PM returns to Transfer, PA

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GaryU
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:49 pm
Location: PA/Transfer
Martin Colony History: 1st year....just visitors.
2nd ......praying!.......prayers answered 5/28/16 with 10 couples and lots of 1st year males. Making improvements and planning for 2017 and beyond.
3rd year.....all compartments on both poles (28 + 18) and planning on 18 more for 2018.
2018 added gourd rack (18 gourds)
4th/5th/6th year ......established colony.
2022 added 2 new poles with polywood T-14’s. Filled up 1st year in use.
2025 adding 3 new poles with polywood T-14’s +12 gourds.
Total: 8 poles, 84 T-14 compartments, 64 gourds. (148 nest cavities)

Prepped my T-14 and 18 gourd rack on Sunday 3/9/17 and raised them approximately 1:00 p.m. Fast forward to today, doing chores around the property, rolling 3 acres of lawn, arranging the shed, took a break at 6:45, an adult male shows up and enters a gourd. Yea, year 3 since my initial attempt and my second year with birds. Here's hoping for a great season. GaryU



Gary U
N.W. PA, Mercer County, Delaware Twp.
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

How exciting. The. Rest of what you had last year should come flying in along with some subsides later. I can hardly wait for subsides. My one lone male is so lonely.
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
Dan G
Posts: 446
Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:52 pm
Location: PA/Bellefonte
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!

Congrats. I never heard of Transfer, PA, but i see you are near Sharon, and i have been there before. We used to eat at the Iron Bridge Inn when I went to George Junior(work related)
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.
GaryU
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:49 pm
Location: PA/Transfer
Martin Colony History: 1st year....just visitors.
2nd ......praying!.......prayers answered 5/28/16 with 10 couples and lots of 1st year males. Making improvements and planning for 2017 and beyond.
3rd year.....all compartments on both poles (28 + 18) and planning on 18 more for 2018.
2018 added gourd rack (18 gourds)
4th/5th/6th year ......established colony.
2022 added 2 new poles with polywood T-14’s. Filled up 1st year in use.
2025 adding 3 new poles with polywood T-14’s +12 gourds.
Total: 8 poles, 84 T-14 compartments, 64 gourds. (148 nest cavities)

Thanks for the nice replies. Hi, Okie, I had an awesome 2016, lots of good luck. I pray the remainder come home. Hi, Dan, I live in Hermitage and have our farm in Delaware Twp. over looking the Shenago Lake. God Bless you for the good work done at GJR. When ever you decide to venture back this way, let me know I will share some great little holes in the wall that serve fantastic food. Have a wonderful Easter. GaryU



Gary U
N.W. PA, Mercer County, Delaware Twp.
JiminPa
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2017 2:30 pm
Location: Pa

Good Job! Gary. How are you coping with the starlings?
Jim B
GaryU
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:49 pm
Location: PA/Transfer
Martin Colony History: 1st year....just visitors.
2nd ......praying!.......prayers answered 5/28/16 with 10 couples and lots of 1st year males. Making improvements and planning for 2017 and beyond.
3rd year.....all compartments on both poles (28 + 18) and planning on 18 more for 2018.
2018 added gourd rack (18 gourds)
4th/5th/6th year ......established colony.
2022 added 2 new poles with polywood T-14’s. Filled up 1st year in use.
2025 adding 3 new poles with polywood T-14’s +12 gourds.
Total: 8 poles, 84 T-14 compartments, 64 gourds. (148 nest cavities)

Hi Jim,

No problems with starlings, I have the starling resistant entrances and tunnels on both my T-14 and Troyer gourds. Sparrows are down this year, I have trapped heavy for the last 3 months and last summer. I'm just hoping that both populations continue to decrease. Thanks for your interest and Happy Easter.

Gary



Gary U
N.W. PA, Mercer County, Delaware Twp.
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