NEXT YEAR

[diane vB]

What if next year I decide to not do this and keep everything closed up for a year to see if I want to continue being a landlord? Between killing sparrows and starlings and finding 20 dead babies and now the PM's are gone all day while there's still a fledgling in the nest alone, who knows there cld be more than one? Only one flew out when I was trying to get the door open! I don't think that I can continue to do this. Will they come back the year after to try again? If I haven't sold everything by then?

[Louise Chambers]

If you remove or block all housing next year, they will not return the year after, since they will have found new places to nest. It is hard work, especially never-ending control of house sparrows for some landlords, feeding or weather problems for others. Hang in there - you'll have a long time to rest up and prepare for next year.

[diane vB]

Thanks Louise but these guys found it once, next time new PM's will find it. IF I ever do this again!

[DebA]

Maybe this isn't for you. I am finishing my 7th year. I look at things as 'glass half full', not only with PM's but I guess my whole life.

I found 18 dead almost ready to fledge babies this year. I pride myself in being better than that. One hot Monday creeped up on me. I was busy working and didn't realize we got to 111 degrees that day. For the first time I had jumpers. If only I had dropped the houses and placed an ice pack in their compartment I wouldn't have had any deaths. The rest of that week I did just that and had successful fledging of the remaining fifteen babies.

I didn't post about it. I was ticked at myself. I dug a mass grave. Very low moment. But here is where we go different paths...I got through that by loving the other martins still here. They thrived and I watched parents teach babies to fly in the treetops and hunt bugs. They always lift my spirits. Then we had a mini roost going on around our farm. HY martins lining our power lines. One night for the second time ever I watched HY's feed on a huge swarm of dragon flies. Great learning moment for them. Soon after I only saw everyone around dark when they came back to roost for nighttime. Nothing during the day. I've been gone from home for four days and just returned. I suspect my season is over but I will be out there tonight to see.

So in a glass half full way I mourn my losses and am thankful for all the birds I helped put in the sky. I cannot imagine not doing all of this again. Next March I will be nutso with anticipation to see that first one back. It would CRUSH me to watch my returnees try to get into THEIR house and not be able to. I would definitely have to take the systems down. So I guess we are different and I just can't get you on this one. So again, maybe this really isn't for you if it has affected you is this way.

Deb

[diane vB]

Thanks Deb for your thoughts. As I look out my kitchen window I see about a dozen martins still here and hear them! Yes I thought about seeing them next spring not being able to get into their houses also, don't like the thought. I never thought about the ice packs. You know, I'm turning 60 next week and just can't wrap my head around the thought! You keep yourself slim and you get osteoporosis , you're damned if you do and damned if you don't! So I guess there's a lot more going on with me than meets the eye lol
Ok, you may have talked me into continuing next year but what do I do about the 60?

[Larry A Kronemeyer]

Diane
It was hard to read your post. I know exactly what you are going through and the emotions that go with it. It's not an easy hobby. There's always a low point to every year, and it can be very upsetting. It's during those low points that I seriously consider taking down the housing and giving up. Like, why am I doing this to myself?
THEN my husband reminds me of how many martins have fledged from our small colony. That if I don't have my housing up in March the scouts would surely perish because few local landlords have the knowledge or desire to help these birds. Lots of birds died this spring due to weather extremes, but my birds made it through..with our help. It is a commitment. I like to think I'm doing something good. (Better to be called crazy martin lady than crazy cat lady)
And then there's the birds themselves. Wow, what can I say except they get under your skin. Such a fantastic little bird. Their song and calls, their antics, and their amazing resilience. We look for that scout every spring and are thrilled to see him arrive. When they no longer come back after all have fledged and gone, it's a bit sad. By then I'm forgetting about all the hard work and emotions of this past season. Time to rest
And get ready for next year
.. There is always plenty of support here on this forum. Do what's best for yourself. No one will fault you, we've all been at that same crossroads. Hang in there if you can.
Sorry for the long post..hope it helps.
Gotta go! I think I hear a mid-morning fly over....chur chur!

Judy

[diane vB]

Thanks Judy, we could start a support group lol

[taxidermy lady]

Very well said DebA and Judy. I have been through some lows and never had the chance to hold a baby yet. Diane it is hard to read stories of losing these precious little guys when I think, wow that could have been mine next year! We loose chickens, cows, pigs etc. on the farm. Been doing this since I was a little girl. I guess it's something we have to live with because it happens!
Martins need our help! Good luck next year!

[diane vB]

Hi Sharon, you have all convinced me to go another year. I will load up on ice packs etc. everything will have SREH entries next year and think of the ones that fledge not the ones that die! Onwards and forward!

[Larry A Kronemeyer]

Hahaha
I like the support group idea. We all kind of need a 12-step program to get us through..lol.
Hey, it was a fly-by. ASY males and a bunch of HYs. Some of the HYs looked recently fledged, stubby tails and a lot of flapping. Looks like this areas renests are still fledging. I'm thrilled they brought the babes by for a look at my place.

Deb,
Sorry to hear about your terrible losses. The mass grave thing, I did that in 2012 during the drought and heat ..never talked about it because I felt like such a failure. It happened. Thought about giving up, but I'm still here. I'm glad you shared your story with us. It helps us all.

Judy

[~Ray~Gingerich]

Hang in there Diane! You are very fortunate to even have a colony, there are some who would give up an arm or a leg just to have them. There will always be some up and down years. As for me I will keep my colony even if I have to crawl out there to care for them.

[diane vB]

Ray, I had Martins the very first year that I put up my 8 man trio! I've expanded the houses to be only 4 compartments now. As well my castle has 6 expanded compartments, the other 12 I kept closed as I had 10 gourds. Hard to keep tract of them . I will try again next year, thanks for all your support.

[Archer]

"Ok, you may have talked me into continuing next year but what do I do about the 60?" Hey Diane, about being 60(or any age for that matter) a former teacher of mind helped me with this problem. It's just a number. Be thankful for the time that God has given you, and hang on for the ride. The best is yet to come.

[diane vB]

OMG, for u to address the issue is one thing but I always look to this one yard on my way to work to look at their Great Pyrenees as I had one once and his name is Archer! What a coincidence! I didn't want to belaber the issue but thanks for commenting! We're going to Toronto for 4 days to play tourist, eat, drink and be merry!! Lol yes, I still have my health, work as an RN. U wouldn't believe how many are over weight! I'm still a pretty good specimen for a senior. The first time a girl at McDonald's offered me a seniors coffee it took me days to get over it . I later asked her why? She said it was easier than making change! The Martins keep me hopping as I have to climb my fence to get to them. They keep me going! . Thanks

[Archer]

Hey, sounds like you found your missing mojo! Party on!

[Matt F.]

Diane,
All of the deep feelings and emotions you conveyed in that first post, to me made it crystal clear that you are exactly the type of wonderful landlord that the Martins desperately need, and that we as the Martin community need with us.
I (and probably many others) breathed a big sigh of relief, after you stated you were going to keep going with the Martins next year. (Deb has a way with words - she is awesome!)
You are definitely in great company here.

[diane vB]

Thank you to everyone for your support! I will continue next year with some modifications. I hear sparrows don't have much homing abilities. I will either drive them to the city where I work or give them to a friend that rehabilitates raptors. My gourds will all have SREH's and I may take down the Trio accommodations as they get too hot. That being said they had SREH and were the successful one in producing fledged babies this year not the gourds! I may have to rethink that strategy. Let's all pray that next year we find the least amount of deceased babies. I have a new predator that I've never come across before, I found a brown and white dead weezil on my way to the PM house. Guess I'll have to install predator guards too. Well have a good season off. Some PM's have just arrived to the houses. Now the chore of washing them down and getting rid of the mites! I just love it when they get on u and start crawling up your arms take care everyone.

[avesrun]

Hi Diane. Glad to hear you're staying in the game. As the Ranger motto states : "Adapt and Overcome ". I think you're doing a good job of that.
TimG

[diane vB]

Thanks Tim, will try one more year! Let's hope next year is not as dismal as this one for deaths.