I was concerned about a SY male hounding my mama martin so I did a nest check just to satisfy my thoughts. Everything looks very good and the five babies are doing fantastic. Here are a couple of pics. Hope all of you are doing well and also your martin families.
thanks chris
Last edited by dckenney on Mon Jun 15, 2015 12:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !
Congrat.s Chris, They look so good, some first time lurker might think you took toy dinosaurs & redid them to look like baby P.Ms Very healthy ! Great job & Good luck !
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.
Chris,
I looked at your profile to see what kind of housing that you are providing.
I have to assume that you are still using natural gourds from your profile.
The pictures look like a very large gourd.
You can proudly say that you are a second year landlord at this point.
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.
And to Mark I haven't updated my profile this year but I did break down and buy 6 horizonal troyer gourds and I still have 6 natural gourds up . I have had several martins visiting besides the 1 SY male thats been here for over a week now .
Very healthy ! Great job & Good luck !