Uupdate On My Small Colony

John T · Sun Apr 16, 2017 8:28 pm

I now have five or six pairs. Did a nest check today and have six well developed nests. Put out some seven dust, as I noticed some mites and wanted to get them under control before eggs were laid. So far no more problems with hawks yet(keeping fingers crossed.) Anyway, I am a happy camper and just wanted to tell someone. Stay positive if your birds aren't back yet-they are definitely running late.

Okie · Fri Apr 21, 2017 11:37 am

Awesome. Don't down play your "small colony". Having one pair again this year, yours is an enviable bonafide colony. Waiting to be where you are...... I'm jealous. Thanks for posting we all rejoice with you. Good luck fledging lots of purple.

John T · Sat Apr 22, 2017 8:30 am

Thanks Okie-I could write a book on how to make mistakes on attracting purple martins but with the help of this forum and other martineers, I feel like I'm on my way. The largest commitment I had to make was taking out ten large trees which gave me seven open flyways. My wife thought I was crazy but she likes the openness as we can now see our ponds.

handyman315 · Sat Apr 22, 2017 11:01 am

“. . . we can now see our ponds” . . . to quote Doc Holliday, now I really hate him.

Not that I wasn’t already jealous (I still have no nesting pairs).

Just kidding, John T . . . we all revel in your successes! Wish you even more good luck!

Okie · Sat Apr 22, 2017 3:31 pm

Well JohnT last year they told me my ASY male would be better at recruiting more birds than playing the CDs. He & his mate remained the only birds at my place. So far this year is the same. They look so lonely knowing they are social birds. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of subbies from the 3 small colonies around me. I hope someone else moves in to keep my pair company.... and me too.

You will hear me shouting from the roof tops when that happens.

avesrun · Sat Apr 22, 2017 8:31 pm

Hello John T, Okie, and Handyman. Best of luck John and all.

Okie I had only one pair last season. The male returned Thursday (maybe Wednesday I was out of town). He has stayed the night since in a super gourd. He is gone all day in search of mate. I hope his mate from last season is just running late. Did your single pair arrive on the same date? Things do seem to be lagging here in Iowa so I remain hopeful. Did you have many floaters/ visitors last season?
Again best of season to all.
TimG

Okie · Sun Apr 23, 2017 9:46 am

avesrun wrote:Hello John T, Okie, and Handyman. Best of luck John and all.

Okie I had only one pair last season. The male returned Thursday (maybe Wednesday I was out of town). He has stayed the night since in a super gourd. He is gone all day in search of mate. I hope his mate from last season is just running late. Did your single pair arrive on the same date? Things do seem to be lagging here in Iowa so I remain hopeful. Did you have many floaters/ visitors last season?
Again best of season to all.
TimG

Uno , my ASY male, was exactly 1 week later than last year. Since last year was my first year of observation, I was very antsy in anticipation this year & had it in my mind that if something had happened to him, I would be starting from scratch.
The first day he stayed the night after he came [he came with 3 other birds but they did not stay] was cold & rainy and he & a female spent the day shivering on the porch of the Trio then went in the same apartment. It was funny watching him trying to convince her to try out the new gourds. She would have nothing to do with them & said she was choosing the old right upper Trio apartment as her nest. Like a good husband he said "yes dear". They spend the night there but always perch on the gourd rack. As does visitors this year. Yes I had a couple visitors on occasion just as this year. But none stay and they don't check out any nest spots. I can recognize one ASY male as he has a few white feathers under his wings and he has come several times.

They are half heartedly making a nest & Uno is the only one bringing in leaves so nest is still incomplete.

What bothers me is Uno has run off another bird. Different than the visitors as they were on the perch at the time. Don't know what to make of that but it makes me wonder what kind of reception subbies will get. I hope he lets them nest and make my "colony".

Good luck on your little "colony". Hopefully they were delayed by the weather in the south. This has been a weird year.