Hi, I'm new to the forum. I've been trying for three years to attract some martins to my martin house. This year I was successful and had one breeding pair take up house.
I enjoyed watching the nest building. When I finally checked the nest I found three eggs. All hatched. After a while the babies began to crawl around on the porch and go into other apartments. The parents began to feed them individually while they were separated. At night they crawled back into their nest.
Once the babies fledged, the pair were joined, off and on, by other martins. Sometimes 4 and other times 6 or 8. Then after 3 days they all disappeared. I hope that is normal behavior.
I am now waiting for next season to find out how many martins, if any, return and make nests.
I live in La Grange Tx and would appreciate any comments which might give me a clue as to whether the martins will return.
New to forum and world of purple martins
Welcome to the forum Larry. You have picked a very friendly place to get all the information you will ever want to know about, our friend, the Purple Martin. Congratulations on your first pair. Although I am fairly new to the hobby myself, I understand that sucessful pairs generally return to the same site that they nested the previous year. Second year martins seek out new sites and sub adult males generally reek havoc (try to fight everone) at established colonies. Expect to see your sucessful pair the first week or two of February next year, keep the sparrows and starlings under control and keep looking up!
2011...1 pair
2012...2 pair
2013...9 pair/40eggs/25fledged
2014..14 pair/70eggs/57fledged
2012...2 pair
2013...9 pair/40eggs/25fledged
2014..14 pair/70eggs/57fledged
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
La Grange Larry, you should not have much trouble attracting martins, as your area should have a lot of martins. We have relatives that live in Giddings and Gonzales, and their housing fills up every year. Congratulations on your pair, you got a start now, and you can eventually have as many martins as you desire if you want if you improve the protection so the predators do not catch them We travel thru La Grange frequently.
The martins all gather at a roost now, so its normal for them to leave after the babies fledge.
Since you had some difficulty attracting martins, you may have too many trees too close to your housing. If you can remove any nearby trees, it would help the martins, and give them a better chance to escape the hawks and owls. Its best to have the housing in a wide open area.
Other things to do are numerous, and you may have already done some of these things. You need a pole guard to keep out the snakes and racoons. It would help to put some 2in x 4in wire fencing around the house to protect them from the owls. You could modify the house so that the rooms are 6in x 12in, as this would make the martins safer and give them more room (it gets crowded in a 6x6 room when the babies get larger). Also, trap or shoot all the sparrows and starlings. Mites can become a problem some years, so if you see any mites, then I would recommend that you add some sevin dust beside the nest to kill the mites.
Since this is the offseason, I would recommend that you use this time to make any necessary changes. Our first martins usually return in late January, but yours may come sometimes in February, so make sure that the housing is up early enough. Good luck.
The martins all gather at a roost now, so its normal for them to leave after the babies fledge.
Since you had some difficulty attracting martins, you may have too many trees too close to your housing. If you can remove any nearby trees, it would help the martins, and give them a better chance to escape the hawks and owls. Its best to have the housing in a wide open area.
Other things to do are numerous, and you may have already done some of these things. You need a pole guard to keep out the snakes and racoons. It would help to put some 2in x 4in wire fencing around the house to protect them from the owls. You could modify the house so that the rooms are 6in x 12in, as this would make the martins safer and give them more room (it gets crowded in a 6x6 room when the babies get larger). Also, trap or shoot all the sparrows and starlings. Mites can become a problem some years, so if you see any mites, then I would recommend that you add some sevin dust beside the nest to kill the mites.
Since this is the offseason, I would recommend that you use this time to make any necessary changes. Our first martins usually return in late January, but yours may come sometimes in February, so make sure that the housing is up early enough. Good luck.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
Welcome to the forum.
The first pair usually opens the flood gate!
Be prepared for next season.
I have friends and family in Smithville and halfway between there and LaGrange.
They have had Martins for a few years, one with about 32 pair in 36 available cavities.
There are plenty of colonies around your area that host Martins.
I'm about 60 miles from you between Bastrop and Lockhart.
The first pair usually opens the flood gate!
Be prepared for next season.
I have friends and family in Smithville and halfway between there and LaGrange.
They have had Martins for a few years, one with about 32 pair in 36 available cavities.
There are plenty of colonies around your area that host Martins.
I'm about 60 miles from you between Bastrop and Lockhart.
Cheers,
Joe
2015 - 40 cavities - 37 pair - fledged 172
2016 - 40 cavities - 38 pair - fledged 192
Hosting Purple Martins since 1976...Managing since 2006.
Joe
2015 - 40 cavities - 37 pair - fledged 172
2016 - 40 cavities - 38 pair - fledged 192
Hosting Purple Martins since 1976...Managing since 2006.
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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.
Welcome, Larry! That is great that you had your first founding pair and that others showed up for the fledging party. We will look forward to your updates next season!
Deb
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
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
Great to see you hear Larry!
You're definitely in a Martin-rich area, being next to the Colorado River.
I have family that goes for generations back from the Smithville area, and always recall seeing lots of Martins.
Welcome aboard!
You're definitely in a Martin-rich area, being next to the Colorado River.
I have family that goes for generations back from the Smithville area, and always recall seeing lots of Martins.
Welcome aboard!
Welcome to the forum Larry
It is great to hear you have had your first pair and good to hear about your babies fledging. This is my first year also , had 4 babies fledge last week. I know what your going through and am also looking forward to next season. Can't hardly wait.
Chris
It is great to hear you have had your first pair and good to hear about your babies fledging. This is my first year also , had 4 babies fledge last week. I know what your going through and am also looking forward to next season. Can't hardly wait.
Chris