Fingers Crossed (videos)

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Charles B
Posts: 258
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 9:44 am
Location: Alabama/Auburn

For several years I had a single pair that raised several broods. But they and their last brood were killed in 2011 by a rat snake that somehow got past my predator guard. Last year I only had a few transient visitors, and it looked like this year was headed in the same direction, with one or two adult males stopping by for brief visits. But this morning at about 8:00 I cruised past the rack by my pond, and was stunned to see about 10 to 15 adult males and females casually passing the time away. http://youtu.be/iKuzemMHvlg . I even had a chance for the first time ever to hear one of the males make his charming little clicking sound http://youtu.be/IS3Y_7D1DkY . Listen closely for the clicking at the very end of the clip.
I figured they were just passing by, but then about 9:00 I saw a pair enter one of the gourds http://youtu.be/BzBONPQGsZI . You can see them entering in the third panel, and then appearing inside in the fourth panel. Another male looked like he wanted in too.
The pair came and went several times during the day, and they are back in the gourd now about an hour after dusk. The rest of the group apparently left this afternoon. It is pretty cold here by my standards, but it's nothing compared to what some of you in the Midwest are going through this week. Here's hoping that mine decide to stay, and that those to the North make it through this cold snap.
Image

Charles
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CraigMo.
Posts: 1480
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 12:30 pm
Location: Missouri/Lone Jack
Martin Colony History: Active since 2003

Looks promising :) kind of weird a whole party shows up.
Good Luck
Craig
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GeneP
Posts: 525
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:35 am
Location: Kansas, Lawrence
Martin Colony History: 1 gourd rack with 24 gourd capacity. 2018, my 11th year hosting martins.
18 pair in 2017.

After what you went through in 2011, I'm so glad to see you get a pair back. Hopefully even more.
PMCA Member, Single Gourd Rack, 2019 marks 12 years hosting martins.
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Bill Pec
Posts: 545
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:21 am
Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Virginia
Martin Colony History: 2010- 2 pr. Fledged 6
2011- 20 pr. Fledged 75
2012- 35 pr. Fledged 143
2013- 37 pr. Fledged 153
2014- 40 pr. Fledged 198
2015- 40 pr. Fledged 183
2016- 42 pr. Fledged 189
2017- 42 pr. Fledged 168
2018- 43 pr. Fledged 172
2019- 43 pr. Fledged 193
2020 -44 pr. Fledged 181
2021 -43 pr. Fledged 184
2022 - 40 pr. Fledged 160
2023 - 39 pr. Fledged 151
2024 - 40 pr. Fledged 154

Charles,

Enjoyed your videos. I think it is time for me to start begging for a Gourd Cam as an early Father's Day gift. :)

Bill
THE MORE ONE LEARNS THE MORE ONE SEES! While the ignorant person sees only a blackbird the enlightened person sees a Purple Martin.

2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 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

sounds great... Good luck and hope they stay.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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James Strickland FL
Posts: 2249
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
Location: Reidsville NC
Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair

:grin: Looks promising! I hope they stay.
PMCA MEMBER
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