Still no subbies

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Louisthe3rd
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2017 9:30 am
Location: Tulsa, OK
Martin Colony History: Had active colony since 1993. I had to downsize over the years due to tree growth around houses.

I have yet to see any subbies at my colony this year in Tulsa. I have one adult pair lay their 1st egg yesterday. The other 3 adult pairs seem to slowly build their nests but don't seem to be in any hurry. Hopefully activity will pick up soon..
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BillieJR
Posts: 766
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:39 am
Location: Monroe, WI

Welcome, louisthe3rd! I haven't had a purple martin here at all, that I am aware of, so this gives me encouragement that they are still coming north. Good luck!
Billie from southern Wisconsin
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pcolamike
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:20 am
Location: Oklahoma

Thanks for giving me some hope that I may still have a chance down here in Elgin, OK. Lots of SYM visitors over the last two weeks, but none have stayed the night.
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phldave
Posts: 528
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:44 pm
Location: Iowa/Pleasant Hill
Martin Colony History: Started trying in 2012 and still trying

It's really been quiet this year for us newbies that are still trying to start a colony. I watch and watch and only see one once in a very great while, and they're usually making a bee line for some where else. Really makes us wonder how many dues we are require to pay these day's before we get our chance. I have been working extra hard this year on gardening, lawn care and human house maintenance hoping maybe that will curb the tide. Thinking maybe I have gotten my priorities out of whack, well we'll see, only time will tell.
2012 late start
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
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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.

Can't say it better or different than phldave . . . same here north of Cincinnati.

Wanna add that the Tree Swallow situation is way less under control than hoped, e.g., followed the EMERGENCY TREE SWALLOW PROCEDURES to the letter . . . result? Even though a pair built their own egg-filled nest on a shepherd's hook 35' from my gourd rack, they harass every PM that shows up at my site. But as phldave said, the PMs appear to be in a rush to leave anyway. :cry:
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
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Nealbopper
Posts: 67
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:56 am
Location: Michigan, Oakland

On my 5th year here, no birds yet.
Playing the cd's on a megaphone played on low. My neighbors think I'm nuts, I'm cutting down trees to make more flying room just in case. Do not fret, the trees are Cottonwoods. I should have cut them messy things down years ago.
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