It was a bad year for Purple Martins, and I'm talking about the migration. Reason, as the adults leave early to get that all important cavity, spring of 2013 hasn't been nice, and I believe it took a lot of adult Martins. I live in MI and our weather didn't really break until the 3rd week in May. Last year at this time I would see Martins flying over, and if didn't see them, I heard them. This year, different story, nothing in the air, I'm on disability, so I don't work, I'm also outside most of the day, so I'm not making this crap up, its a true fact!!
People with large colony's of Martins (I know 4 of them) are only going to get more Martins, whether its their subs from the year before, or other subs from some where else. Once Purple Martins leave North America their GPS is turned on, and I'm positive in my civilian mind that GPS will be running on the trip back from Brazil. How else are the Michigan Martins going to find Michigan, GPS baby!!! And no, you won't be getting any Ohio or Indiana Martins, subs or adults, their GPS will say back to those respective states where they came from. Martins are a colony bird, they will go to where Martins are already existing. And what information I have picked up thru conversation, or research, not all large colony's are full to their capacity, so if there are any open cavity's to be had, and females are already present, 99.9 percent will go back to that existing site. Until they come out with different facts, and I think they are outdated, no one is going to tell me any different. Whats that saying, OH I know, birds of a feather stick together!!! Bet your GPS on that 1!!!!!!
My prognocosis on Purple Martins - 2013 & Large Colony
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Glynn B - LA
- Posts: 320
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:59 pm
- Location: Louisiana West Monroe
I know your right about many martins perishing in the northern Spring. I still remember DebA chipping away ice and snow to release her early arrivals that were intombed in their compartments. Just think of the martins that did not have the help. It's really sad to think about.
Glynn
Glynn
2019 26 pair 116 fledged
2018 20 pair 76 fledged
2017 19 pair 82 fledged
2016 13 pair 48 fledged
2015 3 pair 13 fledged
2014 1 pair 4 fledged
2013 2 pair 6 fledged
2012 0 pair
2011 0 pair
I don’t have the perfect site. One open flyway with trees within 80 ft. I do have a small pond they utilize during the heat of Summer. (2017) HEAVY HAWK PREDATION
2018 20 pair 76 fledged
2017 19 pair 82 fledged
2016 13 pair 48 fledged
2015 3 pair 13 fledged
2014 1 pair 4 fledged
2013 2 pair 6 fledged
2012 0 pair
2011 0 pair
I don’t have the perfect site. One open flyway with trees within 80 ft. I do have a small pond they utilize during the heat of Summer. (2017) HEAVY HAWK PREDATION
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jr 2
- Posts: 749
- Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:20 pm
- Location: ohio,proctorville(just across ohio river from huntington,west virginia)
great article matt;;i don't consider that i have a large colony as it is just my 3rd year and i only had 7 pair last year; this year i have 14 pair and 8 pair are asy male pair and 6 pair are sy male pair so i don't know if you can go by the article or not and i think good housing and location[open flyways] and sparrow control can attract them but having martins already in your area is most important too;;jr2
PMCA member; s 2011 2 pair fledged 3; 2012 3 asy pair,4 sy pair,2013 8 asy pair,6 sy pair;2014 19 asy pair,2 sy pair
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Chuck4
- Posts: 861
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:05 am
- Location: North MS
- Martin Colony History: I started trying to attract Purple Martins in 2011. I got my first breeding pair in 2013.
2013-1 pair, 2014-4 pair, 2015-8 pair, 2016-12 pair 60 babies :-).
It seems to me like the numbers are down in my area even though I managed to attract a breeding ASY pair this year. There are just fewer martins overhead and I spend a lot of time outside. I do think this year's colder weather was very hard on them. Here it started warming up in late March and then we had a series of cold snaps where it got down to below freezing at night for several days. I had blue birds that had started a clutch but it was ruined and they went elsewhere to breed. I am happy to have gotten martins. 
PMCA Member
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One thing to add - large colonies are treasures.
They do a great job at adding many more Martins, to the numbers overall.
Also, very large colonies, that are full, and not adding any additional housing, are a huge help in getting new colonies started in the area.
They do a great job at adding many more Martins, to the numbers overall.
Also, very large colonies, that are full, and not adding any additional housing, are a huge help in getting new colonies started in the area.
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
Almost every martin that arrived at my site (central PA) this year showed up cold & very hungry. Mine were delayed getting here. I was afraid many perished during migration, but thye finally made it. I have flipped so many crickets I've lost count! Winter just didn't want to let go. Spring has been bad...cold/snow/wind/rain.
One SY Male arrived a few weeks ago during a cold spell, looking so bad, I wasn't sure he'd make it thru the night. He was exhausted. He was also fuzzy looking & had bald spots on the back of his wings. You could see skin showing. I have never seen any of my martins sit with their beak tucked over their back on top of the house. He then moved to a power line & sat the same way for hours. An ASY Male sat with him, as tho he knew he was in bad shape. Thankfully the sun came out the next day & it warmed up. I was able to get him to supplement feed & he is doing good now.
Those who have martins in Northern states should do all they can to get their martins to supplement feed. Usually once they arrive they are cold & hungry & need food to help them deal with the weather.
My colony is small...averaging 10 pair. Right now I have 2 chicks & 30 eggs. I counted 4-5 bad eggs so far on top of the 30. I still have SY's laying.
I've had a small colony since 1998. My area was rich with Martins before the 72 flood that wiped them all out. Other than a few on Amish farms & 1 other colony, a good 7-8 miles away, there are no colonies close to me. My colony has only increased in size by a few pair. This year we put up new houses with bigger rooms, so I'm hoping I'll increase a few pair in the next year or so, if the chicks make it thru summer. Last year it was too hot & I lost a lot of chicks. I'm hoping new houses with added vents will help.
Toy in PA
One SY Male arrived a few weeks ago during a cold spell, looking so bad, I wasn't sure he'd make it thru the night. He was exhausted. He was also fuzzy looking & had bald spots on the back of his wings. You could see skin showing. I have never seen any of my martins sit with their beak tucked over their back on top of the house. He then moved to a power line & sat the same way for hours. An ASY Male sat with him, as tho he knew he was in bad shape. Thankfully the sun came out the next day & it warmed up. I was able to get him to supplement feed & he is doing good now.
Those who have martins in Northern states should do all they can to get their martins to supplement feed. Usually once they arrive they are cold & hungry & need food to help them deal with the weather.
My colony is small...averaging 10 pair. Right now I have 2 chicks & 30 eggs. I counted 4-5 bad eggs so far on top of the 30. I still have SY's laying.
I've had a small colony since 1998. My area was rich with Martins before the 72 flood that wiped them all out. Other than a few on Amish farms & 1 other colony, a good 7-8 miles away, there are no colonies close to me. My colony has only increased in size by a few pair. This year we put up new houses with bigger rooms, so I'm hoping I'll increase a few pair in the next year or so, if the chicks make it thru summer. Last year it was too hot & I lost a lot of chicks. I'm hoping new houses with added vents will help.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
I read an article or posting that said only about 1 in 5 SY return to where they were hatched, the majority return within a 25-50 mile radius ??
http://chuckspurplemartinpage.com/habits.htm
So to me a huge colony might only self sustain with SY, the others will be "gifts" to the 25-50 mile radius around it ??
Bill
http://chuckspurplemartinpage.com/habits.htm
So to me a huge colony might only self sustain with SY, the others will be "gifts" to the 25-50 mile radius around it ??
Bill