Cool today but did get up to 50 and I did see a few bugs flying around. Hoping for warm weather later in the week and the rest of the flock on the way.
I tawt I taw a p...........!
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John Carter
- Posts: 132
- Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2004 1:15 am
- Location: Burlington/Iowa
8 a.m. starlings at the gourd rack, out the door to set traps in the super gourds. Rack coming down, out of the corner of vision a flash of purple and an accompanying gurgle....could it be a martin.....through the trees and out of sight in a blink of an eye...could it really be a martin. Not sure enough to report so kept an eye pealed and an ear open while working out side most of the day, no more sighting. 4 p.m. getting ready to take my ever patient spouse out to dinner and grocery shopping. Looking out the patio window, could it be real....a ASY male perched on Trio. A dash for the camera a quick flash, go him. Walked out to greet him and was in turn greeted by a second ASY male and a ASY female flying overhead. It took a while to get a positive identification cause I had to sort the birds from the floater in my right eye that looks like an incoming martin. Back home around 6:30 and it looked like gourd 19 and 6 were occupied. Good day.!
Cool today but did get up to 50 and I did see a few bugs flying around. Hoping for warm weather later in the week and the rest of the flock on the way.
Cool today but did get up to 50 and I did see a few bugs flying around. Hoping for warm weather later in the week and the rest of the flock on the way.
john in SE IA
Kalona is March 28 starts at 9:00am going north on higway 1 to Johnson-Washington Rd. turn east follow signs you go about mile.
I'm a member of pmca,iowa purple martin org. which has ask me to be a mentor of jefferson county,ia. and citizen assistant for purple martins of Griggsville,Il.
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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.
John,
Congratulations on your martins!
I really admire your Trio Grandpa. I have always preferred the older Trio houses with the spaghetti railings. The newer railings work great and I am sure have their advantages so I may just be nostalgic.
You are using my favorite English House Sparrow trap, the Spar-O-Door. They are so durable and effective. I am going to make a portable sparrow trap using the Spar-O-Door to move around to different mentees' colonies.
Hope you have a great season!
Mark.
Congratulations on your martins!
I really admire your Trio Grandpa. I have always preferred the older Trio houses with the spaghetti railings. The newer railings work great and I am sure have their advantages so I may just be nostalgic.
You are using my favorite English House Sparrow trap, the Spar-O-Door. They are so durable and effective. I am going to make a portable sparrow trap using the Spar-O-Door to move around to different mentees' colonies.
Hope you have a great season!
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.