Finally! A new colony established in SW Pennsylvania

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Peter C
Posts: 34
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:16 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Farmington
Martin Colony History: Rural area, only known colony in Fayette County, PA
Two wooden T-14s, each with four Troyer horizontal gourds, Conley II entrances
2017 26 pairs, 99 fledged
2016 21 pairs, 74 fledged
2015 15 pairs, 40 fledged
2014 9 pairs, 29 fledged
2013 8 pairs, 20 fledged
2012 1 pair, 4 fledged
2011 1 pair, 4 fledged

Hello to all,
In this my third year at this site, we attracted 8 nesting pairs, which laid a total of 34 eggs. Did my final nest check yesterday, and 20 young are successfully fledged . Despite regular nest checks and nest replacements, I lost quite a few nestlings, perhaps due to a lot of mites?

Anyway, I believe now I can say I have a colony. The first two seasons I only had one pair, so could not assume longevity.
So like Hanover Bill says, we are bringing them back to SW Pennsylvania! To my knowlege, this is the only colony in Fayette County, and hopefully the beginning of many more.
Good luck to all !

Peter
Laurel Highlands, Fayette County, PA

2013 8 pair
2012 1 pair
2011 1 pair
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Bob Allnock
Posts: 157
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 6:55 pm
Location: Portersville, Pa.

Peter,

I am glad to hear that you have had such a good year in 2013. There has been quite a few new colonies started in SW Pa and it is good to hear we have one in Fayette county.

Keep up the good work and hopefully we will have more colonies soon in Fayette county.

Seems like you are as happy as Hanover Bill.

Congratulations,
Bob Allnock Portersville, Pa.
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Jeff Hunt
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2003 2:24 am
Location: Export PA. east of Pittsburgh

Peter,
I am in Westmoreland Co. Call me at 412-818-1827.
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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.

Peter, good work, and congrats! May your colony grow and grow!
~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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~Ray~Gingerich
Posts: 2122
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
Location: Delaware/Dover

Congratulations! that good to hear.
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
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bwenger
Posts: 1057
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:24 pm
Location: Pennsylvania/Espyville/Pymatuning Reservoir Area
Martin Colony History: Taking care of 11 active public colonies and trying to start two more in northwestern PA. Also attempting to restart another one in southwestern PA, in Collier Township's Hilltop Park. In 2017, not sure what happened but the ASY male returned and then a couple of weeks later he was gone. It could have been weather related. No other birds showed up. I had a starling nesting at the Public site that I had trouble getting rid of.
In 2018, we fledged 629 martins at all of the sites.

Peter,

Congratulations, on your established colony. It sounds like you are taking care of the birds and they should do well over the coming years.

If you have been on the Forum, you probably know how critical it is to have some crickets in the freezer for those April and May cold spells and rainy periods here in western PA. You have a good start for many pairs, so you don't want to lose any of them.

Glad to hear that you have that colony, and welcome aboard.

Bill Wenger
Allegheny and Crawford Counties
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