only have 4 very small dogwood trees on my property. A lot more open than a LOT of landlords places I've seen. To echo flyin, I am no longer playing the Dawnsong. I do play a daytime chatter CD on occasion. This bird is not staying the night at my place, but is here so much during the day, I don't see how he ever gets enough to eat.
To answer Dorn, I do have prenest in all of the gourds but 2, and all of the house compartments but 2.
Bulldog, I'm glad to hear that. My mentor also said he still has some showing up too, so I know it ain't over yet, but it's got to be getting close for us.
Tony


2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

Welcome to the forum, Holcomb KS! Hello, Art. This year is taking off for me. I haven't seen a Sub-Adult male yet. I keep staring at this one light colored female trying to determine if she is a Subbie. I looked back at my scout report from last year. I didn't have a SY until May 28th. However, the Adults came back about two weeks early this year so maybe any time now. Good luck to you!

Tony, I admire your persistence and I believe you have tried every single thing. Maybe someone can lower their rack and trap a family after dark. Drive them to you and hang them up on your rack. I suppose that would freak them out a bit. But if they have babies...maybe they just start feeding them and check out their new surroundings while doing so. Or they abandon and that would be no good, huh.

Chris, I do the same thing. I cannot stop counting. Then throw in the barnies and chimney swifts soaring too and it can throw me off for a sec.

Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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