PURPLE MARTIN AT OUR SCHOOL IN CENTRAL PA!!!!
My class was just finishing their 3rd day of state testing, when I looked out the window and their was an ASY male soaring around the gourd rack. The kids are so excited. It's funny how each year it is an incredible feeling when you see the first one. As we were watching him....a bald eagle flew over our school!!! It was an incredible moment.
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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!
Congrats. I was waiting to 'here' from you. (I'm not a teacher) 
Are the TS there as well? Speaking of eagles, has your class ever watched the decorah eagles live cam on line? Very informative and several classes watch and join in the chat discussion that goes on.
Are the TS there as well? Speaking of eagles, has your class ever watched the decorah eagles live cam on line? Very informative and several classes watch and join in the chat discussion that goes on.
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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taxidermy lady
- Posts: 2988
- Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
- Location: IL/Ellis Grove
- Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!
Yes congratulations, the children will be well educated about purple martins! 
Sharon from southern Illinois
Dan G, That's a good one! We have tree swallows EVERYWHERE! They are even starting to build a nest in the "my spy birdhouse" on our classroom's window. We have never watched that nest cam. I will have to check it out. We have looked at the eagle nest cam in Hanover. Also, I had a barn swallow at my house this morning.Dan G wrote:Congrats. I was waiting to 'here' from you. (I'm not a teacher)
Are the TS there as well? Speaking of eagles, has your class ever watched the decorah eagles live cam on line? Very informative and several classes watch and join in the chat discussion that goes on.
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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!
Unfortunately, i dont think the Hanover egg is going to hatch, but 2 of 3 decorah eggs hatched.
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.
Dan G, I got home from school last night, and I had a female martin at my gourd rack. I think it is the original female from 2 years ago, because she kept going in the same gourd she has nested in the past two years. Her mate disappeared in the middle of the season last year, and she continued to feed the babies on her own. From what I saw, all 5 babies fledged! I sure hope you get a pair to stay this year!!!Dan G wrote:Unfortunately, i dont think the Hanover egg is going to hatch, but 2 of 3 decorah eggs hatched.
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
EXCELLENT! So happy to read that you are getting the young generation interested in purple martins and other birds.
Thanks you guys! You all have a good sense of humor on this forum. My fifth graders really like that people respond to our posts.JudyA wrote:HunterH,
Congratulations! As far as grammar, I think their is a good chance that everyone makes that mistake at one time or another even when they no better!
- Judy
I am trying to do my best. There is so much to be learned from nature. My students all live in a very rural setting. I am trying to instill in them to appreciate wildlife and learn not to shoot birds with bbguns, etc. (although we do have a very effective house sparrow trapping operation going on here at our school. Lol)Carlton wrote:EXCELLENT! So happy to read that you are getting the young generation interested in purple martins and other birds.