East Tennessee martins

[jhcox]

O I'm not giving up by any means mark I'm just realy getting started now that I'm seeing some martin action. And as far as the stalings I have no Thad any problems so far out of them. That's not to say there's not plenty around here. They just haven't attempted to move as of yet knock on wood. What I would really like to do is find some one in the knoxville area that has a PM colony that I can go see and look at there set up. Where are you located at. James.

[jhcox]

All of the folks that I have seen in my area that have visable martin houses or gourds that I could see from the road driving by I would stop and talk to them but none have had colonies. I've looked at the purple martin migration map and there is not many people posting Martin sitting in the knoxville area. I am only I think the second person this year to mark a sitting in the area. Maybe there's just not many martin colonies in the knoxville area I don't know. But I'm hope I can be a new colony landlord in the near future and I will do all I can to help other in this area once I do get started.

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

James,
Unfortunately, I am located in the opposite corner of Tennessee from you. I am in Collierville, TN, a town that is east of Memphis.
In Collierville, there are many abandoned and derelict purple martins houses. Most were installed years ago when the property was new and there were no trees on the lot. Ultimately the trees have overgrown the martin houses. Other more recent martin houses have been placed in exactly the wrong place. I even found one martin house in the middle of a huge crape myrtle. These martin houses have become pest bird hatcheries.
I currently mentor about 6 landlords who had martin houses in acceptable places within the town of Collierville. At this point they constitute about 50 available compartments. After modifications and clearance of S&S, they are almost full.
A couple of week ago a landlord allowed me to move a Trio Grandpa which was so close to a 40 ft tree that the limbs were almost brushing against the house. Last year, an ASY-M/SY-F pair of martins fledged 3 healthy martins at that seemingly impossible location. This site was the perfect example of martin site fidelity.
I am sorry that you have no local landlords to mentor you. I agree that a local person is the best. The local person can let you see their setup and inspect your location and setup. I stepped in to give you some advise since you do not have any local mentors.
I am excited about you and your new Knoxville area colony.
Keep up the good work and more advise/help will be forthcoming. The PMCA Forum is full of knowledgeable and experienced people.
We all stand on the shoulders of giants in this hobby.
Mark.

[jhcox]

Thank you very much mark and appreciate all the help you've given me. I will continue monitoring this site for more ideas. At least this morning there are no tree swallows around the seem to have left after the babies fledged there is one pair left but there far from the martin housing.

[voyager]

James, I have not been on line now for a day or two. I did look for an update from you once or twice though. Glad you are back and working on the task of martin getting. Looks like you have been getting some excellent advice from different ones on site here, that's great. I believe they know more than I do, in some areas at least I'm sure they do. I get up as far North as Harriman from time to time; it wouldn't be too much farther to come on up to your place one day soon. I "might" be of some help. Won't hurt to find out. My address is [email protected]. Send me a note to this address please. dj.

[jhcox]

I have made modifications to the S$K house I have 6 large rooms now. I am happy to say I had my first adult male stop by several times this morning. there were three other martins with him not to sure if they were sudadults or adult females. they don't sit still long. And voyager am glad to see your back and yes that would be great any assistance is greatly appreciated.. Also thank again to mark on the idea of making the compartments bigger a couple have went in and looked around.. who knows they may like what they see and hang around. thank again James.

[jhcox]

I tried the email voyager but it wont go threw mines [email protected] see if you have better luck.

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

James and voyager,
I am excited to hear that you might visit and share information/knowledge.
I continue to learn from others.

SYs are still migrating through our area. I just acquired a new SY pair at my personal colony. At the house I relocated a couple of weeks ago, there was a SY-M sitting on the porch this morning. He looked like he was just getting up from spending the night. If he can get a mate, then it proves to me that there is still opportunity for wannabes in our area.
Mark.

[voyager]

Hello James,
Hope things are going well with you and the martin colony to be. I will come by if you still want me to, and try to help you with some on site advice. Send me a note as to when and where, when you get the chance. Thanks, D.J./ voyager.

[jhcox]

voyager that would be great could use the help. Im off Tuesday thru Friday next week any of those days would be great. again my Email is [email protected]. # 865-640-6570. Thanks again James.

[jhcox]

Seen the adult male and the other 3 again this morning I think there all sub-adult males. And again the tree swallows ran them off. Wednesday they were all looking in the gourds and perching on the tops of the poles and doing there mating calls at least for a few min until they got tired of the TS aggravating them. but like I said they did come back again today that good I guess. James

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

James,
Are the martins going into the gourds and/or housing? Or are they just looking in (we call it peekaboo)?
Did you check to see if the openings are okay?
Mark.

[jhcox]

Hey Mark ya there mostly play peekaboo but they have went in several times just looking not taking in any nesting material. and yes the openings are the correct size as best I could tell just used a measuring tape. I think my biggest problem now I the tree swallows. and the cord to my purple martin magnet that I got for the PRCA just quit working this morning. I called them and there trying to get me a new cord. I hope it doesn't stop them from coming in and looking around. James

[jhcox]

I have planted some more gourd seeds so hopefully I can get some more up next year. I've also been giving away all the seeds I got out of the gourds from last year. Have had several people said that they wanted to get martins started around there homes too. hope it works out for them. James

[jhcox]

I have planted some more gourd seeds so hopefully I can get some more up next year. I've also been giving away all the seeds I got out of the gourds from last year. Have had several people said that they wanted to get martins started around there homes too. hope it works out for them. James

[jhcox]

I had the adult male come in again this morning he sat on the perch pole and was calling a lot then a few minutes later 5 sub adult males showed up and they all were singing and looking into the gourds and house. that is the most that I have seen at one time. I hope im mistaken on all of the other five being sub-adult males maybe one could be a female. I hope so. James

[jhcox]

Hey guys I have a ? do you have to have porches on natural gourds or is it just more desirable for the martins to have a porch just under the entrance hole. Thank you James.