Should i put house up this year or not?

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hunt4martins
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:23 am
Location: US

Well, life throws curvballs and my wife and i just had twins the same weekend everyone was talking about putting house up.
Needless to say my new house still sits in my barn as i am writing this today and wonder b/c most of my time is now spent at hospital during the day if i should even put my house up at all?
I know the #1 rule is never let a hsp or tree swallow make a nest in house and i know i cant watch it closely now as our 2 little ones are in nicu unit and everything is going well so far, but there going to be in here for atleast a month more...any thoughts?
Maybe next year...
Thanks guys!!!
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hunt4martins
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:23 am
Location: US

hunt4martins wrote:Well, life throws curvballs and my wife and i just had twins the same weekend everyone was talking about putting house up.
Needless to say my new house still sits in my barn as i am writing this today and wonder b/c most of my time is now spent at hospital during the day if i should even put my house up at all?
I know the #1 rule is never let a hsp or tree swallow make a nest in house and i know i cant watch it closely now as our 2 little ones are in nicu unit and everything is going well so far, but there going to be in here for atleast a month more...any thoughts?
Maybe next year...
Thanks guys!!!
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Emil Pampell-Tx
Posts: 6743
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas

If you have a wide open site, you may not be bothered much with starlings, ts, and sparrows, so I would put it up. If the they show up in heavy numbers, you can always take it down if you are unable to give it proper care. Where are you located?

And congrats on your twins, what a great deal that is.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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hunt4martins
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:23 am
Location: US

NE ohio, we have open overgrown pastures.
So maybe just put it up and see?
We have ts in #'s
I have 4bluebird houses i put up two months ago and know for sure theres bb and ts in them now...
Ive lowered the population of hs, and starlings and my house has 1/2 round openings...
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hunt4martins
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:23 am
Location: US

Any more thoughts on this guys?
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warbird
Posts: 220
Joined: Tue May 26, 2015 10:04 am
Location: Calofornia MO

I would try it. like mentioned if you have trouble take it down
joe
2015 8 pair
2016 35 pair
2017 55 pair
2018 57 pair
2019 58 pair
2020 58 pair
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hunt4martins
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:23 am
Location: US

Thanks a bunch.
I was hoping peeps would say that!
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John & Linda - KY
Posts: 599
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:19 pm
Location: Kentucky/Hawesville

Put it up. For a new site you're most likely to get SY birds first, and they come later than the older birds. -- John
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hunt4martins
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:23 am
Location: US

Ok, just was reading on this site diff things and didnt want to be overrun with unwanteds...
Thanks, its goin up today!!!
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Courtney-NC
Posts: 592
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:28 pm
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Martin Colony History: 2009-2015-Helped to manage Raleigh site, 36 cavities
2016- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 1 pair at home site.
2017- 34 pairs at Raleigh site, 3 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2018- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 5 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2019 - 32 pairs at Raleigh site, 7 pairs at home site, 2 pairs at new Holly Springs park site

Another plus: If you get martins in it this year, it will give you something happy/enjoyable to see and hear, after possibly experiencing sleepless nights with newborns. 8) Nope, don't remember those days at all... hah!
Good luck!! :grin:
-Courtney
-------------------
NC Purple Martin Society (PMCA affiliate)
http://www.ncpurplemartin.org
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hunt4martins
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:23 am
Location: US

So my brand new house is up!!!
If ts and bb would get nests in it b/c of my lack of being around, should i take it down?
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Courtney-NC
Posts: 592
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:28 pm
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Martin Colony History: 2009-2015-Helped to manage Raleigh site, 36 cavities
2016- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 1 pair at home site.
2017- 34 pairs at Raleigh site, 3 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2018- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 5 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2019 - 32 pairs at Raleigh site, 7 pairs at home site, 2 pairs at new Holly Springs park site

If you see them building a nest, yes, close off the martin housing and put individual boxes up for the bluebirds and tree swallows. There is another info page on purplemartin.org re: Tree Swallow Emergency Protocol - it has some really good info in it if you want to reference it, both for bluebird and tree swallow issues. Link:
https://www.purplemartin.org/uploads/me ... cy-377.pdf
-Courtney
-------------------
NC Purple Martin Society (PMCA affiliate)
http://www.ncpurplemartin.org
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

Yes the house is up! I was thinking if you get some PM's this year by the time those twins are 3 you might have a pretty good colony that they can start helping with nest checks.

Congrats and blessings to you!
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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hunt4martins
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:23 am
Location: US

That'd be awesome!
I just hope that its not being overtaken by unwanted species b/c im unable to monitor as my days are spent at nicu.
Twins progressing nicely tho, just takes time when they come early!
Thanks all, matt :grin:
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