Trying to start over im MO

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starling shooter
Posts: 461
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:43 pm
Location: Central MO

Got a 12 unit gourd rack up...great open location next to a wetland. See probably 100 other swallows all the time - barn, roughwnged, cliff .

The weather has been so crappy, have had a hard time getting dawn song playing as don't want to ruin borrowed caller.

I thought it was a slam dunk with the location, now I'm starting to sweat it. Have not even seen a visitor.

In any event, cross you fingers for me.

Let my old colony. They were trained that in any rainy/windy weather, they would buzz me to tell me they wanted eggs. Hated leaving them behind. Hope to get a robust colony started. I went 6-7 years before I found this site, put up a few gourds and played the tape...and got my old colony established with 2 SY males adn a single SY female. Went from 1 pair, to 3 then a full gourd rack to finally a full gourd rack of ASY birds.
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JL Murray

Best of luck to you with getting your new colony started.
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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

Ditto on the luck starling shooter! Weather definitely has been crappy - today was the second day in a row of rain, cool temps and less than ideal conditions. Every time I steppd out this morning, several would flutter about 5 - 10 feet in front of me, so out the wife and I went with bowls of crickets. We flipped about 1,000 3/4" crickets this morning. Great relationship, the bonding and trust with my colony this year.

We have the entire month of May for the subbies, so best to you!

Jeff
PMCA Member - Bedrock Colony
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John Miller
Posts: 4863
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

ASY males sometimes show up and start colonies in May in Missouri.
They may be two year olds that do arrive in April, but did not nest their first year and are not settled in. Maybe they hang out initially at established sites, but failing to attract females then move out to other sites and likely attract SY females. All the best to you. John M
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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.

Wow, Jeff! 1,000 crickets! You are right about that bond. This year has had its trials already but it has contributed to my success of that bonding too. With that many birds I can see why you need two flippers! I feel like I cannot flip fast enough. Like a toddler that cries for more between spoonfuls. Today started cool but it is gorgeous! Maybe you will have this tomorrow.

Starling Shooter, good luck and hang in there. The word will get out that a wonderful landlord is waiting!
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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jmeyer
Posts: 68
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:29 pm
Location: Columbia, MO
Martin Colony History: First martins in 2008. Currently have housing for 36 pairs. Usually get about 28.

Starling Shooter,
Where are you located in Central Mo. I live in Columbia and while a lot of neighbors have housing up, to my knowledge, I am the only one in the immediate area that actually has purple martins. Not sure why. Although, with the hawk attacks going on this year, it may deter SY's from coming to my colony and maybe they will spread to some of the neighbors. Anyway, just curious as to where you are. Always looking for others in the area.
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Nealbopper
Posts: 67
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:56 am
Location: Michigan, Oakland

I wrapped mine in saran wrap. It worked just fine and kept the inclamate weather out while not effecting the sound one bit.
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starling shooter
Posts: 461
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:43 pm
Location: Central MO

Going to take a couple days off...with the weather, doubt any migration going on.

Have not even seen a visitor...thought I had a SLAM dunk location.

I think the weather may have taken some of the early arrivers and the SY birds are filling in existing colonies....

I also thought I had a slam dunk Tree Swallow location and have yet to see on of those.....
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starling shooter
Posts: 461
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:43 pm
Location: Central MO

Well...I know it is baby steps but had a pair of ASY birds check out my Trio an then went to the gourd rack. First visitors I'm aware of...

And got a blue bird nesting in a gourd. Baby steps...
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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.

It's a start as you say...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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starling shooter
Posts: 461
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:43 pm
Location: Central MO

Pair back this morn....antoher baby step.....
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Craig Haddox
Posts: 444
Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 5:13 pm
Location: Missouri Washington

Good luck starling shooter. I'm still picking up ASY's here in Washington,Missouri. Up to around 35 to 40 pairs.
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starling shooter
Posts: 461
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:43 pm
Location: Central MO

Great news! Your about 40 miles due E of me. Still got hope. My site is great (in theory), wide open, next to wetland, gourds with nesting material in them, Trio just in case that is what they are used to, not a starling or sparrow around. Just need that one pair to get things started.

Their stie fidelity is amazing. I know of one colony completely overgrown by Silver Maples and it still had about 10 pair in 6-7 Trios.
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starling shooter
Posts: 461
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:43 pm
Location: Central MO

Well, had a SYI pair show up yesterday and they spent the night in a natural gourd, round hole. They really seem content and committed.

So....it appears I'm back in business!!!! Yeah!!!
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DakotaLady
Posts: 654
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
Location: Bismarck, ND

Starlingshooter that is great. It is so frustrating when you think you have the perfect spot and they just don't show up. I understand completely. We moved out onto a pasture. No trees when we first moved here wide open space. I did not get birds until the trees we planted grew into mature trees. I found that to be VERY interesting.

Good luck I really hope you build up your colony again.
~Tangula~

2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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