Subadults arriving in south Texas
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
A front from the north came in yesterday evening, and a group of martins set down at our place briefly - we are about full up already, not much nest building yet but bowls in about every gourd. And here come the subbies! Males spotted at both sites this weekend. There was a nice flyover of migrating broadwing and swainson's hawks, common nighthawks, chimney swifts, more barn swallows, and some warblers too. Many more to come yet, too. Hang in there if you are waiting for your martins - they are on the way.
- Attachments
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- IMG_2115.JPG
- Plenty of polka dots on this nosy subadult male
- (1.1 MiB) Not downloaded yet
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Okie
- Posts: 541
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 3:26 pm
- Location: Claremore, OK
- 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
Beautiful pic of a handsome bird. Louise how did you get that big pic to post? I saw your instructions but this seems like it is very big.
Thanks for the encouragement that my colony is on its way. I needed that.
Thanks for the encouragement that my colony is on its way. I needed that.
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
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
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Sharon - Central TX
- Posts: 696
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 9:20 pm
- Location: Central TX
- Martin Colony History: All Troyer Horizontal Gourds with Conley Entrances
PMCA Member since 2004
Louise,
We haven't seen any subadults but our Martins have been nest building for well over a week now. We did a nest check yesterday and have several that are well-formed. Surprising because y'all are usually ahead of us in everything! We were concerned about wet nests as we had a severe storm yesterday morning. Only a couple were wet thank goodness. One was one of the well formed nests so they probably were mad at me last night when they came in and found part of it gone By yesterday afternoon you'd never know we had a tornado warning earlier. It turned out to be a beautiful day.
Our Martins started arriving on Valentines Day, a nice gift
. That was the earliest ever! We are almost full too so I expect to see some fights taking place when the SY's arrive.
Oh and we have Whistling Ducks now too. Two of our neighbors put up houses for them last year which they used. When approximately 32 showed up recently we felt sorry for them, especially when they started checking out the bluebird boxes. So my husband put one up too. They are so cute sleeping on top of or guarding the house. Several have gone in and out so I think we'll have some babies before too long. Did you know they jump out of the box into the water when they are only two days old? Amazing!
Thanks for the subadult update and the beautiful picture.
Sharon
We haven't seen any subadults but our Martins have been nest building for well over a week now. We did a nest check yesterday and have several that are well-formed. Surprising because y'all are usually ahead of us in everything! We were concerned about wet nests as we had a severe storm yesterday morning. Only a couple were wet thank goodness. One was one of the well formed nests so they probably were mad at me last night when they came in and found part of it gone
By yesterday afternoon you'd never know we had a tornado warning earlier. It turned out to be a beautiful day.Our Martins started arriving on Valentines Day, a nice gift
. That was the earliest ever! We are almost full too so I expect to see some fights taking place when the SY's arrive.Oh and we have Whistling Ducks now too. Two of our neighbors put up houses for them last year which they used. When approximately 32 showed up recently we felt sorry for them, especially when they started checking out the bluebird boxes. So my husband put one up too. They are so cute sleeping on top of or guarding the house. Several have gone in and out so I think we'll have some babies before too long. Did you know they jump out of the box into the water when they are only two days old? Amazing!
Thanks for the subadult update and the beautiful picture.
Sharon
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handyman315
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 11:03 am
- Location: SW Ohio
- Martin Colony History: Colony established May 20, 2017 after three unsuccessful years. Persistent and aggressive Tree Swallows plagued the site, but beyond learning - and practicing - to control them, was the return in 2017 of a 2016-SY-M previously unable to find a mate. As a handsome ASY-M, he brought along two females and a swagger that soon put the Tree Swallow issue to rest. As the anchor pair, he and his mate hatched all six of their eggs into fat and healthy babies into what settled in to be a three-pair, flourishing new colony with up to 11 birds total, including 3 SY-M trouble makers.
What a dandy pic of that subbie, love the lighting! You can see his attitude just from the picture.
2023-42 Nests, 197 Eggs/Babies
2022-48 Nests Fledged 203
2021-43 Nests Fledged 185
2020-31 Nests Fledged 133, three early deaths due to cold & rain
2019-19 Nests Fledged 84
2018-11 Nests Fledged 48, ASY-M Arrived April 6, Despite Snow & Cold, Joined Soon by Mate & Two Adult Pairs
2017-3 Nests Fledged 13, FIRST-YEAR LANDLORD! Resident SY-M from 2016 Returned (as ASY-M) on May 20. At Least 11 Adult Residents
2016 Late-Arriving SYs, Resident Lone SY-M
2015-14 Many Visits
2022-48 Nests Fledged 203
2021-43 Nests Fledged 185
2020-31 Nests Fledged 133, three early deaths due to cold & rain
2019-19 Nests Fledged 84
2018-11 Nests Fledged 48, ASY-M Arrived April 6, Despite Snow & Cold, Joined Soon by Mate & Two Adult Pairs
2017-3 Nests Fledged 13, FIRST-YEAR LANDLORD! Resident SY-M from 2016 Returned (as ASY-M) on May 20. At Least 11 Adult Residents
2016 Late-Arriving SYs, Resident Lone SY-M
2015-14 Many Visits
Two SY males here now. Female has been here for maybe a few days. (Houston area.)
Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/waystatio ... 800872806/
Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/waystatio ... 800872806/
2025 - 15 pair, 56 fledged
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Okie
- Posts: 541
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 3:26 pm
- Location: Claremore, OK
- 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
Oh what a beautiful sight. Love it.
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
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
Louise,
Thanks for the heads-up. I'll be watching for them. Have seen several female sub-adults so far by no young males yet at our colony in central Tx.
Nest building just started about 5 days ago for one pair. They are the first birds that have ever used my elevated nest material trays. As of yesterday's nest check they now have what could pass as a full nest, but no others are even close.
Best regards,
BW
Thanks for the heads-up. I'll be watching for them. Have seen several female sub-adults so far by no young males yet at our colony in central Tx.
Nest building just started about 5 days ago for one pair. They are the first birds that have ever used my elevated nest material trays. As of yesterday's nest check they now have what could pass as a full nest, but no others are even close.
Best regards,
BW
2009-2013 a few visitors.
2014: 1 pair of SY love birds, 5 fledges; 2015: 7 pair, 34 Fldg; 2016: 12p/54F; 2017: 14p/71F;
2018: 24p/103F; 2019: 29p/130F; 2020: 38p/190F
2014: 1 pair of SY love birds, 5 fledges; 2015: 7 pair, 34 Fldg; 2016: 12p/54F; 2017: 14p/71F;
2018: 24p/103F; 2019: 29p/130F; 2020: 38p/190F
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DivaMom2.0
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2017 11:09 am
- Location: Lutz, Florida
- Martin Colony History: Had a 55+ Martin colony back in Antioch, Illinois for many years... Starting over in Lutz, Florida.
Long time no see! I'm back! How's John?? a.k.a. Sarah McLaughlin
How's John?? a.k.a. Sarah McLaughlin-
[email protected]
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:35 am
- Location: Raynham MA. 02767
- Martin Colony History: 2016, put Troyer pole with 6 units Horizontal with Conley 11 Tunnels.
Had some visits (two sittings) last year. A visit this year 2017.
What a great Picture... Have a good season.
John
John