This made my day!

[taxidermy lady]

I had a surprise visit from Larry and Judy K. today. We all know them on the forum from Milstadt il. I was so surprised when she got out of her car and told me who she was. She brought me the daytime chatter. We talked martins for well over an hour. Larry and Judy told me my site is perfect! That just took a big load off. They said I don't have martins because I don't have martins! Martins like to be around one another. This has really made me feel good. So I'm going to try to attract as many as I can to my site and try to get one to stick! I'll be playing the chatter!! I greatly appreciate the time they took for me. And Judy please text me so if I have a question I can ask you. Thanks again! And good luck with yours this year!!!

[Jose Rodriguez]

That is awesome! Your site is perfect! Martins do like company. This will be your year Sharon!

[ToyinPA]

I hope this is your year Sharon .

Good luck,
Toy in PA

[GPhillips]

Great news! Good people in our group. I hope this is your year to get Martin's!

[taxidermy lady]

Oh my me to. It's such a load off just to know everything is right. I have always thought when they don't stay, what the heck is wrong, trees to close, not high enough, ect. So now I can sit back and try to attract as many as I can here. I played the chatter last night and it sounds great. I will get martins someday they said. It still may take a few years but if I know it's all good for them, then that's a great feeling! It may happen this week, just don't know. Thank you all for your help!

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Keep wishing that you will get some, this coming week sounds right

[MichaelH]

Yes I bet that is great news very thoughtful larry and Judy hats off to you both ,glad there visit made you feel better about your site ,very cool ,play that that song and they will come good luck Sharon.
Mick

[JudyA]

Good to hear your site got a thumbs up from Larry and Judy! I'm watching for your post when the martins make it your way!
- Judy

[Mitch Booth]

Sharon,

Our situations are very similar. I too, have been told the same thing about my site and I'm batting a big fat zero on returning ASY birds for a second season after having a pair the season before. This hobby is extremely exhausting. I'm not sure I'll ever get a colony started or not but will certainly not get my hopes up if I only get one nesting pair again.

I had those ASY birds show up last Saturday and they stuck around for 2 or 3 days and then 7 showed up wednesday(thinking surely one or two must be mine from last year) and they haven't been back since Wednesday.

It's unfortunate I have all these bluebirds and tree swallows nesting in individual boxes and gourds 50 feet away from my racks as I've been told several times to not allow any tree swallows or bluebirds on property when trying to get martins. If I strike out again this year I'll be removing all 10 bluebird and swallow cavities for next year or just sell the gourd racks.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Mitch

[DebA]

Sharon, reading your made my day is making my day. Your optimism and realistic approach is wonderful.

Mitch, you and Mary are in the exact same boat and I hope and pray for the both of you. I'd leave your TS and BB houses, and your gourd racks. Hang in. At least you can enjoy the other nesters. I know it's easy for me to say being established, but I hope you guys keep your systems up. No systems definitely equals no PM's.

Deb

[taxidermy lady]

Mitch I removed two bb boxes and I still don't have nothing! I have never had tree swallows. So I would leave them up too! Hang in there our best time is coming. May 6th is our day!!! Let's all stick to it. Good luck
Thanks Deb, I just keep plugging along. Im hoping and wishing and praying it will happen some day! Thanks and good luck!

[Ed Pace]

Hi Mitch don't sell your gourd racks.

[taxidermy lady]

Mitch you have to stop thinking like that! I guess we are strong enough to handle this are it wouldn't be happening to you, mama bruff and me. And all the others out there trying! We are only hearing the best here and yes it does frustrate us to think what the he!! Is wrong. But since Larry and Judy told me my site is perfect. I am doing awesome. That's all I needed to hear. There's nothing we can do but wait. I went fishing today and turned the chatter super low and I never seen a Martin today. But who cares because my site is perfect! I know I've done all I can do and you and mama have to. I caught a basket full of bluegill and that made my day!!!! Think positive they will come someday!!! Good luck!

[Mitch Booth]

Well I read the article "tree swallow emergency" and have all three gourds occupying tree swallows within 30 feet of the the 3 different Martin setups.

I have watched tree swallows on one rack and the other rack full of martins and the seemed not to be bothered by one another although the tree swallows have no active nests in the gourd racks.

I did witness a very sad moment today with a Cooper's hawk taking a chickadee.

I did remove all other bluebird and tree swallow gourds not being used.

Just have to wait it out.

Mitch

[Mitch Booth]

Sharon,

You are right about our sites. I previously lived at a site that was not conducive to host martins. I do know that my current site must be okay or I wouldn't have got a pair to nest two out the past four years.

All I can really do is control the house sparrows and sit back and wait as there really isn't anything I can do to improve things now.

Mitch

[JudyA]

Mitch,
It sounds like you are doing everything right. You really shouldn't consider giving up!!! The problem with TS and BB only occur if they try to take the martin housing. From my personal experience, and what I have read about TS, I believe that TS are more difficult to deal with than BB.

I am in Florida and the TS do not nest here, so I only had to deal with bluebirds. It was only a problem before martins arrived and it was necessary for me to close up the martin house to keep bluebirds out. When I had some martin visitors, I opened up a couple of visible apartments.

When the first serious group of martins came, they stormed in, and strafed the bluebirds on the BB house. They also strafed a squirrel who was in the area. After that, I started opening up the rest of the house and the bluebirds never took another look.

Now they live in peace and the martins even allow the bluebirds to sit on their house to hunt.

Tree Swallows may be another story, but if I understand your post, you already have a housing arrangement that is working for them. You have already won the biggest battle.

Oh yeah, you need to give the bluebirds a house; one pair of bluebirds will keep other bluebirds from nesting closer than 300 - 1000 feet away.

- Judy

[Dave Reynolds]

Sharon ---- WoW.... That was really great for Larry and Judy to stop by your place.. And to give you some insurance that you have a great site... That is so nice to hear that Martin landlords came over to check why you do not have Martins .. I impressed..

Dave

[taxidermy lady]

Yes it is Dave, they were a wonderful couple. Very concerned and supportive. I told them before they left this will bring me good luck!

[taxidermy lady]

The gratitude of you all just brings joy to my Martin world. (And I don't even have any)!!!
I received 2 cd's from Ed and Mona Pace. I feel so special. The cd's are only just a few birds. They really sound natural. I don't know where I would be without you all! I can actually say I love you all and have only met Larry and Judy.
When I put the cd in yesterday morning the martins came out of the woodwork! By 7:00 a.m. there was 2 sitting on a gourd rack. An SY male stayed for an hour or so. Then an ASY male and female came in several times. But nothing stayed. But it's ok, it will happen because I have everyone helping me! Thanks

[Mitch Booth]

Sharon,

Was it the Dawnsong CD?

Mitch