Indianapolis new Landlord

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Mike R/IN
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:38 pm
Location: IN/Indianapolis

I have been away from the landlord business for about 15 years and getting back in for some more fun. I have been looking for Martins and have not seen any around Indy. I live on the southside of Indy. Any other Landlords in the area and or anyone seeing any activity? Thanks! MikeR
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Archer
Posts: 786
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
Location: Manitoba/Altona
Martin Colony History: six pair in 2014, have grown to 52 pairs in 2017.

Lots of scout reports from Indiana. Click the "Scout Report" and then click on your state. Welcome back to the Martin world.
2011- first year trying, a few visitors.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
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Ladybug
Posts: 243
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
Location: Indiana/ Jamestown
Martin Colony History: 2005-2019. Lots lookers, 2 successful nesting's.
2010-1 pair nested, 4 eggs destroyed(Wren).
2012- 1 pair nested, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2019- 1 pair nested, 4 eggs, 4 fledged.
2021- 10 pair, 40 babies fledged.
2022- 17 pair, 10 eggs not hatched= appxy. 57 fledged.

MIKE:
I LIVE 32 MILES WEST OF INDY. There are 6 sites that I have been
keeping check on. NONE of us have any Martins back yet.
IS Strange, they should have returned by now but NOPE.
We all are still waiting. I have had Tree Swallows past week.
8 here this am, 4 stayed. No Bluebirds either. Saw Male BB. only today.
Has been one crazy year for all animals.
GOOD LUCK ON GETTING BACK IN THE GAME.

PMCA MEMBER.
Joanne
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JohnMcM
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:24 am
Location: IN/Walton

live near Peru, just checked out a colony w of Wabash and observed some scouts flying around . approx. 4 miles e of Wabash on us 24
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Mike R/IN
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:38 pm
Location: IN/Indianapolis

Thanks for the replies. I have everything in place, have sprinkled Holy water on house and did martin dance around bottom of house pole, which neighbors enjoyed. I even put out a Martin bird call that plays for a couple of hours in the morning. Not sure what else to do! ha. Thanks again. MikeR.
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JJ Jones
Posts: 120
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2003 11:08 am
Location: Shelbyville, Indiana
Martin Colony History: Average (100) pairs per season

This is the status in S/E Indiana area that I have observed: Shelby County (Shelbyville, Morristown & Blue Ridge) area (3) colonies that have ASY Martins; Bartholomew County (Hope) (1) colony that I have observed ASY Martins; These are the ones that I have personally observed at their sites. Everyday, it seems that more are moving up in our area. I would say that when this cold front pushes out and the warm weather prevails, we should see an immediate increase in movement. Also, an SY was spotted and recorded in southern Indiana recently. These birds normally arrive around the 1st week of May. Good Luck to everyone in this years martin season!
____________

PMCA Member - East McKay Road Colony
Shelbyville, Indiana
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Mike R/IN
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:38 pm
Location: IN/Indianapolis

I'm wondering if there is a preference on what direction an electronic martin call should be placed? I currently have it on a stake pointed to the west at about a 35 degree angle . I have it coming on in the morning for a few hours, then it cycles off for a hour or so and then back on for couple of hrs and repeats this all day. I'm still looking for my first renter. I was over west of Indianapolis (Monrovia) last weekend and saw a landlord with quiet a few martins. Looked like close to a dozen at least. Thanks MikeR.
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Mike R/IN
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:38 pm
Location: IN/Indianapolis

Well I finally had a subbie do some fly-bys yesterday. He never landed, but he came very close and was thinking about it. So that being said I' m still holding out hope!
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Mitch Booth
Posts: 480
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
Location: Akron, OH
Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair

Hi Joanne,

I was just curious with the 6 sites you manage if they are a brand new or existing colonies? If they are existing colonies did they successfully fledge young last year? Could they're have predation involved?

Thanks

Mitch
2020 - 17 pair 77 eggs 69 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
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Connie
Posts: 441
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.

Mike R/IN wrote:Thanks for the replies. I have everything in place, have sprinkled Holy water on house and did martin dance around bottom of house pole, which neighbors enjoyed. I even put out a Martin bird call that plays for a couple of hours in the morning. Not sure what else to do! ha. Thanks again. MikeR.
My kind of landlord! :grin: Holy water and pole dancing....lol.... I laughed for 5 minutes! :lol:

Thanks for the fun, good luck. You deserve some martins.
Connie
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Mike R/IN
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:38 pm
Location: IN/Indianapolis

Connie, glad I made u laugh, now box up 2 or 3 pairs of ur Martins and ship them to Indiana! I'll fix them up with nice digs and can even get the Indianapolis 500 tickets if they will hang around!!
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Connie
Posts: 441
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.

Mike R/IN wrote:Connie, glad I made u laugh, now box up 2 or 3 pairs of ur Martins and ship them to Indiana! I'll fix them up with nice digs and can even get the Indianapolis 500 tickets if they will hang around!!
lol....I would love to be able to do that for you! You will have to send me some holy water though, because it would take a miracle to get that done. :grin: :grin:
Connie
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Connie
Posts: 441
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.

Mike R/IN wrote:Connie, glad I made u laugh, now box up 2 or 3 pairs of ur Martins and ship them to Indiana! I'll fix them up with nice digs and can even get the Indianapolis 500 tickets if they will hang around!!
lol....I would love to be able to do that for you! You will have to send me some holy water though, because it would take a miracle to get that done. :grin: :grin:
Connie
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Connie
Posts: 441
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.

Mike R/IN wrote:Connie, glad I made u laugh, now box up 2 or 3 pairs of ur Martins and ship them to Indiana! I'll fix them up with nice digs and can even get the Indianapolis 500 tickets if they will hang around!!

AND, I could probably teach them the happy dance before I could catch, ship and get them to survive the trip....lol...

Truly, it stinks that some have so many and some have none. As MamaBruff (Mary) says: keep your chin up, the easier to see the purple martins!!

Much much good luck to you! :)
Connie
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