Here is an attempt to post my colony again for you guys to look at. Hope you enjoy!!
Last I counted which was a few days ago I was up to 34 total. This year is just really getting started up here in washington and so far its been great.
My first subbie just arrived today and started havoc already (imagine that)
Here's the link to you tube if it works
http://youtu.be/iBjmfNzg-xI
Video of my colony for this year in Washington
Out on the west coast wishing for the best !!!!!
Mike Davis
2008: Visitors
2009: Visitors
2010: 3 Active pair, 13 birds total
2011: 10 Active pair, 24 birds total
2012: hoping for 20 pair but they have to get here first.
Mike Davis
2008: Visitors
2009: Visitors
2010: 3 Active pair, 13 birds total
2011: 10 Active pair, 24 birds total
2012: hoping for 20 pair but they have to get here first.
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tonyg
- Posts: 1520
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:16 pm
- Location: Olpe, KS
- Martin Colony History: 22 year landlord, 14 at current residence..offering 9 racks and a homemade T-8 for 166 total cavities. 160 Pair in 2018 Racks consist of a Deluxe 12, AAA 16, Starburst 16, 2 K-18 Series, Super 24, 2 Gemini, Multi-purpose/two trio’s/4gourds and a T-8..Great hobby to be involved in..
Nice looking site. Do they actually nest in the bird houses that are mounted on the racks? Never seen anything like that. Seems it would attract other species.
22 year landlord..9 Rack Systems for 2018 and my home built T-8 for a total of 166 cavities..160 pair in 2018 ..SUPER COLONY!!! Love You Bev... Fan of those St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!
Tony,
If you are you referring to to they grey houses those are chalets and yes they use them. It's actually what started my colony. Can't say if they like those over the gourds but they are used. For other species I just fight starlings and sparrows for the first part of the year. I'm pretty much done with them now.
If you are you referring to to they grey houses those are chalets and yes they use them. It's actually what started my colony. Can't say if they like those over the gourds but they are used. For other species I just fight starlings and sparrows for the first part of the year. I'm pretty much done with them now.
Out on the west coast wishing for the best !!!!!
Mike Davis
2008: Visitors
2009: Visitors
2010: 3 Active pair, 13 birds total
2011: 10 Active pair, 24 birds total
2012: hoping for 20 pair but they have to get here first.
Mike Davis
2008: Visitors
2009: Visitors
2010: 3 Active pair, 13 birds total
2011: 10 Active pair, 24 birds total
2012: hoping for 20 pair but they have to get here first.
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Bernie Nikolai
- Posts: 402
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:44 pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
I see from Google Map you are roughly half way between Portland, Oregon and Seattle/Tacoma Washington. The birds sound all the world to me as if they are an "eastern colony", and your site appears as if it could be many places east of the Rockies. Congratulations on your very significant achievement of starting an excellent colony in your location!
While I know some folks are against "eastern style colonies" in the west coast area and would prefer martins to nest naturally in trees, lava tubes, etc., I personally think this is only a "romantic notion not in touch with the realities of starlings". With enough dedicated and knowledgeable landlords such as yourself, its only a matter of time until the population of west coast martins soars very considerably. Awesome work!
And Tony, the chalets that started this colony are HUGELY effective in the east as well. I'd say wooden chalets hung on a gourd rack similar to those in the video are the #1 martin attractor in the north if you are trying to start a new colony. I have a friend in Alabama who uses wooden chalets on a gourd rack, and they are chosen first before even natural gourds. They are getting more and more common due to their effectiveness, and some are now available commercially if you don't want to make your own.
While I know some folks are against "eastern style colonies" in the west coast area and would prefer martins to nest naturally in trees, lava tubes, etc., I personally think this is only a "romantic notion not in touch with the realities of starlings". With enough dedicated and knowledgeable landlords such as yourself, its only a matter of time until the population of west coast martins soars very considerably. Awesome work!
And Tony, the chalets that started this colony are HUGELY effective in the east as well. I'd say wooden chalets hung on a gourd rack similar to those in the video are the #1 martin attractor in the north if you are trying to start a new colony. I have a friend in Alabama who uses wooden chalets on a gourd rack, and they are chosen first before even natural gourds. They are getting more and more common due to their effectiveness, and some are now available commercially if you don't want to make your own.
He who harbors the nesting bird shall have health and happiness all the year
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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.
That's a great video! I see a speaker aimed towards the gourd racks... is that used to play dawnsong? Seems you wouldn't need to use it with such a vibrant colony.
You've got a beautiful setup. Keep up the good work!
You've got a beautiful setup. Keep up the good work!
David,
Yea that's a speaker, I used it to get things started. I used it the first two years but not this year. I left it up because I had that thought I may need it. I ended up waiting it out and of course my worries were for nothing and the martins did fine without me. haha
Yea that's a speaker, I used it to get things started. I used it the first two years but not this year. I left it up because I had that thought I may need it. I ended up waiting it out and of course my worries were for nothing and the martins did fine without me. haha
Out on the west coast wishing for the best !!!!!
Mike Davis
2008: Visitors
2009: Visitors
2010: 3 Active pair, 13 birds total
2011: 10 Active pair, 24 birds total
2012: hoping for 20 pair but they have to get here first.
Mike Davis
2008: Visitors
2009: Visitors
2010: 3 Active pair, 13 birds total
2011: 10 Active pair, 24 birds total
2012: hoping for 20 pair but they have to get here first.
