Patience, patience….I need patience

[tlragsdale]

Been trying to become a successful PM landlord for years….several close calls, still no takers. Had a few visitors this year, but having not seen a martin in weeks, assumed they had "headed south".

Went canoeing yesterday with my wife, on a small lake 15 miles north of the house. Got to the launch, and when I opened the door of the truck, I could hear martins. Not A martin, but LOTS of martins. In a neighboring yard were two dilapidated martin houses that looked as if they had never had a thing done to them. They were COVERED with martins…must have been 50 birds.

Spoke briefly with the couple sitting on the porch (I'm guessing they are part-time residents, only here till the weather turns "Wisconsin like"). They didn't know much about the birds, other than "they make a lot of noise"

Good grief….they make a lot of noise .

Maybe next year.

Terry R/New Richmond, WI

[taxidermy lady]

Terry I see the same thing here. I was driving home Sunday and one of the sparrow infested houses in town was covered with martins. I got to my house no sparrows and no martins. GO. FiGURE!!!!!

It is hard when you really want them and see them at a site that doesn't get any tender loving care. But nothing we can do but wait.

[Annie G]

Too funny! But I feel for ya Terry. The waiting part is no fun. I've seen houses covered in trees and tilting over full of martins. It seems like all the active colonies around me are tree encroached...maybe I should move mine in the trees. (not!) Annie

[Barry Wallace]

Hi Terry,

I think I know the launch you're talking about. Completely under the tree canopy. The trio has a broken rope and spins on the pole, it also had two pairs of sparrows nesting. When I saw it their were three pairs of martins feeding babies in that house. The other two houses were in almost as bad of shape, but still had martins. Hard to believe they were still nesting there!

[tlragsdale]

Barry….it was at one of the launch sites on Lake Wapogasset, north of our house about 20 miles. Man, would I love those martins to come visit…we'd take good care of them!

[Barry Wallace]

Yup, that's the one Terry. Their is a third house on top of a power pole farther back in the trees. Their was a pair of martins in that also. I'm surprised their are any cavities still open enough for martins, the sparrows have most of them stuffed full. Must be a combination of site fidelity and the lakeshore keeping them there.

We've had two horrible springs in a row that really knocked the birds down. maybe next year will be kinder and you will get birds. I remember seeing a picture of your site and I am surprised you haven't gotten any yet.

[Ladybug]

GEEZ: I feel the same way. Been trying for years too. At least we did have a successful nesting in 2012. Only one. SO I know how everyone
else feels. New landlord lives just 1.5 miles from me had Martins the second year. This is just his third year and he has a thriving colony.
Guess we will just have to have more patience.
SO VERY HARD TO DO.
Lets hope 2015 will BE A GREAT YEAR FOR ALL OF US LANDLORDS.
2015 has got to be Better. GOD BLESS ALL.

[taxidermy lady]

Is your neighbor more out in the open than you Ladybug?

[phldave]

I remember growing up I used to make wren houses, and I truly believe they prefer a rustic natural look. Not painted and clean. I am beginning to wonder if my martin house should be unpainted natural cedar.

[taxidermy lady]

I love your house, it is a nice looking martin house. I believe you will get a pair with your house. I have changed so much thinking that they would like this better, and "oh" wait maybe they will like that better. I'm about crazy thinking to much about it. Next year I am putting up my poles, pre nest each cavity, smear some mud, keep S&S out and that's it. They will do the rest. I have seen martins in the air everyday this week, they know where I am. Nothing will make them come unless they want to. I vote keep your house white with your blue trim.

[Dave Duit]

Stick with the white paint dave. It gets very frustrating for hopeful new landlords when a neighbor has a broken down ignored colony while you have the best set up and do everything according to the book and still no martins. I feel for everyone trying to get new colonies started. Keep your housing open this time of year to try to attract fly over SY martins for next year. Only 15% of baby martins will return to their colony of birth, the other 85% seek out new housing. It is in their genetics to avoid inbreeding. In fact, SY males will harass HY hatch year babies after fledging to try to stop the HY from imprinting on the colony in hopes that they will stand a greater chance of mating next year. Dawnsong from 3:30 to 7:00 AM 5 weeks after the ASYs arrive in your area. New wanna be colonies wait til this 4th or fifth week after ASY to open entrances; keeps the sparrow eradication down to a minimum for you. Smear a little mud around the entrances to make it appear there was a successful nest the year before. Offer crushed egg shells on a raise platform. Put up a few decoys at early arrival of SYs. Paint fake black entrance holes on the side of wood and metal houses. These are just a few helpful steps to try to attract new martins to colonies.