Someone turned on the Martin switch yesterday.
After only 5 birds. There are now over 20 Purple Martins this AM at my site.
It is rainy with falling temps today. I fed them a big breakfast as the next day or so will be cold and there is snow in the forecast.
Not sure I ever saw such a huge jump in one day. The older birds are still not at their respective rack however. Still AWOL.
Doug
Instant Colony Today!! I'm more Amazed!
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Last edited by Doug Martin - PA on Thu Apr 06, 2017 6:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
Doug:
This sure has been a strange migration year so far. This pair is checking out House #2. Most of my older males use Houses #1.
I dang near froze flipping just a few crickets. Had a jacket on, but no shoes...yep my piggies were froze, LOL. Hey the Martins come first.
I suspect many more reports as the weather changes on Saturday-Tuesday with southerly winds.
Toy in PA
This sure has been a strange migration year so far. This pair is checking out House #2. Most of my older males use Houses #1.
I dang near froze flipping just a few crickets. Had a jacket on, but no shoes...yep my piggies were froze, LOL. Hey the Martins come first.
I suspect many more reports as the weather changes on Saturday-Tuesday with southerly winds.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
Doug, What an incredible turnaround. Another oddity about
this year is that the tree swallows came on time or
earlier than usual and they came back in large numbers.
Also I saw my first barn swallow yesterday 4/5/2017 about
2-3 weeks earlier than normal. So its seems that migration
for most other birds has been normal or ahead of schedule but not
for our favorite bird.
this year is that the tree swallows came on time or
earlier than usual and they came back in large numbers.
Also I saw my first barn swallow yesterday 4/5/2017 about
2-3 weeks earlier than normal. So its seems that migration
for most other birds has been normal or ahead of schedule but not
for our favorite bird.
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Well once again I'm even more amazed.
I got home from work. 45 degrees windy and a cold front coming through. It has rained most of the day. Figured I would feed them. When I whistled and asked if any one was hungry my jar dropped. (yes I talk to them
)
The whole sky filled with Martins. There must have been at least 30 but probably more as some were still inside. Guess where many of them came from? Yep.....The old gourd rack where all the older birds were missing from.
Oh and to top it off most of those gourds were filled with both males and females. The best part of all???? My founding male's gourd has a smaller male and a female in residence. He looks pretty good too! I think it's him.
So in two days I have now probably exceeded last years arrivals at the same time. Wow.
So If you are still wondering where your birds are..... don't be surprised if they all show up in one or two days. This is crazy.
Now for some snow and cold for a day or so. Then back to warmer weather again. Strange migration indeed!
I am no longer worried.
Doug
I got home from work. 45 degrees windy and a cold front coming through. It has rained most of the day. Figured I would feed them. When I whistled and asked if any one was hungry my jar dropped. (yes I talk to them
) The whole sky filled with Martins. There must have been at least 30 but probably more as some were still inside. Guess where many of them came from? Yep.....The old gourd rack where all the older birds were missing from.
Oh and to top it off most of those gourds were filled with both males and females. The best part of all???? My founding male's gourd has a smaller male and a female in residence. He looks pretty good too! I think it's him.
So in two days I have now probably exceeded last years arrivals at the same time. Wow.
So If you are still wondering where your birds are..... don't be surprised if they all show up in one or two days. This is crazy.
Now for some snow and cold for a day or so. Then back to warmer weather again. Strange migration indeed!
I am no longer worried.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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John Evans
- Posts: 323
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:56 pm
- Location: Cocoa Beach Florida
Hey Doug, congratulations. I too had the same experience yesterday. 6 had limped in over the last few days. I left for a few hours yesterday returned and had about 20 more that just arrived. I'm still not sure if the oldest birds ever arrived but it was a glorious sight to see the numbers.
Had big storms and a cold front roll through last night so not much activity today. Should be a bit better tomorrow afternoon.
I'm also happy they have been kicking the Tree Swallows off the gourds. Gets tiring trying to run them off. We have and host about 12 pairs along with bluebirds and wrens..
Best of luck
John
Had big storms and a cold front roll through last night so not much activity today. Should be a bit better tomorrow afternoon.
I'm also happy they have been kicking the Tree Swallows off the gourds. Gets tiring trying to run them off. We have and host about 12 pairs along with bluebirds and wrens..
Best of luck
John
PMCA Member
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Archer
- Posts: 786
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
- Location: Manitoba/Altona
- Martin Colony History: six pair in 2014, have grown to 52 pairs in 2017.
That's great news Doug! I know how much you were hoping for your old friend to make the trip one more time. I'm happy for you.
I was working on my houses today, painting up some trim. 2-3 weeks before my friends show up, exciting times.
I was working on my houses today, painting up some trim. 2-3 weeks before my friends show up, exciting times.
2011- first year trying, a few visitors.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
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James Strickland FL
- Posts: 2249
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
- Location: Reidsville NC
- Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair
Doug first off Congrats on the improvement in you Martin Numbers, Martins are a funny group of birds and a mystery to us all. They often cause use to wonder what is going on when they do not show up when we wish and cause us to wonder what we have done wrong to why they have not shown up 
to tons showing up at once. They can cause us to go crazy. 
to tons showing up at once. They can cause us to go crazy. PMCA MEMBER
At my place they came in with the southern air flow and filled up the rest of the unoccupied gourds. I believe the teenagers have arrived since this morning there is mayhem and fighting. My friend a few miles away who had very few so far experienced an invasion the same day and now has plenty.
I would put in a sub-adult report on the map but I cannot remember the PMCA login - so here is my teenager arrival report.
I would put in a sub-adult report on the map but I cannot remember the PMCA login - so here is my teenager arrival report.
2014 8 gourds, 3 pairs nested. Ended w/ 24 total
2015 24 gourds, 22 nests. Lotsa birds!
2016 24 gourds and good activity.
2017 32 SREH gourds. Great activity.
2018 40 SREH gourds. Good finish despite big storm damage. No more dangling gourds.
2019 56+ SREH gourds, all on 3/8 rods. Birds did very well.
2020 56 SREH gourds.
2015 24 gourds, 22 nests. Lotsa birds!
2016 24 gourds and good activity.
2017 32 SREH gourds. Great activity.
2018 40 SREH gourds. Good finish despite big storm damage. No more dangling gourds.
2019 56+ SREH gourds, all on 3/8 rods. Birds did very well.
2020 56 SREH gourds.
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avesrun
- Posts: 1127
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:10 pm
- Location: Iowa/West Des Moines
- Martin Colony History: Home Site: 2017- 0
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
Satellite Site: 2017 (3rd season)
34 pair
Fledged- 102
Very nice report Doug. I appreciate such posts as they help greenhorns like me learn more and more on what to expect and the surprises that come along with hosting martins. They seem to show us something new or pull something new every season.
TimG
TimG
PMCA Member
Home Site: 2012-15 visitors
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
2017-18 Zero
2019- 3 Successful Pr
2020- 21pr, fledged 76
Satellite Site: 2014 - visitors
2015 - 2 pair fledged 9
2016 - 13 pair fledged 44
2017 - 31 pair fledged 118
2018 - 44 pair 163 fledged
2019- 49 pr 219 fledged
2020- 47 pr 209 fledged
Home Site: 2012-15 visitors
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
2017-18 Zero
2019- 3 Successful Pr
2020- 21pr, fledged 76
Satellite Site: 2014 - visitors
2015 - 2 pair fledged 9
2016 - 13 pair fledged 44
2017 - 31 pair fledged 118
2018 - 44 pair 163 fledged
2019- 49 pr 219 fledged
2020- 47 pr 209 fledged