Two pair total but I think maybe a third came in yesterday!
All gourds were pre-nested. Will be putting snake netting on today.
Got me some matins!!!
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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.
Joez,
Now that is a beautiful setup and site.
Sounds like you have the right idea about a pole predator guard for coons and critters and snake netting for snakes.
Mark.
Now that is a beautiful setup and site.
Sounds like you have the right idea about a pole predator guard for coons and critters and snake netting for snakes.
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.
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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.
Congrats, Joez!
~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.
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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Courtney-NC
- Posts: 592
- Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:28 pm
- Location: Holly Springs, NC
- Martin Colony History: 2009-2015-Helped to manage Raleigh site, 36 cavities
2016- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 1 pair at home site.
2017- 34 pairs at Raleigh site, 3 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2018- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 5 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2019 - 32 pairs at Raleigh site, 7 pairs at home site, 2 pairs at new Holly Springs park site
Congratulations! Keep us posted on your progress!
-Courtney
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NC Purple Martin Society (PMCA affiliate)
http://www.ncpurplemartin.org
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NC Purple Martin Society (PMCA affiliate)
http://www.ncpurplemartin.org
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Jose Rodriguez
- Posts: 692
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:34 am
- Location: FL/Belleview
Exciting time! Congrats! I can't get any work done at home. I'm too busy looking at our Martins! 
PMCA Member
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
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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
OH MAN that is just great, congrats, hope they keep coming 
I have two pair currently. But, it seems I also have a male HOSP interested in a gourd. I just ordered a repeating trap this morning. Should be here sometime next week...
I do have a pellet gun that I plan to use if time and a shot presents itself. Should I close all but the two gourds martins are in? I prenested with pine straw in all the gourds. Should I take it out now?
I dont want the HOSP to go on a rampage against my martins. GERRR shoulda ordered that trap sooner!
Is there anything else that I can be doin while I'm waiting on my trap?
Thanks
Joe
I do have a pellet gun that I plan to use if time and a shot presents itself. Should I close all but the two gourds martins are in? I prenested with pine straw in all the gourds. Should I take it out now?
I dont want the HOSP to go on a rampage against my martins. GERRR shoulda ordered that trap sooner!
Is there anything else that I can be doin while I'm waiting on my trap?
Thanks
Joe
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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
Congrats!
I would leave everything as you have it, keep all the gourds open, you may get some more martins. If you have a sparrow, you may try to shoot it until you get a trap.
I had some sparrows and one starling on the other side of the gourd rack, they would not go into the traps, and I couldn't see them. If I went around the gourd rack, then they would fly away. I got my 8ft stepladder, lowered the racks just enough to reach a starling that was also nesting there. I set the stepladder in the right place so that I could reach the gourd. About dark, I closed the entrance hole with a heavy weight, this was the gourd that the starling was using. The next morning I removed the gourd, and the starling. This method works on sparrows also, especially if they are sitting on the eggs. The martins do not mind if you lower the racks a short distance. It works best when you have a tall stepladder.
I removed the sparrow nests, and then when they were rebuilding their nests, I caught them in a trap. They all had eggs in the nests. They usually will not go into a trap when they are incubating the eggs.
I would leave everything as you have it, keep all the gourds open, you may get some more martins. If you have a sparrow, you may try to shoot it until you get a trap.
I had some sparrows and one starling on the other side of the gourd rack, they would not go into the traps, and I couldn't see them. If I went around the gourd rack, then they would fly away. I got my 8ft stepladder, lowered the racks just enough to reach a starling that was also nesting there. I set the stepladder in the right place so that I could reach the gourd. About dark, I closed the entrance hole with a heavy weight, this was the gourd that the starling was using. The next morning I removed the gourd, and the starling. This method works on sparrows also, especially if they are sitting on the eggs. The martins do not mind if you lower the racks a short distance. It works best when you have a tall stepladder.
I removed the sparrow nests, and then when they were rebuilding their nests, I caught them in a trap. They all had eggs in the nests. They usually will not go into a trap when they are incubating the eggs.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
So, I should open the one that I closed off?
Well, last night I had a shot without the martins around. Tip: Make sure there is not another gourd behind your shot line...woops....missed the HOSP got my gourd. Made the repair with some silicone.
The martins ARE bringing in lots of nesting material! Woohoo! Every gourd has other stuff in it besides pine straw! Will take pics when I open the closed gourd!
oh, my trap comes Tuesday!!! YES!
Well, last night I had a shot without the martins around. Tip: Make sure there is not another gourd behind your shot line...woops....missed the HOSP got my gourd. Made the repair with some silicone.
The martins ARE bringing in lots of nesting material! Woohoo! Every gourd has other stuff in it besides pine straw! Will take pics when I open the closed gourd!
oh, my trap comes Tuesday!!! YES!
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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
On missing the sparrow shot, its best to practice and practice until you can hit a place the size of a nickel. Practice at the same distance that you are shooting at sparrows. The main reason for such practice is that you can then shoot the sparrows before they are afraid of you. If you start missing the sparrows, you will not get another good shot in most cases, they will watch for you and fly away when they see you. By the way, I have had to patch some gourds too....smile
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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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.
Pesky HOSP are bane of Martineers everywhere. We all understand your situation.
Is there not a trap for your gourd type? Once the male HOSP is "bonded" to a gourd/house, he will not leave it- particularly if he has already attracted a mate.
I'm not a good markswoman myself, and rely heavily on trapping. If your HOSP are paired and building in a gourd, then the odds are in your favor to trap them in it. Various methods are effective, but you must place an excluder hole inside the entrance if at all possible (1 1/4") to keep out BBs, TRES, and Purple Martins. Make the excluder out of a sour cream lid or similar, so it will be less obvious.
Offer a tempting alternative: http://shop.purplemartin.org/Starling_H ... tails.aspx This trap has paid for itself many times over- by decreasing my frustration factor and keeping my blood pressure within normal limits! It should be located somewhere near your Martin housing so the HOSP can see it easily. Place it at a height that is easy for you to operate. It is made of cedar, but you may want to paint it white to match your martin set up. Make sure it faces in "your" direction, so you may monitor it easily. (Other birds like BB and TRES will go into it also)
Also, you can spend hours researching various topics using the search button above in the menu. I have learned a lot that way myself. Good Luck, you can do it!
Is there not a trap for your gourd type? Once the male HOSP is "bonded" to a gourd/house, he will not leave it- particularly if he has already attracted a mate.
I'm not a good markswoman myself, and rely heavily on trapping. If your HOSP are paired and building in a gourd, then the odds are in your favor to trap them in it. Various methods are effective, but you must place an excluder hole inside the entrance if at all possible (1 1/4") to keep out BBs, TRES, and Purple Martins. Make the excluder out of a sour cream lid or similar, so it will be less obvious.
Offer a tempting alternative: http://shop.purplemartin.org/Starling_H ... tails.aspx This trap has paid for itself many times over- by decreasing my frustration factor and keeping my blood pressure within normal limits!
It should be located somewhere near your Martin housing so the HOSP can see it easily. Place it at a height that is easy for you to operate. It is made of cedar, but you may want to paint it white to match your martin set up. Make sure it faces in "your" direction, so you may monitor it easily. (Other birds like BB and TRES will go into it also) Also, you can spend hours researching various topics using the search button above in the menu. I have learned a lot that way myself. Good Luck, you can do it!
~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.
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.
Founding couples egg count.
May 8th = first egg
9th = 2 eggs
10th = skipped
11th = 4 eggs
Pretty excited! Now I'm all nervous about the next stepping in being a responsible landlord!
Whats next? What should I be reading, researching?
Thanks!
May 8th = first egg
9th = 2 eggs
10th = skipped
11th = 4 eggs
Pretty excited! Now I'm all nervous about the next stepping in being a responsible landlord!
Whats next? What should I be reading, researching?
Thanks!