I did a nest check this morning, and all looks good! Seven gourds have eggs, and one gourd has babies! We have more than doubled our pairs this season. Last season we had 3 pair. This season so far we have 8 pair. Now to keep our fine feathered friends safe! In one of the gourds momma did not want to leave her nest! Have a good weekend everyone! Best of luck to everyone, especially the Wannabe Club!
2015 69 pairs 418 eggs 396 fledged
2019 I have 148 openings now
2016 100 pairs 600 babies fledged added another t-14 and have 126 openings now
2015 Jun 24 360 babies and 58 eggs also found one that had died
2017 632 babies 11died and 20 were killed by hawks
2015 74 pairs and 9 eggs 5/14
2010 3pairss
]JOINED PMCA JUNE 6,2018
2018 651 babies 5 hawk kills 11 floater kills 25 died in houses and 610 fledged
Martin Colony History: 2016 Informed landlord now Have 2 pair returning from 2015 That is a miracle. Hoping for a very successful year, sparrow population on decline. First house was plastic with crescent holes Had martins within a few days. Ignorant landlord gradually lost them Then got Trio House and still lost most of them. Lots of sparrows
Okie
PMCA member
2016 Started with 2 pair, 1 pair abandoned after HOSP destroyed eggs
1 pair= 6 eggs, 6 fledged
2017 1 pair so far, But they abandoned before nest complete for ?reason? Now Bridless and joined the Wannabes
2018 One pair ASY male SY female 5 eggs, 5 fledged
I just knew when I saw your name that there would be great pics attached. As usual you didn't disappoint! I am always looking forward to news re: your martins, and your swifts and bats as well! Brenda
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!
Brenda, we still have the Bats. There must be about 600 of these little guys coming out to feed at night, and yes our Swifts are back. We love hearing them chatter flying around our backyard.
PM, the only bad thing about using Photobucket is if you delete the picture from your Photobucket account, it deletes it from any place on this forum you used it at.
Great Pics, Jose! I always enjoy reading /seeing what you are up to.
I like your idea that you had posted previously about using a strip of Sintra to keep your gourd rack hub from wagging around. Mine is a AAA rack and it has the same problem, especially in all the high winds we've been having.
Thanks for sharing!
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Thanks Mary! I keep hearing how the number of Martins returning have dropped. I consider myself being very fortunate of the amount we have this season. I am counting my lucky stars!
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.
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.