I got Nothin! 2
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Nealbopper
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:56 am
- Location: Michigan, Oakland
Hi all, happy to hear your all busy with birds. Well, I got Bluebirds nesting in a box I made last winter. As for the Purple Martins, I haven't even seen a single bird yet.
I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say we wish that you were busy with your martins too. Don't give up. I know it can be frustrating, but when it happens you will find that it was worth the wait. It can be a lot of work and for some (not me, I build my housing) a lot of expense, but the rewards are great. In the mean time try to relax and enjoy those wonderful bluebirds.
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Jose Rodriguez
- Posts: 692
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:34 am
- Location: FL/Belleview
I agree with Birdbrat! Enjoy the Bluebirds! We love watching ours. We wish you the best on getting some Martins to move in!
PMCA Member
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
it took me 15 years to get them
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
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.
I feel the same way, Nealbopper. It's hard not to feel frustrated and yes, a tad jealous. Beak up, you are not alone. I am worried -wondering why the numbers are down; maybe the "wave" is just late. The ASYM that had stayed at my site went to the neighbor's colony because he was lonely. And they don't have very many birds, either! He flies over regularly (and squawks hello) with another ASYM and SYF. So I know he he is waiting for the rest of the gang to arrive too. I am not seeing large numbers of martins in my vicinity, and my Auntie Joan doesn't have any birds back yet either. But we both have Bluebirds nesting, and thankful for that. She tells me the purple martin numbers are way down in her area also. I am getting lots of practice trapping starlings and hosp, however. Buggers.
~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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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,
I saw a mixture of 5 SY males/females visiting my site yesterday. The ASY alpha male tolerated the guests landing on the perches midday. At dusk he acted like a crazy martin and chased away all the SY visitors who wanted to spend the night. His ASY mate is going to start laying eggs in the next day or two. I believe he was so aggressive towards the SY males that they all left.
When they left, I yelled out to them, "Go north, there are plenty of anxious and worthy landlords with perfect places for you!"
It made me feel better that I told them what to do. Don't worry, no one is around when I yell like that. I doubt it will help to explain that I was yelling at birds that are gone.
After the ASY alpha male scared everyone away he settled in with his mate, then he starts singing the dawnsong!
I am beginning to think he is Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde.
I think there is still opportunities for new arrivals. I just cannot get any to stay here with this split personality alpha male. Lol.
Mark.
I saw a mixture of 5 SY males/females visiting my site yesterday. The ASY alpha male tolerated the guests landing on the perches midday. At dusk he acted like a crazy martin and chased away all the SY visitors who wanted to spend the night. His ASY mate is going to start laying eggs in the next day or two. I believe he was so aggressive towards the SY males that they all left.
When they left, I yelled out to them, "Go north, there are plenty of anxious and worthy landlords with perfect places for you!"
It made me feel better that I told them what to do. Don't worry, no one is around when I yell like that. I doubt it will help to explain that I was yelling at birds that are gone.
After the ASY alpha male scared everyone away he settled in with his mate, then he starts singing the dawnsong!
I am beginning to think he is Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde.
I think there is still opportunities for new arrivals. I just cannot get any to stay here with this split personality alpha male. Lol.
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.
Mark, thank you for the encouragement. I hope those SY's heeded your advice, and that Mr Protective will settle down a bit after his mate begins brooding nest full of eggs. 
~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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Jose Rodriguez
- Posts: 692
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:34 am
- Location: FL/Belleview
I'm still seeing new Martins visiting our gourds. The last one that visited about a week ago did not stay. I'm sure she/he is headed that way! This morning I had another visitor which looked like a female SY. It was very foggy this morning so I couldn't identify it well from my location. I will take another look later today after work. I agree with MamaBruff, beak up and eyes wide open!
PMCA Member
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
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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 :-).
Yes, I have seen several new subbies, male and female, so they are still migrating.
PMCA Member
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Jose Rodriguez
- Posts: 692
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:34 am
- Location: FL/Belleview
Nope! The SY did not stay. When I got home yesterday the what looked like a male SY, but not 100% sure was in one of our natural looking gourds. I think he was there all day yesterday but then I saw him headed north west around 5 pm. I think he knew exactly where he was headed. He was just taking a break at a friendly stop. 
PMCA Member
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"