Season Two of the PMCA's Nest Cam is now live!
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
One hatching right now and parents are eating the egg shell.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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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.
How 'bout that fight that broke out in the nest when an intruder entered yesterday . . . maybe some of the pros can tell us newbies - was the intruder a female (as one commenter opines) or a young male PM (which fits with their reputation). No wonder it is so difficult to tell them apart . . . even right here under the nest cam it is not clear which it is:
(Recording):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvwA2EUwJXQ
(Recording):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvwA2EUwJXQ
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
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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Mike Dingman
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 7:03 pm
- Location: Florida/Melbourne
The intruder spent some time on her back while she was being pummeled by the resident adult parents of those eggs. The intruder sure looked like a sub adult female. She could have accidently went in the wrong cavity? Not sure about that one, but she sure looked like a subbie to me.
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Kuemic
- Posts: 176
- Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2016 7:17 pm
- Location: Topeka, KS
- Martin Colony History: 2015 1 pair, 2 eggs destroyed by HOSP
2016 1 pair, 2 fledged, HOSP 46
2017 1 pair, 5 fledged, HOSP 14
2018 daily visitors, HOSP 12
2019 1 pair, 2 fledged, HOSP 14
2020 1pair, 5 fledged, HOSP 17
2021 2 pair, 7 fledged, HOSP 21
2022 3 pair, 12 fledged, HOSP 18
2023 8 pair, 35 fledged, HOSP 16
2024 13 pair, 55 fledged, HOSP 11
Best show in town! Thank you for setting this up. Been watching off and on all day!
Michelle
Michelle
Michelle in Topeka
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Wow, thanks for the recording Handyman - I missed that! How in the world did they NOT break those eggs with all that fighting??handyman315 wrote:How 'bout that fight that broke out in the nest when an intruder entered yesterday . . . maybe some of the pros can tell us newbies - was the intruder a female (as one commenter opines) or a young male PM (which fits with their reputation). No wonder it is so difficult to tell them apart . . . even right here under the nest cam it is not clear which it is:
(Recording):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvwA2EUwJXQ
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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Mike Dingman
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 7:03 pm
- Location: Florida/Melbourne
One more possibility I failed to mention earlier about the intruder in our cam/nest. I know I have heard other martin vocals at that site from the nest cam. It is possible that intruder was in fact a hatching year martin. When they are coming in after recent fledging, they have been in a martin house or gourd for a month and when they come in to roost or rest, the housing pretty much looks the same to them either gourds or multi unit houses. That bird could have just went in the wrong gourd. Remember she/he was on their back, total submission posture. (Just my humble opinion). I remember one time back in the 1950's we were at the drive-in theater, I was probably 7 or 8 years old and I opened the back door of a car after a visit to the refreshment stand. Wrong car! Just sayin'....
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Bcorbs1217
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:22 am
- Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
- Martin Colony History: Active colony since 2005.
I woke up to find the last egg has hatched and people from Japan and Germany celebrating the hatchling arrival. So many people are watching. It's wonderful!
Becky Corbett. PM landlord since 2005; 12 supergourds.
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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.
Watching lately to see if she kills him! 
He takes "doting father" to another dimension!
He takes "doting father" to another dimension!
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
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
He's definitely more attentive than the deadbeat of a father we had last season.
The intruder in the big fight sure looked like a subbie female. Mike, although a good theory, we don't have any nests near fledging. The oldest birds we have anywhere around here are only a week or so old.
The intruder in the big fight sure looked like a subbie female. Mike, although a good theory, we don't have any nests near fledging. The oldest birds we have anywhere around here are only a week or so old.
PMCA Pres/CEO
Erie, PA
Erie, PA
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Mike Dingman
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 7:03 pm
- Location: Florida/Melbourne
Thanks Joe. Any way the temperature reading could be "fixed"? It seems it is always 71 degrees in that gourd, day or night.. I would love to know the actual temperature, as this morning the male was on top of the female, who was on top of the hatchlings. I didn't know why, my wife suggested it was to keep everyone warm, the actual temperature in Erie this morning could have been in the 50's for all I know, (I didn't look it up). It is in the high 70's here early in the morning. Florida.
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Gauxt
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:03 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Prairieville
- Martin Colony History: Started 2007
2013 1 Pair
2015 2 Pair
2016 4 Pair
2017 12 Pair
2018 15 Pair
2019 15 Pair
2020 19 Pair
2021 15 pair
2022 21 pair
2023 22 pair
2024 22 pair
2025 12 pair, downsized racks
I'm not certain but it looks like there's a piece of mangled up wire in there? It may be just a long, dried curled up stem but....
2010-0
2011-visitors
2012-visitors
2013-1 pair
2014-0
2015-2 pair
2016 4 pair
2017 12 pair
2018 15 pair
2019 15 pair
2020 19 pair
2021 15 pair
2022 21 pair
2011-visitors
2012-visitors
2013-1 pair
2014-0
2015-2 pair
2016 4 pair
2017 12 pair
2018 15 pair
2019 15 pair
2020 19 pair
2021 15 pair
2022 21 pair
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taxidermy lady
- Posts: 2988
- Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
- Location: IL/Ellis Grove
- Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!
Looks like trendil from a gourd plant or grape vine! It's what wraps around a wire or trellis to help the plant climb!Gauxt wrote:I'm not certain but it looks like there's a piece of mangled up wire in there? It may be just a long, dried curled up stem but....
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Mike Dingman
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 7:03 pm
- Location: Florida/Melbourne
What type of predator guards are used against climbing predators up there at the PMCA, and are they successful?
Just curious, since we have to absolutely use them here in the south.
Thank you.
Just curious, since we have to absolutely use them here in the south.
Thank you.
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Rockchalk
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 3:39 pm
- Location: LaCygne, Kansas
- Martin Colony History: Following my mom's footsteps. Old 12 compartment 'Grandpa' at our weekend lake retreat. Reestablished site 2015.
It's amazing they will feed those babies a whole dragonfly
2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 1 pair - 5 fledged
2018 - 3 pair - 11 fledged
2017 - 1 pair - 5 fledged
2018 - 3 pair - 11 fledged
Just checked on our famous family and everyone is strong and well fed...even Junior who was a day late in hatching. We're on track to band the young next week. We're also planning to deploy a GPS logger on one of the parents. We'll be documenting everything since these guys are so famous. We're closing in on half a million views of the livestream!!!
PMCA Pres/CEO
Erie, PA
Erie, PA
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Checked in today. Amazing how quickly they grow and develop. Seeing some open eyes this morning.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
This is one of the most interesting things on the internet at the moment. We have it showing on the TV for several hours a day and it is amazing the speed which the chicks grow. Today, there were a couple times where the juvenile males tried to blend in with the chicks and steal some food. The male didn't seem to care too much but mama bird ran them off. Interesting behavior...
We sent the link to my in-laws in Germany and they are fascinated by them. They have swallows but nothing like Martins.
Great show!
We sent the link to my in-laws in Germany and they are fascinated by them. They have swallows but nothing like Martins.
Great show!
I have enjoyed checking in every day or so to see how the babies are doing. I cannot see how the babies all get fed. It seems mom or dad just arrives and puts the bug into the nearest mouth. They do not feed as often as I have always thought, either. Something I read suggested each baby bird gets fed about once an hour. Not much. But boy do those dragon flies disappear fast. Thank you PMCA! Barbiejoe
After 3 years, I gave up and put two gourds out, hoping to get other birds to nest. I did. Had one pair of tree swallows and ONE pair of purple martins. The PM had 4 hatchlings. One died in the nest and one was found on the ground two days running and died that night. Two flew successfully.
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marcus
- Posts: 314
- Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 10:21 pm
- Location: Fairland OK
- Martin Colony History: Mom n Dad had a plastic 12 unit martin house with some martins as long as I can remember. In 2013 they had 1 pair. I don't think they fledged any. I then started learning how to take care of martins and in 2014 we took that house down and put up a Troyer 18 gourd rack. We had 7 pair with 28 fledged.That summer I built a T-14 (I was only 12). I was also given 4 natural gourds that I hung beneath the T-14. In 2015, we had 23 pair although only 22 pair fledged young. They fledged 88 young. In 2016, we had 36 pair, 210 eggs, 163 hatched, 149 fledge!! One pair fledged 2 broods. In 2017, I had 36 pair with 35 fledging young. They laid 204 eggs, hatched 155, and fledged 152.
Did any nestlings from the nest cam last year return?