Mo Martins!!!

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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..

Southerly Kansas winds brought me another purple wave this morning! Colony is really starting to take shape. Nice to go out in the evening and listen to all that chatter..two sparrows tried to join in on the chatter but they were eliminated because they were singing the wrong song 8)
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!!!!!
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

I watched my 11 birds last night and was dreaming of more. I'm a little greedy I guess. As much noise and activity they give me I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have double that. And so on. I have gone from offering 12 units (in two houses) to 32 this year. Plenty of room for subbies should they come.

At their bedtime I watched a female keep another female from landing on her man's porch too. After the one took off for good...the protective female went in around the corner with another male! (This is where my husband exclaimed "person" in the story.) However she came back out and joined the first male afterall. Little antics like that are fun to watch.

This should be your year of exceeding that 100 pairs mark! Here's hoping for you!

Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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kcscriv
Posts: 67
Joined: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:52 am
Location: peculiar mo.

14 martins here at peculiar,it is fun watching them,ill bet more on the way. Whats with the mo martns? good luck!!
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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

good news tony.. hope to get some more soon myself. Had a female stop by yesterday, but don't think she stayed. I would have been up to 5.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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MamaBruff
Posts: 1466
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
Location: SW Missouri
Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.

"Mo" as in "More". So far I am only getting "Mo" HOSPS. Shrill cheeping getting on my nerves. (If only they would enter my nestbox traps.) Had a couple of PM visitors to keep me optimistic, but no "Mo". Impatiently waiting... :roll:
Mary
~Mary B~

Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
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.

Good to hear they are on the move Tony!

Don't you just love these birds! They are incredible.

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.
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Jeff Robinson
Posts: 908
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 3:32 pm
Location: Rogersville, Missouri
Martin Colony History: 2008 - Current
72 Cavities - 70 Pairs in 2021
PM Mentor

Yeah Tony, going ganbusters over here too. New arrivals came in both yesterday and this morning between 6:45am - 7am. There's no doubt when they arrive as the males literally ROCKET off the racks and raise a RUCKUS to welcome and entice the new arrivals! :)

Mary,
Remain optomistic, there's lot's "Mo" coming. The subbie wave has yet to arrive in MO, and as you may already know, that's a new colony's best shot at startup. If you haven't already checked, below is the link to last year's Subadult Male Reports for Missouri. Just around the corner!

http://www.purplemartin.org/scoutreport ... =2012&S=MO

Jeff
PMCA Member - Bedrock Colony
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MamaBruff
Posts: 1466
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
Location: SW Missouri
Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.

Thanks for the encouragement, Jeff! Waiting and watching and defending is getting wearisome! The HOSP pair wouldn't enter the Trendsetter after I placed the NB trap although I'd tried to hide the shiny metal trip wire with their nesting material, but they saw it (Any Suggestions?).... and moved to a nearby unoccupied BB house.... my handy little Gilbertson trap quickly won the battle. This Missouri Mule is stubborn!
Mary
~Mary B~

Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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Jeff Robinson
Posts: 908
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 3:32 pm
Location: Rogersville, Missouri
Martin Colony History: 2008 - Current
72 Cavities - 70 Pairs in 2021
PM Mentor

Mary,

Great news that the Gilbertson trap got em! :twisted: However, I have never used the NB trap. I have the luxury of Mr. .22 settling mine and the neighbor's S&S issues. I'll defer to other's who've had success with the NB Trap.

I wonder if anybody's ever seen a mule do the purple martin happy dance? :) Hope to hear your happy report soon!

Jeff
PMCA Member - Bedrock Colony
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Steve Kroenke
Posts: 4342
Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
Location: Louisiana/Logansport

Hey Tony,

Thanks for sharing that great news with us! It looks like you are on your way to becoming a super colony landlord!

Large numbers of martins continue to come to our colonies in the evenings to roost and I believe many of these martins are migrants. Now I just wonder if some of "your" martins are spending the night at our colonies!

I am seeing many SY martins in our colonies and already some males have claimed cavities and attracted mates.

Smaller numbers of ASY martins continue to arrive, too.

Good luck with your martins!

Steve
PMCA Member
300+ pairs of martins each season
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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..

Thanks all , what a great hobby this is!!
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!!!!!
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