For us "Wannabe" landlords

Tim Mangan-Kansas · Tue May 05, 2015 4:23 pm

Sharon:
Yes, I used the "Songbird Magnet" bird caller at both of my locations to help start my colony's. I played it on medium level and throughout the day. The martin recordings is great to bring martins down to look at your site, but if they don't like your site, they will not stay.
I keep my decoys up throughout the martin season. They are a great tool to help against hawk attacks and that is the main reason I use them.

Mitch:
My first colony was on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Living on the lake, I was fortunate to get martins my first year. After several years, we sold our lake home and moved further out in the country. Even though I had about a dozen large pine trees removed from our property, I was still never able to attract nesting martins. Just too many trees surrounding our house. Our last year there, I did attract HY martins by playing the martin recording. They would come down to look as they were leaving the large Lake Ouachita roost each morning before heading to S.A.

Wishing you the best this season.

Tim

taxidermy lady · Tue May 05, 2015 5:20 pm

Well apparently that's what is happening here! They come in then leave! Nothing this year seems to be the least bit interested! I have made it better. Makes me think I put to much pre-nest or smeared to much mudd or my houses not high enough! So many things that can make it happen or not make it happen!
I have watched the martins at a site in town and the female stays inside while the male is gone! Then when he comes in she leaves. They have to guard the cavity 24-7 because of all the trash birds! They just don't realize how easy it could be!!!

avesrun · Tue May 05, 2015 6:17 pm

Just be ready TLady; they will come! Never underestimate the power of prayer.
TimG

avesrun · Tue May 05, 2015 6:53 pm

Furthermore, it may be wishful thinking, but I'm agreeing with Mr. Barrow's earlier observation that migration is approximately 2wks. Behind. Hoping for a little action last two weeks of May. But regardless my site has been more devoid of Martins than ever before for this point in the season in this my third year of quest for nesting Martins.

taxidermy lady · Tue May 05, 2015 6:57 pm

Yes we have a lot of time left! I am doing my share of talking to the man above!
The only thing that is against me is the tree row bordering my property and the farmers is 90 ft. away! There is 2 tall white oaks about 70 ft. Tall. I am good with everything else, so it could be worse! Good luck to all!

avesrun · Tue May 05, 2015 7:08 pm

Yeah but you've got open flyways in 3 directions which should be more than ample imo. I'm in the same boat with a line of trees 90ft with WIDE open otherwise. Not convinced at this point that it has been a negative factor . My worst factor is living in an overall low martin population area.

Bill Hyde · Tue May 05, 2015 7:42 pm

After a much longer than usual wait, the Purple Martin scouts finally showed up here in the farthest northern area of Illinois. Did I get dismayed? You're darn tootin' I did; but on April 29, things improved

and here I am on May 5, with lots of newcomers. The floodgates aren't completely open, but we are seeing northern orioles, orchard orioles, martins, and an array of other migrating species that all are late arrivals. The gourds are not yet full but each day there are more birds showing up. Let us all see what this week brings.

avesrun · Tue May 05, 2015 8:27 pm

Same thing here Bill in central Iowa. This week brought first of year birds to my yard incl.Baltimore Orioles, Barn Swallows, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks,Tennessee Warblers, Northern Parula Warblers Warblers, Swainson's Thrush and other birds. Next week or two should be good for more new arrivals.

tlragsdale · Wed May 06, 2015 1:13 am

Tim, Mitch and the rest of the gang…..the pair we had visiting day before yesterday seems to have called the Troyer gourd on the Gemini rack home. Haven't seen any gathering/nest building, but they've been returning to the same gourd often, and spent the last couple of nights.

Michelle and I are both RN's, and work evenings. It's SO dang hard to leave for work right after lunch, knowing we won't be here to watch the martins in the evening.

Wishing the best to you all in your/our efforts to attract more of these awesome birds. Let us know how your season progresses.

Terry & Michelle
New Richmond, WI

Tim Mangan-Kansas · Wed May 06, 2015 5:07 am

Terry:

Really happy for you. With a pair spending the night, you are on your way to starting a colony. Predator control is your main concern right now. This being your first pair, unless you see an immediate problem, I would not disturb them with nest checks till after you see them bringing in green leaves to the nest. Hopefully they will go out during the day and recruit other martins to your site.

Tim

taxidermy lady · Wed May 06, 2015 5:09 am

Yes great news Terry, I hope your colony grows to get more martins in the air! Very happy for you!

tlragsdale · Wed May 06, 2015 8:20 am

Thanks Sharon and Tim for the encouraging words….I'm taking Tim's advice and treading lightly. I do go out and introduce myself on occasion, and they usually sit on the gourd and take in the ol' guy walking around in the yard.

Tim, the Gemini Rack doesn't yet have any type of aerial predator guard. All the Troyer gourds have SREH entrances, and there is--of course--a pole guard in-place.

Thanks, again, for the advice/encouragement. Hope this note finds everyone well.

Terry

MamaBruff · Wed May 06, 2015 10:40 am

Congrats Terry and Michelle! You are off to a good start!

tlragsdale · Wed May 06, 2015 3:42 pm

Thanks, Mary. Keeping our fingers crossed, and thoughts positive

Terry & Michelle

Mitch Booth · Tue May 12, 2015 1:43 pm

Sharon and Mary,

I've been trying to follow your guy's progress. Any luck yet?

Mitch

taxidermy lady · Tue May 12, 2015 4:35 pm

I have a female snooping around with my SYM! It is to soon to say what will happen! She's been in his gourd several times today!

MamaBruff · Tue May 12, 2015 8:31 pm

Like a set of high mileage tires, I am "Worn Slick". When I left town on Monday to go help my daughter with new first grandbaby, I closed all the PM compartments and traps, knowing that hubby wouldn't tend them, and I didn't want to come home to a mess. Won't be back home until Sunday nite. But hubby has strict instructions to open PM compartments if PMs show up.

Mitch Booth · Wed May 13, 2015 12:52 pm

I had 2 SYF and 1 ASYM spend the night last night. I know they haven't laid eggs but this is the earliest I've had this much activity. Keeping my fingers crossed!!

Mitch

MamaBruff · Wed May 13, 2015 5:48 pm

Oh Mitch! How exciting!! I hope and pray that you are successful this year! You are 1 bird short of 2 pair, which technically would make you a "real" landlord!! How sweet it would be!

Mitch Booth · Thu May 14, 2015 11:11 am

Yes I'm thrilled. I had a 4th martin show up this morning along with the other 3 that have been spending the night for several nights. He was a second year male so maybe he'll pair up with my lone female.

The adult ASY martin is obviously trained on flipped eggs as we've had some cold weather and he took to them immediately with his mate but the other female did not even fly from the rack.

Keeping my fingers crossed for a few pair this year to get my colony up and started.

Mitch