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.
3 ASY MAles & 1 ASY Female so far. It's darn cold....temp is 40 with windchill of 35. It windy & raining. We may get some snow tonight. UGHH! Then the weather is to turn around & it's to be sunny & warm. YES .
I flipped crickets, but the wind took some. They all got some. One cricket landed on the sidewalk about 7 feet away from me. A Male landed & grabbed it. While he was swallowing it I flipped another cricket right in front of him. He grabbed it & took off.
Toy in PA
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IMG_6889First pair.jpg (45.84 KiB) Viewed 4766 times
IMG_6887Male going after cricket April 7, 2017.jpg (40.3 KiB) Viewed 4766 times
Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius. Have had visitor every year 2014-24. Two large trees removed in fall 2024 and moved T-14 to a more open location. 2025- 1 SY pair. Fledged 2. 2026- no pairs. One daily SYM here daily. Named him Riggs!
Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
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.
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.
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.
Thanks everyone . My husband actully took the photos out the back window while I flipped crickets.
Looks like I'll be putting heat packs in tonight. Calling for 31 without the wind chill.
We had snow flurries earlier. Poor guys have been hanging on the house, going in & out of 1 cavity all day. I'll be out flipping crickets around 6:30PM....I think I may need my parka!!
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
Bless your heart. Here's hoping for a warm spring....Bye bye winter.
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
Congratulations, Toy, on the way your martins are coming in. I have two pair now, but it has been very cold. Highs in the high 30's yesterday, and 30 degrees for a low last night. Snow on the deck, roof and some on the grass. I had planned to mow the grass the day before, but now I can shovel snow instead. The martins are doing well today. Much warmer. Happy for you.
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.
I have e a very large group now Toy, (30-40) and the hawks got a male too. So All of a sudden I got a ton of birds, hawks migrating through trying to get them and fighting over compartments.
Seems to be a haven for migrating birds right now. It's getting wild here.
So enjoy those first few ones.
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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