Is it too late to get Matins? I just helped a neighbor up the street from me move his gourd rack which was surrounded by two big trees. We moved it so that it would be about 50 ft from the trees. So just wondering if "scouts" are still looking for homes?
Next question - when do we start feeding egg/oyster shells?
Thanks!
Two Questions
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Your area is just about to be get lots of SY martins which are the fledglings from last year. They are anxious to find places to colonize.
It is prime time for you to have moved your neighbor's house to improve the odds of establishing a new colony.
Great job helping a friend/neighbor and helping the martins.
Mark.
It is prime time for you to have moved your neighbor's house to improve the odds of establishing a new colony.
Great job helping a friend/neighbor and helping the martins.
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
I just got my first pair today and I hope more will come in.msalcido wrote:Is it too late to get Matins? I just helped a neighbor up the street from me move his gourd rack which was surrounded by two big trees. We moved it so that it would be about 50 ft from the trees. So just wondering if "scouts" are still looking for homes?
Next question - when do we start feeding egg/oyster shells?
Thanks!
5th year one pair
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Mike,
I re-read the recent topic which discusses the calcium supplement question.
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25007
The topic did not specifically say when most people start calcium supplement.
I offer oyster shell. I start when I see nest building. I do not think that it would be a problem if you offered the calcium supplement as soon as they arrive at your colony.
I have noticed that a lot of other birds will eat the oyster shell beyond purple martins.
Years ago I offered egg shells which I sterilized in the oven. For the larger colony that I had at that time, it was a lot of work to prepare the eggshells properly.
I changed to oyster shell and have never looked back. It is readily available and very inexpensive.
Mark.
I re-read the recent topic which discusses the calcium supplement question.
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25007
The topic did not specifically say when most people start calcium supplement.
I offer oyster shell. I start when I see nest building. I do not think that it would be a problem if you offered the calcium supplement as soon as they arrive at your colony.
I have noticed that a lot of other birds will eat the oyster shell beyond purple martins.
Years ago I offered egg shells which I sterilized in the oven. For the larger colony that I had at that time, it was a lot of work to prepare the eggshells properly.
I changed to oyster shell and have never looked back. It is readily available and very inexpensive.
Mark.
Last edited by 4th Gen Martin Fan on Sun Mar 30, 2014 9:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
duplicate post.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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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.
Hi Mike and Mark-
Mark, thanks for weighing in on my unanswered question. I went ahead and offered at that point figuring what could it hurt. I noticed an overall improvement of my eggs. Uh...their eggs.
Seemingly thicker egg shells. I too have done the egg shell bit but now use oyster shell.
Deb
Mark, thanks for weighing in on my unanswered question. I went ahead and offered at that point figuring what could it hurt. I noticed an overall improvement of my eggs. Uh...their eggs.
Seemingly thicker egg shells. I too have done the egg shell bit but now use oyster shell.
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
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
Hi Mike, long time no see, it's me Kenny
Tell your neighbor to keep his housing up no matter what happens because people that are not managing their colonies may loose their Martins due to predator attacks (snakes, Hawks, etc,etc,etc) the martins under attack will relocate to other housing, I have seen this happen many times, tell your neighbor to be prepared and Good Luck.
Mike , how are you doing??, how many martins do you have???
Tell your neighbor to keep his housing up no matter what happens because people that are not managing their colonies may loose their Martins due to predator attacks (snakes, Hawks, etc,etc,etc) the martins under attack will relocate to other housing, I have seen this happen many times, tell your neighbor to be prepared and Good Luck.
Mike , how are you doing??, how many martins do you have???
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
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DakotaLady
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
- Location: Bismarck, ND
I offer egg shells right away when they arrive. Last year they loved sitting on my breakfast platform feeder I made them and they were eating the eggshells 2 to 3 weeks prior to nest building.
Also, I had other birds woodpeckers, robins etc that flocked around the eggshells and helped themselves. I'm hoping to add my mealworms there once I see they are using the breakfast platform so that they get used to eating them from that platform just in case they do not take flipped food.
That was very kind of you to help your neighbor move his martin house. I hope you and your neighbor have a successful year.
Also, I had other birds woodpeckers, robins etc that flocked around the eggshells and helped themselves. I'm hoping to add my mealworms there once I see they are using the breakfast platform so that they get used to eating them from that platform just in case they do not take flipped food.
That was very kind of you to help your neighbor move his martin house. I hope you and your neighbor have a successful year.
~Tangula~
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Just to show you how consensus of the Forum member's opinions will change my mind, I am going to start offering crushed oyster shell as soon as the martins arrive.
In my anecdotal experience, I agree with Deb. The eggs are noticeably thicker when calcium supplement is offered to the martins. I know that is not very scientific but I believe that if I can feel a difference in those small eggs then there is an advantage.
I am not going to sacrifice good martin eggs to measure with a micrometer the thickness of the shells with and without calcium supplement.
The evidence is too overwhelming.
Thank you James R. Hill, III and Scott Rush for your work on this subject.
Mark.
In my anecdotal experience, I agree with Deb. The eggs are noticeably thicker when calcium supplement is offered to the martins. I know that is not very scientific but I believe that if I can feel a difference in those small eggs then there is an advantage.
I am not going to sacrifice good martin eggs to measure with a micrometer the thickness of the shells with and without calcium supplement.
The evidence is too overwhelming.
Thank you James R. Hill, III and Scott Rush for your work on this subject.
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Hey Kenny - doing great! Thanks! Hope you are well. I have lost count on the Martins. Too many to count!klcretired wrote:Hi Mike, long time no see, it's me Kenny
Tell your neighbor to keep his housing up no matter what happens because people that are not managing their colonies may loose their Martins due to predator attacks (snakes, Hawks, etc,etc,etc) the martins under attack will relocate to other housing, I have seen this happen many times, tell your neighbor to be prepared and Good Luck.
Mike , how are you doing??, how many martins do you have???
, I know have 10 gourds, a 6 room heath house and an eight room Northstar house. Awaiting those SY to arrive!Mark - I decided to start feeding the Oyster shells today. I have never fed the egg shells but have used Oyster shells for the past two seasons. I have also noticed other birds eating it, so I figured if the Martins aren't ready, maybe others wil.
Mike
Fifth season of being a landlord! and a PMCA member!
Fifth season of being a landlord!
and a PMCA member!