PM's found T-14 but not staying
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GaryU
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:49 pm
- Location: PA/Transfer
- Martin Colony History: 1st year....just visitors.
2nd ......praying!.......prayers answered 5/28/16 with 10 couples and lots of 1st year males. Making improvements and planning for 2017 and beyond.
3rd year.....all compartments on both poles (28 + 18) and planning on 18 more for 2018.
2018 added gourd rack (18 gourds)
4th/5th/6th year ......established colony.
2022 added 2 new poles with polywood T-14’s. Filled up 1st year in use.
2025 adding 3 new poles with polywood T-14’s +12 gourds.
Total: 8 poles, 84 T-14 compartments, 64 gourds. (148 nest cavities)
First attempt at the PM housing. I have a farm in Mercer county PA, opened the T-14 on mother's day. Shot a few house sparrows but no PM's until May 28 th. I observed 3 couples of birds (sub adults) going in and out of compartments. The next day only a single male sub adult on the perches. This a.m. I had 2 couples sub adults both in compartments most of the day. At dusk no birds. Is this normal? How long until they commit to nesting? Any help or comments would be appreciated. Gary
Hi Gary welcome to the forum. Usually within a week or two once they're spending a little bit of time there they should be spending the night specially that it's getting a little later in the year. Good luck in your first year . Ed
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GaryU
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:49 pm
- Location: PA/Transfer
- Martin Colony History: 1st year....just visitors.
2nd ......praying!.......prayers answered 5/28/16 with 10 couples and lots of 1st year males. Making improvements and planning for 2017 and beyond.
3rd year.....all compartments on both poles (28 + 18) and planning on 18 more for 2018.
2018 added gourd rack (18 gourds)
4th/5th/6th year ......established colony.
2022 added 2 new poles with polywood T-14’s. Filled up 1st year in use.
2025 adding 3 new poles with polywood T-14’s +12 gourds.
Total: 8 poles, 84 T-14 compartments, 64 gourds. (148 nest cavities)
Thanks for the response Ed, I appreciate the info. This has been a wonderful learning experience for me. I hope to get a nesting pair this year. PM folks are very kind and helpful. Gary
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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!
H Gary. May 28 was my 1st sighting this year as well and then again yesterday. This is my 2cnd year of trying. As much of a thrill it is when you see one, it is that much of a disappointment when they vanish. If they are going in to compartments to inspect, that is a good sign. Keep us posted.
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.
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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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.
Hi Gary,
From what I have been hearing from different landlords, we should be seeing more SY birds arriving in western PA in the next several days to a week or so.
I was fortunate to get some pairs this year to a T14 and gourds outside of Carnegie, PA, the western side of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County. It appears that we have 5 birds there at this time.
Also, in the Pymatuning area, I have had a SY male hanging around since last Saturday. He has been bringing in different birds about every half hour, but he has been unable to get a female to stay at this time.
Let me know if you need an Informational Pamphlet on Purple Martins that the PMCA puts out. I have some and I can mail it to you. You should be in a good spot, you have New Wilmington and Volant a little to your south, and Atlantic and the Pymatuning sites a little further north. I am not sure if there is still an active site at Shenango Reservoir. As of Friday, I had about 360 eggs and 3 young at seven public sites around the Pymatuning area that I take care of. If you need anything, don't hesitate to email me at the address below.
Bill Wenger
Lakeland Area Purple Martin Association
Northwest PA
[email protected]
From what I have been hearing from different landlords, we should be seeing more SY birds arriving in western PA in the next several days to a week or so.
I was fortunate to get some pairs this year to a T14 and gourds outside of Carnegie, PA, the western side of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County. It appears that we have 5 birds there at this time.
Also, in the Pymatuning area, I have had a SY male hanging around since last Saturday. He has been bringing in different birds about every half hour, but he has been unable to get a female to stay at this time.
Let me know if you need an Informational Pamphlet on Purple Martins that the PMCA puts out. I have some and I can mail it to you. You should be in a good spot, you have New Wilmington and Volant a little to your south, and Atlantic and the Pymatuning sites a little further north. I am not sure if there is still an active site at Shenango Reservoir. As of Friday, I had about 360 eggs and 3 young at seven public sites around the Pymatuning area that I take care of. If you need anything, don't hesitate to email me at the address below.
Bill Wenger
Lakeland Area Purple Martin Association
Northwest PA
[email protected]
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GaryU
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:49 pm
- Location: PA/Transfer
- Martin Colony History: 1st year....just visitors.
2nd ......praying!.......prayers answered 5/28/16 with 10 couples and lots of 1st year males. Making improvements and planning for 2017 and beyond.
3rd year.....all compartments on both poles (28 + 18) and planning on 18 more for 2018.
2018 added gourd rack (18 gourds)
4th/5th/6th year ......established colony.
2022 added 2 new poles with polywood T-14’s. Filled up 1st year in use.
2025 adding 3 new poles with polywood T-14’s +12 gourds.
Total: 8 poles, 84 T-14 compartments, 64 gourds. (148 nest cavities)
I really appreciate all of the 'local' info. I also appreciate any and all PM biology staples. Dan, I experienced the thrill of discovering my visitors and the disappointment of my guest leaving. Thanks for lending me that kind support.
Bill, I have been enjoying your Pymie colonies for a few years, they inspired me to pursue this fascinating hobby (life style). Your info was so helpful and has given me a lot to look forward too. The kind words, the helpfulness and the wonderful guidance means the world to me. Thank you, I will be picking your brain.
Gary
Bill, I have been enjoying your Pymie colonies for a few years, they inspired me to pursue this fascinating hobby (life style). Your info was so helpful and has given me a lot to look forward too. The kind words, the helpfulness and the wonderful guidance means the world to me. Thank you, I will be picking your brain.
Gary