Might try again

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
zag
Posts: 63
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:08 am
Location: MI

Had a plastic house up last year, in a remote location, but took it down because of the lack of Martins in Michigan last year... Location has been bulldozed in the fall 2014, area is more wide open now than it was last year. So considering doing it again... Might build a house, not sure yet though, if the numbers are down, on the migration, believe me, I'll be doing a lot of studying, I won't build a thing an will definitely scrap the 2015 season..
Top
James Strickland FL
Posts: 2249
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
Location: Reidsville NC
Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair

The only way to improve number is to put housing. So please put one up you never know.
PMCA MEMBER
Top
rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

Field Of Dreams
Build it and they will come.
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
Top
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.

zag,
I wish you would put something up. More martins in your area could start with your housing.
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.
Top
taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

Oh yes Zag please put your house up! We need you and they surely need you! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
Top
Anthony Neira
Posts: 1319
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
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 !

Zag, it's just like the lottery, if you don't play, that 's 100% guarantee you'll get Nothing! (Hey, $562.00 for $1.00 this past summer ain't bad :wink: !) So now that I have explained this all Scientifically and such, Please don't give up, Buy 1 Martin ticket & play, you And the Birds just might all come out Winners!!
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
Top
tim414
Posts: 247
Joined: Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:52 am
Location: NorthTX/Pottsboro/Lake Texoma

I agree with above. Put it up if you can check it.


PLEASE: Don't give HOSP or Starlings a comfy new home though!!!
Top
Lawrence Berger~MI
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2004 2:28 pm
Location: Michigan Blissfield

I don't know where you are in Mich. but I'm in Blissfield and I have a colony of about 80 pair every year. I fledge over 300 birds every year so hang in there and I'm sure some Mich. birds will come your way. Good luck.
Martins are my treasure.
Top
DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

Wide open spaces...sounds like you have a better chance with just that this year. Put up a house/gourds! The reward is so worth it.

Lawrence, NICE!!

Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
Top
Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2442
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged

Zag -- Built it and they will come in time..

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Top
Henry Limpet
Posts: 122
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:48 pm
Location: IN./Howe, via the s/w side of Chicago
Martin Colony History: Trendsetter-8. Set up in 2014 at my summer cottage, a beautiful natural inland lake in N.E. Indiana's Amish Country. T-8 is on cleared land behind my pole barn and adjacent to a farmer's field

2015: Had several flyovers in early June with 1 dedicated SYM visitor who visited each day for well over a month. He brought by a few PM "parades", with 8-12 PM's who would visit all at once, but soon leave. (Added 2 gourds to bottom of the T-8). We discovered a large (Amish) colony apx. 3/4 mile South of our T-8. We think this will eventually be our "feeder" colony.

2016: Put up a Trio G'Pa lakeside. Overall, not as much interest as 2015, likely because of our vacation to Gulf Shores, AL. in early June.

2017: Finally switched over to wheat straw. Success!! One nesting pair. Fledged 4!
2018: Zilch.
2019: Slow start, nothing observed by mid June. Wet, cold Spring a factor??
2020: Barely any sightings.
2021: Several observed high in the sky, eating. No interest so far!

I agree. It only takes one successful pair to get started, right? Search "Purple Martin Nick Butler Bolingbrook" in Youtube.com

That is my new favorite video. Sadly, I don't think his "spot" is still in business. I'm pretty sure his land has been developed over the years.

My dream is to have my site looking like his in my golden years. :wink:

Get busy with those 2015 plans, ZAG!
Be careful how you wish . . for wishes can come true . . be sure that every wish you make is one that's right for you!
Top
bwenger
Posts: 1057
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:24 pm
Location: Pennsylvania/Espyville/Pymatuning Reservoir Area
Martin Colony History: Taking care of 11 active public colonies and trying to start two more in northwestern PA. Also attempting to restart another one in southwestern PA, in Collier Township's Hilltop Park. In 2017, not sure what happened but the ASY male returned and then a couple of weeks later he was gone. It could have been weather related. No other birds showed up. I had a starling nesting at the Public site that I had trouble getting rid of.
In 2018, we fledged 629 martins at all of the sites.

Hang in there and try and get martins! However long it may take you, hosting martins will be one of the most rewarding experiences that you will enjoy.

Check the following site for Michigan landlords:

http://www.purplemartin.org/mentorprogram/ . Check for some mentors in your area.

You can also check the Scout Report, check the prior years by clicking on the date, 2014, 2013 etc and then for Michigan. Look for landlords that have posted their locations in there. You may see someone relatively close that you can send a private message to.

If you have any questions about martins, feel free to send me an email. I am from Pennsylvania, but will gladly help out in whatever way that I can!

Bill
[email protected]
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Purple Martin Forum”