Had a large colony
In 2008 i started hosting martins and great success with 22 pair that first year. They grew in numbers from there(2009,2010). Then i had a knee replacment and had some compilations (pulmonary embolism) and other things. I was unable to put up my housing in 2011 so i stayed out until this year. I am having a hard time getting them to stay. They will come by a visit a few days and be gone. I have been playing the dawn song, But think i am going to stop. I am the process of moving my housing to see if that helps.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
The martins that come back usually go where they were successful last year. You need to wait until some martins are looking for a new home. The visitors that come to visit probably spent last year at some other place.
You have plenty of time, you will need to restablish your colony, so that may take a while, but later this season, you will probaby get some.
If you move your housing, please put it in the most wide open place that you have, that is the best thing that you can do. Next best, keep out the starlings and sparrows.
good luck
You have plenty of time, you will need to restablish your colony, so that may take a while, but later this season, you will probaby get some.
If you move your housing, please put it in the most wide open place that you have, that is the best thing that you can do. Next best, keep out the starlings and sparrows.
good luck
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
Ted since we are close, let me share a story from this morning. I checked my deluxe gourd rack before leaving for Tupelo and there was a large hawk perched on top checking out the gourds. Since my rack is only 8 feet from my raised deck, I never thought this would be a problem. I opened the deck door, chased him off, and before he got 100 yards away some martins were dive bombing him.
Hope you made it through the hail storm we had today. I was returning from NMMC today and thought the windshield was going to break. Saw 18 wheeler blown over just south of Tupelo. Also heard of one blown off overpass close to Barnes Crossing.
Hope you made it through the hail storm we had today. I was returning from NMMC today and thought the windshield was going to break. Saw 18 wheeler blown over just south of Tupelo. Also heard of one blown off overpass close to Barnes Crossing.
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 !!!!
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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Dennis - AL
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:16 am
- Location: Atmore, AL
Ted, I had a similar story.
1981 my father-in-law built me a 16 cavity umbrella rack loaded with natural gourds. My first year I had bird, but don't remember how many. Too young and had two sons playing little league ball and coupled with work, all I did was keep the gourds cleaned and replaced.
2004 Hurricane Ivan hit Atmore, AL and I lost my 16 cavity rack and sustained quite a bit of damage to our home. We were out of it (for repairs) for about 9 months. I neglected to put my 16 cavity rack up for 2 seasons with all the other stuff that was going on. After we got back in our home and things settled down, I put my 16 cavity rack back up but in a different location. For the next three years I had visitors each spring, a lot of looking but no nesting.
In 2010 I moved the 16 cavity rack back to where it was originally installed and had 3 pair.
2011 I had eleven pair.
2012 I added a AAA 16 cavity + my original 16 cavity umbrella rack. That year I had 22 nesting pair.
Tonight I had 24 birds come in to roost. Once the 32 cavities are close to full I had an S&K house reduced to 6 cavities with 4 natural gourds hanging on modified rods.
Peace and patience as you wait for them to find the perfect spot at the perfect time.
It is funny, when I was young and didn't care much (I took them for granted) about the purple martin they came and stayed. When I tried to get them back I realized that housing in the right spot with a good open area for take off and incoming is a good combination for attracting the purple martin.
Dennis
1981 my father-in-law built me a 16 cavity umbrella rack loaded with natural gourds. My first year I had bird, but don't remember how many. Too young and had two sons playing little league ball and coupled with work, all I did was keep the gourds cleaned and replaced.
2004 Hurricane Ivan hit Atmore, AL and I lost my 16 cavity rack and sustained quite a bit of damage to our home. We were out of it (for repairs) for about 9 months. I neglected to put my 16 cavity rack up for 2 seasons with all the other stuff that was going on. After we got back in our home and things settled down, I put my 16 cavity rack back up but in a different location. For the next three years I had visitors each spring, a lot of looking but no nesting.
In 2010 I moved the 16 cavity rack back to where it was originally installed and had 3 pair.
2011 I had eleven pair.
2012 I added a AAA 16 cavity + my original 16 cavity umbrella rack. That year I had 22 nesting pair.
Tonight I had 24 birds come in to roost. Once the 32 cavities are close to full I had an S&K house reduced to 6 cavities with 4 natural gourds hanging on modified rods.
Peace and patience as you wait for them to find the perfect spot at the perfect time.
It is funny, when I was young and didn't care much (I took them for granted) about the purple martin they came and stayed. When I tried to get them back I realized that housing in the right spot with a good open area for take off and incoming is a good combination for attracting the purple martin.
Dennis
Persistence is not necessarily the key to success, but can be likened to the proverbial sand that brings forth a precious pearl.
PMCA Member
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PMCA Member
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When we built our new house about eight years ago it was in middle of cut over. I sold the timber to build the house. Any way i took a bulldozer and pushed back about four acres. The housing that i put up was close to the edge of the cutover about twenty yards witch is now a thicket. It is now about fifty feet from my house. I think they might be afraid of the thicket. Keeping my fingers crossed. 
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Thurman Seber~TN
- Posts: 416
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Alexandria , Tennessee
Ted I am thinking you will still may a good number come in this year. There are sure to be some from past years going by the "old home place to look. I wouldn't do very much changing yet.. If martins liked your location before.. martins will still like it this year.. your location is proven..
Thurman Seber, Alexandria, Tennessee
