Update (Northwest KS)

[Kyler]

I have a probelm! I have moved one more house out front to my front yard and my ASY male went right to it. Last night he brought a female from somewhere and they both went into the new house. Later she flew off and went back to where ever she came from. But I think she likes the single houses on one pole instead of two houses on one pole. I just think it is to much and she doesn't like it. Would it be bad to take the multipurpose pole down a put both houses on different poles?

Kyler,

[Elijah Clark]

You should be fine Kyler It took one of my males 3 days to finally persuade the female to stay at the site

[Kyler]

Its growing a little every day!! Just updating I now have 3 pairs! ASY pair, SY pair, SY male with ASY female!!!! So exciting!! I'm so glad I'm on this forum now because I have learned so much more that I ever knew. Thanks guys!!


Kyler,

[DebA]

This forum is great. It's so special to us to help you, a teen who has martin fever. Three pair is a super start!
Deb

[Kyler]

Cold morning! ASY male just mated with ASY female!!!! Babies coming soon!





Kyler,

[Okie]

Kyler another question about the spar o door The door is the trap but is there an insert or how do you get the bird out of the compartment? How is that different than the Universal Sparrow Trap sold on the PMCA shop?
Thanks I am excited for you. Wait till you find eggs Whoppee
Okie

[mike2656]

Great news, Kyler.

Exciting times watching martins pair up and move into your housing.

[Kyler]

Okie,
I had a sparrow in there this time!! But always the (spare-o-door) comes with a little open ended cup and also a plastic clear bag and a rubber band. You take the open end of the bag and wrap the rubber band around the plastic cup. It also has two metal clips that you hook to the hole of the trap. You open the trap door and the bird fly's out. Then I put the sparrow in my ground trap to act as a decoy.
I will take pictures of the process when a catch another sparrow
The difference is that the hole on the (spare-o-door) is to small for a martin to get in. They the Universal sparrow trap you might have a rick of catching a martin!!!! I don't think you want to do that!!

Mike2656,
Thanks a lot it really is. SOOOOO EXCITING!!

Kyler,

[Okie]

Thanks Kyler that is a good explanation. Yes I use the Universal but a couple guys on this forum told me how to make a 1 1/2 inch round hole out of a lid to a cottage cheese carton & tape it to the inside of the round Trio door. Works great with no fear for the martins & looks a lot like the door you have. It is simple to take the cage out & dispose of the bird.
Looks like pretty cloudy weather out there in the flat lands. Miles & miles of nothing but miles and miles right? I was born & raised in Wichita so I am partial to a fellow Kansan even though I aren't one anymore. I really enjoy your posts. Keep up the enthusiasm ok?
Okie

[Kyler]

Okie,
Thanks! Yeah we have had really poor weather today. Its around 50 and really cloudy the martins are just setting inside doing nothing! Could you post some pictures of your colony?

Kyler,

[Okie]

Sure I just took some. Let me see if I can post them.
Okie

[Kyler]

Okie,
Okay great!! I really want to see them!!!

Kyler,

[Okie]

The Trio house is the martins choice. The other plastic house was my first and at this point no one likes it, even the sparrows. That said sparrows have become leary of entrapment in Trio so they are putting nests in the plastic. I just moved the traps there today.
My place comes complete with one of their favorite trees, pear. The top is just bare twigs now they have removed so many leaves.
Thank goodness they have not read the guidelines for house placement bc the Trio is too close to my house & my neighbors. What can you do with a postage stamp size lot? These 2 pair don't seem to mind. Next year I want to have a gourd rack in the center of the yard. Then hopefully attract more. This winter I hope to use the Trio to trap s & s along with the ground trap & S & S controller.

[Okie]

They downloaded but I don't know where they went. Maybe I need some OJT [on job training]
Okie

[Okie]

Ok I am going to try one at a time.
Still did not work. I guess you don't get to see
I think I added a couple of pics once. Don't know why I can't now

[Kyler]

No that's fine don't worry about!

Kyler,

[Okie]

Hope this one works

[Okie]

Ok Kyler I finally figured it out

My 2 pair I love them



Trio Martin house on right, old plastic sparrow house on left



Glad I have a pear tree for them

[Kyler]

That's really cool! I really like your set up! Do you have two pair this year? Or do you have more?

Kyler,

[Okie]

These 2 ASY males are from last year. I am sure the females are both SY as I have studied their under tail feathers which are solid white. It would be nice to attract some Sys this year. I have 3 more 6x12 compartments for them but we will see what happens.
I had what I thought was a SY male before the females came & he disappeared when they came. Wish he had stayed.
My site is nothing compared to yours, just one house. I have a postage sized lot so not much choice on location. I am surprised the martins do not mind being so close to the 2 houses. They spend some time on the house roofs which also surprised me. Their fly zone is between the houses Which is not best due to possible starling attack from roofs. That happened once & I thought starling had killed the ASY male because downy feathers came floating down. Really scared me not to mention how angry But he is fine now.
Such a blessing you have some of your grandfathers houses [am I right on that?] You have enough houses to eventually have a nice colony. Be patient which I know is not easy for a teen It may take a few years to gradually build up but with your wonderful housing it WILL happen. Have a great year with your lucky martins.