Last year was my first year with birds. Two nests that both fledged 4 birds.
Didn't really expect it, but I'm like a kid trying to be patient on Christmas eve!
The scout reports show birds 40 miles or so south of me, and I keep wondering and worrying about how many of "my birds" will find their way back and if I'll attract any new ones.
I've been premptively at war with HOSP and Starlings for a few weeks already.
Are you guys sure this isn't some kind of mental illness?
I can't say whether it is or isn't, but I do remember that second year being more difficult than the first year. To think, you only have 1 or 2 pair and out of tens of thousands that migrate, you know that 1000's don't survive, and yet those 1 or 2 pair make it all the way back to our backyard. It's truly amazing.
Folks who get 6 pair their first try don't know what it's like having 1 or 2. They're better off not knowing. Just remembering that time makes me want to take an asprin and lay down.
PMCA Member, Single Gourd Rack, 2019 marks 12 years hosting martins.
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.
Hi John and Gene. My opinion is that everybody else has some kind of mental illness -- we're the "normal" ones!!
I just wanted to forewarn you about the timeline. I don't know when your birds moved in last year. If you remember, then you will have a better idea of when to look for them to return this year. Your first post was on June 1 last year. You reported eggs on June 2. Because of this information, I'm thinking your returning birds may not show up in your area until late April or early May. I'd hate to be the one sitting there watching and waiting all those weeks. So, think about it... when do you expect them back???
If you're having a serious HOSP problem - you might want to close up all the entrances until closer to the time for Purple Martin arrival. Some people use styrofoam coffee cups - some use those swimming pool noodles. Sure beats having to fight with a bunch of House Sparrows.
You said, "Last year was my first year with birds." Does this mean that you had tried in previous years? Or was last year your first year trying as well?
Just curious. I am up in Fishers, IN, and this is my first year trying. Hoping for 1 or 2 myself!
You might want to add a little more housing or at least be ready. Your profile reads 4 TH's. 2 pair last year is 50 percent. If you get 3 more pair than last year you're going to lose out.
PMCA Member, Single Gourd Rack, 2019 marks 12 years hosting martins.
You said, "Last year was my first year with birds." Does this mean that you had tried in previous years? Or was last year your first year trying as well?
Just curious. I am up in Fishers, IN, and this is my first year trying. Hoping for 1 or 2 myself!
I put up the rack last year and got birds my first try.
GeneP wrote:You might want to add a little more housing or at least be ready. Your profile reads 4 TH's. 2 pair last year is 50 percent. If you get 3 more pair than last year you're going to lose out.
I added 4 more gourds this year. Being an optimist.
I added a house the second year I had Martins. It turns out I didn't need it, but....... If you know when yours arrived last year, you can look at someone around you that consistently posts arrivals that happen before yours. Then compare you arrival time to theirs (difference in days), watch for theirs to arrive in 2012. Yours will arrive very close to the same difference in days. It is looking like mine will arrive 10-14 days earlier than they ever have before this year. We'll see. Good luck
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.
Hey I put up housing and got them first try too. Not!
They will be along a few weeks after the old timers get in. Unless you attracted some old times to your site initially.
As for your illness... now that could be a problem. If the background behind the text your reading appears "purple". You very well could have a severe case of "Martin Fever". Don't worry though I have had it 30 years and I can still function fine.
Good luck 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.
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.
John, Congratulations on your birds return! Last year I had 2 pair nest after 10 years of trying, and a year with no return, after a successful fledge.
My founding pair returned on March31, what a happy day that was! I have since had another ASY pair hanging out, possibly my 2nd pair from last year, but they are not taking to their original gourd, if it is them?
Good luck expanding your colony this year!!!
I lived in odon for 9 years, there is a large amish community there and most of them have martin's. You could put up as many house's or gourds as you wanted and they would fill up quick. I live over in sandborn now, when I took my houses down and moved them, I think the martins followed. My first spring in sandborn, I had 23 pairs, last year I had 77 pairs and this spring I have more martins then I can count and still havent seen an SY bird. I have 108 cavities for them and I think they are going to fill up before the subbies arrive.
26 eggs so far in 5 nests! Two nests of 5 eggs last year.
I've noticed the birds this year spend much more time around my property than they did last year, and that there are visiting birds dropping by. 18 or more birds were flying around over the pasture near the rack the other night. Surely there is a colony nearby that I'm not aware of, since all of my birds appear to be adults.
Seems like a benefit of my HOSP trapping is a generally greater variety of birds around the house. Finches, cardinals, bluebirds and robins are routine. Saw a grosbeak on a feeder the other day, which I have never seen before.
Starting to build a starling trap, if for no other reason than the pleasure of eliminating them!
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.
31 eggs in 6 nests yesterday afternoon, with three hatched.
HOSP are fledging, and I caught 14 at once in my Uncle Blaine's trap yesterday, then caught 3 more after I cleaned it out! 24 HOSP in the last two days!
Not!
