What a difference a day makes! (FINALLY!)

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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.

Yesterday was a gloomy, grumpy day, with a winter's blast...

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And today, I'm on top of the world! Daddy's Home!

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The arrival and interaction was totally different this time! :grin:
Mister came in slowly soaring, circling and landed on a perch; chirping and announcing his arrival... gurgling and clicking, a very vocal fellow! I watched him from the window and snapped a few pics. He went in one of the compartments, and stayed a LONG time doing his inspection, then back out to proclaim his approval. When I went out on the patio, he chirped at me and flew right over my head as I called and waved to him; he arced, dipped, and zoomed, putting on a nice air and music show. Once he was high overhead, I dropped the house and got busy opening the rest of the compartments and gourds... And he dive bombed, scolding me, "Aaack!" several times as I was working. Silly bird!

He left for several minutes, and returned with a second ASYM, but #2 would not land. Mister was obviously recruiting, trying to show him a nice THG... And now he is off doing whatever Purple Martins do whenever they come home... And so it finally begins! My heart is soaring!
:grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
~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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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 :-).

Woo Hoo Mary! That's awesome. Those strong southerlies ahead of the front brought him in. :grin:
PMCA Member
_____
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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.

:grin: He just showed up with a lovely ASYF and they did a home tour!
~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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Ed Pace
Posts: 680
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:31 pm
Location: NY/Jamestown

Glad to here the good news,hope you have everything done because you wont have as much free time. Good luck.
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

Oh that is wonderful, I know you were wondering where your buddy was. Glad he has arrived. Was on a very chilly day to. I have had 2 sightings today. he was here at 8:00 a.m. Then I looked out at 11:30 a.m. And he was back sitting on power line. Great for both of us. Good Luck Sharon
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

You know the saying..."better late then never."

Glad they are coming home to MAMMA.

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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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.

Mary,
Is Mister short for his full name "Mister Handsome!" or Mister Wonderful!"?
It sure did not take him long to turn his bachelor's pad into a honeymoon suite!
Is he that good of a sweet talker? Of course!
Congratulations!
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.
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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.

A female!!! That deserves a cartwheel or something. Ok a half-a$$ed somersault/cartwheel. Mary, I'm so happy for you!
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
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DornCounty
Posts: 2169
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
Location: Rural SE Kansas
Martin Colony History: .
.
Trio-Jedi

nice Mama!! I was just coming on to tell you that numbers seemed to have jumped over in Parsons.
Last edited by DornCounty on Tue Apr 15, 2014 3:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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dckenney
Posts: 42
Joined: Wed Jun 26, 2013 1:34 pm
Location: NC/North Advance

congratulations Mamabruff

I am so glad for you. I have been waiting to here from you and about your birds returning. I have had 1 asy male return on the 4th of this month and he finally got a asyfemale on the 10th . I know these aren't my founding pair. also have another asy male flying around. I am thankfull for all I get they are answers to my prayers . Looks like a good start for us again this year

chris
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KathyF
Posts: 3522
Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: Missouri/Licking
Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.

Woohoo! So happy for you, Mary! I hope you told him, 'bout time, Buster!'

:lol: :lol:
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"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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BuddyS
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:10 am
Location: MO/Chesterfield

Good for you!
I love Joplin. Can't wait to come back and stop by Club 601, my favorite place.
Send some PMs my way.
Buddy Sowell
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pmlover
Posts: 805
Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:30 pm
Location: OH/New Concord

I'm so glad for you mama
I just scraped ice off my north and west holes I put hand warmers in houses and gourds and crickets. I hope they will be okay tonight. I know tomorrow should be better
dick
2015 69 pairs 418 eggs 396 fledged
2019 I have 148 openings now
2016 100 pairs 600 babies fledged added another t-14 and have 126 openings now
2015 Jun 24 360 babies and 58 eggs also found one that had died
2017 632 babies 11died and 20 were killed by hawks
2015 74 pairs and 9 eggs 5/14
2010 3pairss
]JOINED PMCA JUNE 6,2018
2018 651 babies 5 hawk kills 11 floater kills 25 died in houses and 610 fledged

2014 80 pairs 283 babies 282 fledged one died
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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.

Thank you everybody for your kind words; you add to my excitement and joy! I am just over the moon today! (No cartwheels, but I did jump up and down with my hands over my head!) :lol:

So far, my ASYM has returned with his lady friend several times today. If he is charming enough to find an ASYF on his first day back, then I shall just have to call him Mr. Romeo! Besides, he does look quite "buff" and shiny- must be all those tropical bug smoothies he has been loading up on! ROWR!

I won't get a thing done for the rest of the day! :lol:
~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.
Top
Jose Rodriguez
Posts: 692
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:34 am
Location: FL/Belleview

YAY! So glad for MamaBruff! I agree with you on not getting anything done. We are just too busy looking at our birds! :grin:
PMCA Member
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
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Peter Alberda
Posts: 175
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:09 pm
Location: Michigan, Zeeland
Martin Colony History: Started with Amish copy of Trendsetter 12 room house, added Trio Grandpa with expanded rooms, and North Star 8. Taking Trendsetter down this spring and adding gourd rack.

Way to go!! I'm so happy for you!!

It must be in our genes. My mother and her brother were bird lovers all their lives. My uncle started me building bluebird boxes back in the seventies and I'm still at it.

Hope you get many more this year!

Pete
2020 - A pair of SY birds with three nice chicks. Lots of visitors all year long.
2015-2019 - A few lookers.
2014 - ASY male and SY female fledged four chicks.
2013 - Several visitors but none stayed to nest.
2012 - Lots of visitors all season long. We had a pair of sys but no chicks survived.
2011 - New location - A few visitors
2010 - First year – Poor house location.
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dhjohnson
Posts: 478
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
Location: North Carolina/Clayton
Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy

All Right Mary!
They will recruit heavily and thus your season begins!
Best wishes for a successful martin season!
Debbie
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
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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.

Thank You everyone! I hope this is REALLY "IT" this time!
Now back to the window... :lol:
~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.
Top
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.

Kathy, that's perfect! Lol!
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
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threelilkids
Posts: 386
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:11 pm
Location: Denham Springs, La
Martin Colony History: 2014 1 pair 3 hatched 3 fledged
2015 1 pair 5 hatched 5 fledged
2016 1 pair 5 hatched 4 fledged
2017 2 pair 8 hatched 8 fledged
2018 4 pair 15 hatched

Congrats, I'll send ya'll some warm weather from down here in Louisiana, cause of the snow I'm seeing 8). We hardly ever get snow. I'm getting martins to, got to love it :lol:
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