Greetings my friends,
I had such a wonderful summer with all the purple martins that have taken up residence here. I had 3 adult pairs nest and all have finally raised their young. In all they raised 15 young. I now have a young SY pair that laid 3 eggs very late in the season, they hatched early this week and she is busy feeding them. Sadly, I do not see the male around helping her much. I am so thankful for this late batch, as the season seamed to fly by and I would be without birds if it were not for this very sweet young female.
I still have about 20 birds that come every so often throughout the day and most do still spend the night. But I can tell they stay away longer and longer and soon they will start their migration south. I can hardly believe the that soon they will be gone.
I had a lot of young birds around all summer that never did find a mate. I'm hoping they come back and are successful next year. It seems that I have FINALLY started my colony and hope I will not be biting my nails next spring worrying whether I will see martins or not.
I hope all you have had a wonderful year with martins too.
What a wonderful summer!
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DakotaLady
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
- Location: Bismarck, ND
~Tangula~
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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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
great report
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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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.
Hey Tangula!! Great news!! I am so happy for you and your fledgling colony. Please keep us posted on the progress of this late nest. I am certain the young mother will successfully fledge her babies. Let us know...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
Congrats, i had 2 pair that had 5 eggs each and each pair fledged 5 babies. I had alot of subbies also. I have two houses in my front yard and am putting in a house in my backyard. All my martin buddies in Worthington Mn had a great year also. We missed the heat wave as all 10 fledged before it hit. I think we must have a roost around this area but nobody has found it yet. I miss my martins and am looking forward to next year.
Paul
Paul
pauly D
2011-2 pair
2012-2 pair
2013-6 pair
2014-13 pair
2011-2 pair
2012-2 pair
2013-6 pair
2014-13 pair
Tangla, glad you had a good summer, it sounds like your set up good for next spring.
I had a terrific summer too for a lot of reasons also. I'm not sure my finger nails will be grown in by the time spring comes though.
Ed
I had a terrific summer too for a lot of reasons also. I'm not sure my finger nails will be grown in by the time spring comes though.
Ed
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DakotaLady
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
- Location: Bismarck, ND
Thank you all for you wonderful replies.
Ed, Were you a bit nervous getting all your youngsters hatched, fed and fledged? LOL. I know, I had a few of those moments myself. In addition, I suspect the nails will continue being worried away waiting for their return...eh? Good luck, I'm glad you also had a great summer.
Paul, I bet those subbies will come back for you next year and create an even larger colony for you. I have a house and the martins will not nest in it. They all nested in gourds. So, I will be adding more gourds again next spring. Do you have any gourds?
Laverne, I've been reading all the wonderful advice you have been giving everyone and really appreciate reading all the information you have been providing. I will keep you posted on how this last nest turns out. So far, she is really doing a great job with her young. I had a group of about 300 starlings that must be migrating south hanging out here every morning. I've been trapping them like crazy. But one morning the poor mother was fighting off a couple of these beasts. Now I make a habit of leaving my desk and chasing them off so she does not have to worry.
DornCounty, thank you. It sure was a wonderful surprise to have FINALLY REALLY started my colony. They really love these gourds.
Collmer, You are right, I already miss the constant chatter and aerial acrobatics of these lovely birds. I am really hoping that I will have many more next year. In fact, I am going to repair a house of mine that is falling apart and will try to build myself another gourd rack on it in place of the house. I purchased all the materials and am waiting for the last of the martins leave before I begin working on this project. Not really sure I know what I'm doing but have a design in my mind. We shall see how it works out. I will post photos of my project once I've completed it.
Thank you again for all your supporting comments.
Have a great week everyone.
Ed, Were you a bit nervous getting all your youngsters hatched, fed and fledged? LOL. I know, I had a few of those moments myself. In addition, I suspect the nails will continue being worried away waiting for their return...eh? Good luck, I'm glad you also had a great summer.
Paul, I bet those subbies will come back for you next year and create an even larger colony for you. I have a house and the martins will not nest in it. They all nested in gourds. So, I will be adding more gourds again next spring. Do you have any gourds?
Laverne, I've been reading all the wonderful advice you have been giving everyone and really appreciate reading all the information you have been providing. I will keep you posted on how this last nest turns out. So far, she is really doing a great job with her young. I had a group of about 300 starlings that must be migrating south hanging out here every morning. I've been trapping them like crazy. But one morning the poor mother was fighting off a couple of these beasts. Now I make a habit of leaving my desk and chasing them off so she does not have to worry.
DornCounty, thank you. It sure was a wonderful surprise to have FINALLY REALLY started my colony. They really love these gourds.
Collmer, You are right, I already miss the constant chatter and aerial acrobatics of these lovely birds. I am really hoping that I will have many more next year. In fact, I am going to repair a house of mine that is falling apart and will try to build myself another gourd rack on it in place of the house. I purchased all the materials and am waiting for the last of the martins leave before I begin working on this project. Not really sure I know what I'm doing but have a design in my mind. We shall see how it works out. I will post photos of my project once I've completed it.
Thank you again for all your supporting comments.
Have a great week everyone.
~Tangula~
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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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..
Congrats Tangula! Sounds like your site is growing. Good luck next season.
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!!!!!
"Sadly, I do not see the male around helping her much"??? Something probably happen to him. At my colony Males usually alternate when the babies are first born. One stays in the nest while the other is bringing in food then the other takes off while the other stays in the nest. This goes on for 5 ot 6 days till they both need to bring in the insects to feed all the hungry mouths.