Both our next-door neighbors and ourselves have our gourd racks up but we have had no takers (except a few house sparrows). Everything else is open and ready for business.
Where are "our" martins?
This is an open question for landlords in northern Illinois, specifically in or near Winnebago County. We have had a budding colony of purple martins for the past few years, but none have shown up (yet) this year. It is not unusual to notice weather anomalies hereabouts, and we seem to have another this season. Anyone care to comment?
Both our next-door neighbors and ourselves have our gourd racks up but we have had no takers (except a few house sparrows). Everything else is open and ready for business.
Both our next-door neighbors and ourselves have our gourd racks up but we have had no takers (except a few house sparrows). Everything else is open and ready for business.
PMCA member
2011 - 1 SY pair w/ 2 HY fledged
2012 - 5 breeding pairs
2013 - 14 nesting pairs and several singles
2014 - 8 nesting pairs
2015 - 5 nesting prs w/mostly ASY parents
2011 - 1 SY pair w/ 2 HY fledged
2012 - 5 breeding pairs
2013 - 14 nesting pairs and several singles
2014 - 8 nesting pairs
2015 - 5 nesting prs w/mostly ASY parents
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DornCounty
- Posts: 2169
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
- Location: Rural SE Kansas
- Martin Colony History: .
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Trio-Jedi
sorry to barge in here...
How many did you fledge last year? I noticed your colony declined significantly last year.
How many did you fledge last year? I noticed your colony declined significantly last year.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
We had a good percentage fledge although I cannot tell you the exact numbers because some of our colony is in the neighbor's yard and hard to count. But something is fishy as to numbers here in our area. For example, one colony in the next county north of us (in Wisconsin) had a similar weather anomaly last season; his colony, which had consistently been around 30 pairs, only had one nesting pair of martins in 2014. Our fall-off in total numbers last year wasn't what we had hoped for since our numbers has been increasing annually. It is so-o-o-o puzzling but we remain hopeful that the migration is yet to come.
PMCA member
2011 - 1 SY pair w/ 2 HY fledged
2012 - 5 breeding pairs
2013 - 14 nesting pairs and several singles
2014 - 8 nesting pairs
2015 - 5 nesting prs w/mostly ASY parents
2011 - 1 SY pair w/ 2 HY fledged
2012 - 5 breeding pairs
2013 - 14 nesting pairs and several singles
2014 - 8 nesting pairs
2015 - 5 nesting prs w/mostly ASY parents
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DELTETE IL
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:56 am
- Location: IL/Spring Grove
Bill, we are about 65 miles east of your location. Our season so far is about same as last year, and last year was a good one for us. Perhaps the weather we had recently in northern Illinois has had some effect in your area. There is an established site just north of us in Twin Lakes WI that is on water and as of this date, we have not seen any PM action.
2014 - 19 nests, 81 hatched - 74 fledged
2013 -11 nests, 47 hatched - 40 fledged
2013 -11 nests, 47 hatched - 40 fledged
Bill don't give up hope yet. It's still early! As we discussed, if I could I could send some your way, as my 2015 colony is starting strong. If you need a purple Martin fix, maybe you can swing by this week? Let me know.
Bill Hyde wrote:This is an open question for landlords in northern Illinois, specifically in or near Winnebago County. We have had a budding colony of purple martins for the past few years, but none have shown up (yet) this year. It is not unusual to notice weather anomalies hereabouts, and we seem to have another this season. Anyone care to comment?
Both our next-door neighbors and ourselves have our gourd racks up but we have had no takers (except a few house sparrows). Everything else is open and ready for business.
2022 starting new colony in Sun City Center, FL