More Females arrive & Eggs

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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Did a nest check 2 days ago....7 nests with possibly a few more. Today's nest check revealed 10 nests with possibly 2 more. So I have gotten a few more females, but have not been able to get an accurate ID on them as to ASY/SY. They are just moving about too much/chasing/fighting/nest building/swapping cavities & mates/etc. I just love this activity & all the sounds they make.....ahhh Spring & Martins :).

I have 2 nests with 3 eggs each so far.

Also the stinkers ripped the leaves off my newly planted Brussel Sprout plants yesterday!! One year they ripped our pea plants apart.

As best as I can tell right now I have 10 pair & 2 spare males. I think I have only 1 SY Male so far.

Had rain last ight, more coming today with T-Storms possibly later today. Rain forecast for Sunday, Monday & Tuesday. So I will probably be out flipping crickets :). Parrots won't be happy tho - they can't go out to the aviary. They hate rain.

I counted 6 Chimney Swifts this morning. Picked up a couple in the last 2 days.

Toy in PA
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Birdguy / OH
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri May 18, 2012 2:05 pm
Location: Cincinnati Ohio area

How fun! Sounds like you have your own DIY bird sanctuary!
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Dan G
Posts: 446
Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:52 pm
Location: PA/Bellefonte
Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius.
Have had visitor every year 2014-24.
Two large trees removed in fall 2024 and moved T-14 to a more open location.
2025- 1 SY pair. Fledged 2.
2026- no pairs. One daily SYM here daily. Named him Riggs!

Sounds good Toy. We have peas and eventually brussel sprouts. Since i don't care for either, the martins are welcome to all of them!
We didnt get the rain here that was expected.
Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Dan G wrote:Sounds good Toy. We have peas and eventually brussel sprouts. Since i don't care for either, the martins are welcome to all of them!
We didnt get the rain here that was expected.
We didn't get the rain either, but expect rain today. Now have 11 nests (all ASY Males) & 2 spare SY Males. 14 eggs as of yesterday.

Toy in PA
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Matt F.
Posts: 3978
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Houston, TX

Great update Toy!
Things are really hopping at your site!
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

Toy,

I don't get a chance to post as often but wanted to wish you the very best out there in the east this season.

You are defying the odds with your colony in town there. Good job.

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Doug Martin - PA wrote:Toy,

I don't get a chance to post as often but wanted to wish you the very best out there in the east this season.

You are defying the odds with your colony in town there. Good job.

Doug
Thanks Doug :).

Before the 1972 flood our town had lots of small martin colonies. Now it's just mine & they chose my yard back in 1998. They somehow knew I'd take care of them when they landed that first day & kept visiting until I got them a house. I'm situated between a large creek & a river, surrounded by farms & forest. North of me is all forest, farms & tiny villages to the NY border, so no martins that I know of. We have seen houses, that may have once had colonies, but no martins anymore. There were some east of me in the next county, but lack of proper maintenance of the housing caused them to leave.

My goal is to fill my 2 houses one day. That would be 20 pair. After that I hope the younger generations wake up, put down their x-boxes/cell phones/etc & find nature. If they don't I fear many colonies will be in trouble in the future.

The local Audubon chapter is to come to my place for a Martin Event in June. I hope to get some of them to get kids involved in birding/martins.

Toy in PA
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Matt F.
Posts: 3978
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Houston, TX

ToyinPA wrote: After that I hope the younger generations wake up, put down their x-boxes/cell phones/etc & find nature. If they don't I fear many colonies will be in trouble in the future.
You are so right Toy.
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