Getting Excited
I can't hardly wait to see the martins return. I have been painting and replacing the natural gourds. We have had martins for the past ten years up to approx. 20 pairs. Then we thought we were doing good and replaced all the natural gourds with vinyl. Well we found out quickly that they were not adapting to their new homes and were leaving. So we immediately put up more of the natural gourds and left them brown. They Martins started to return. Not all of them did. Last year we change back to all natural gourds again and the martins are returning. So I am really excited to see what happens this year. Last year we did have 10 pairs. Hopefully we will have more this year. They usually begin showing up middle of March.
Yes ! Yes! Yes! Finally!!!! Two pair have finally make it. Just as pretty as ever.
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Rodger Drye
- Posts: 671
- Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:07 am
- Location: NC/Mt. Pleasant
- Martin Colony History: Have been hosting and providing a sanactuary for Purple Martins for 30 years.
SJohnson,
My Dad used only Brown Plastic Gourds and he had a lot of birds. He said the birds did not like the white gourds or natural gourds. He gave me about 12 huge naturals that someone had given to him. I gave them away to a lady who did crafts. I think she wanted to paint them. I see you live in NC too. The earliest my birds have ever came in was March 01. Been keeping records for 26 years, but I too get excited every year.
Good Luck with your Birds for the 2016 Season.
Rodger
My Dad used only Brown Plastic Gourds and he had a lot of birds. He said the birds did not like the white gourds or natural gourds. He gave me about 12 huge naturals that someone had given to him. I gave them away to a lady who did crafts. I think she wanted to paint them. I see you live in NC too. The earliest my birds have ever came in was March 01. Been keeping records for 26 years, but I too get excited every year.
Good Luck with your Birds for the 2016 Season.
Rodger
PMCA Member
Have been Hosting and Protecting Martin's for 30 years.
Have been Hosting and Protecting Martin's for 30 years.
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MichaelH
- Posts: 586
- Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:10 am
- Location: IL/Gillespie
- Martin Colony History: 2015 28 cavities 2 pairs
2016 big upgrade 56cavities 16 pairs great year
2017. 76 cavities 36 pairs
2018. 146 cavities
Yes I hear ha cannot wait for march to get here so I can raise my houses and gourds ,hope your year is a good one.
2018 146 cavities.
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dhjohnson
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
- Location: North Carolina/Clayton
- Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy
Hi SJohnson,
I can't believe your birds are leaving because of natural versus plastic gourds. If you have an established colony they will stay regardless. It's more likely you have preditator, mites, or other issues contributing to their leaving. I thought that too early on...but they either love your site and housing or they are still deciding on which fence to perch.. Tough Love...but martins are picky...we love to speculate...but only they know why they choose a site or not!.
Best wishes for a successful season this year!
Debbie
I can't believe your birds are leaving because of natural versus plastic gourds. If you have an established colony they will stay regardless. It's more likely you have preditator, mites, or other issues contributing to their leaving. I thought that too early on...but they either love your site and housing or they are still deciding on which fence to perch.. Tough Love...but martins are picky...we love to speculate...but only they know why they choose a site or not!.
Best wishes for a successful season this year!
Debbie
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!