Hello All, I'm a newbie attempting my first year at attracting PMs to my place in WV. I already set up a six gourd starter pole
I made my first rookie mistake and opened up the gourds assuming the scouts would take a look see. and I thought I thoroughly researched this little venture.
I want to ask your opinion about my unique situation and if I'm crazy or just pipe dreaming about being a decent landlord. I live and work in NJ, but my schedule is a week on week off. So, every other week I spend it in WV, where I hope to attract the PMs.
Considering my weekly absence, is my quest to be a landlord possible? My back up plan is to use the gourds for bluebirds or whoever wants to live there (minus starlings/sparrows) Oddly enough I have never seen a sparrow or starling on my WV property or mosquitoes for that matter.
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..
First thing I would do is remove all the high grass around your rack..and put a predator guard on your pole..Is your rack at least 75/100 ft from those pine trees? If you are going to be away, is your gourds SREH? ( starling resistant holes). I'd leave one or two holes open until you see a Martin. Hopefully the sparrows won't find you. You must keep them and starlings away. Play the dawn song while you are at this site, it will help make he martins at least investigate your site.. Good luck..
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!!!!!
TonyG wrote:First thing I would do is remove all the high grass around your rack..and put a predator guard on your pole..Is your rack at least 75/100 ft from those pine trees? If you are going to be away, is your gourds SREH? ( starling resistant holes). I'd leave one or two holes open until you see a Martin. Hopefully the sparrows won't find you. You must keep them and starlings away. Play the dawn song while you are at this site, it will help make he martins at least investigate your site.. Good luck..
I plan to cut the grasses next week, and install a predator guard. The cabin is at the top of a small ridge (it kind of resembles a snow globe) anyway, the pole is in the most open space between all the trees while I didn't measure, I think the closest tree it is roughly 75' away from the pole (If the tree fell I don't think it would reach the pole.) I did get the SREH openings, and just got the attachments to close off the openings until the time is right.
Thanks
Martin Colony History: As a child I managed a purple martin colony consisting of 3 houses on a tidal tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. I started my own colony at my house in Holly Springs, NC as an adult that grew to 27 pairs one year. In 2016 I moved and started a new colony in the spring of 2017 at my new home, which is about 7 miles south of my old colony. I successfully attracted my first ASY male in April of 2017. He quickly attracted a mate, followed by 7 more pairs. Grateful to have been able to start a new colony so quickly!
I certainly think you stand a chance in attracting martins. Purple martins are a little more scarce in that area so it may just take little more time. Don't give up. I agree that the grass should be kept short and you need a predator guard, especially since you won't even be there a week at the time. Those trees don't look to be a problem at all. I attracted Martins to my site with a row of pines much closer than that. My racks are also located only about 30 ft off the back of my house. When martins begin coming through your area in higher volume like the end of march through may....you would seriously benefit from playing the dawnsong periodically. That will at least attract birds to the site and once they know its there I bet you will be able to convince some to stay! I have all crescent shaped joles so very few starlings can ever get in. I just have to monitor for sparrows but have never had one try to take up residence in a gourd. Once you start trying to attract martins i would keep all entrances open if you have starling resistant holes. Good luck!
Greg H.
Holly Springs, NC
2011 - 2 pairs, 7 eggs, 7 hatch, 7 fledge
2012 - 13 pairs, 63 eggs, 52 hatched, 50 fledged
2013 - 21 pairs
2014 - 25 pairs
2015 - 27 pairs
2016 - 23 pairs removed 4 gourds this year.
2017 - moved and started a new colony which attracted 8 Pairs
2018 - first arrivals have come back....anticipating!
Martin Colony History: As a child I managed a purple martin colony consisting of 3 houses on a tidal tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. I started my own colony at my house in Holly Springs, NC as an adult that grew to 27 pairs one year. In 2016 I moved and started a new colony in the spring of 2017 at my new home, which is about 7 miles south of my old colony. I successfully attracted my first ASY male in April of 2017. He quickly attracted a mate, followed by 7 more pairs. Grateful to have been able to start a new colony so quickly!
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.
Hello, Rob!
Just wanted to say welcome to the forum. You will be able to maintain a site with this kind of time spread. Hopefully you won't miss fledge day. Hang in, don't give up and once you have them you will count down the days to get back to WV!
Deb
Thanks for all the encouragement, we're looking forward to trying this process, we enjoy the hummingbirds, whippoorwills, bluebirds etc...so much! In NJ, I only got my first hummingbird 2 years ago after trying for about 7 yrs.
In WV we are about 1hr southwest of Winchester VA, outside a small town Moorefield wv.
and I thought I thoroughly researched this little venture. 