When to open housing at established site ?

[karen]

I read that you should have housing up but keep holes plugged - is that until martins are actually seen flying around the houses or until they are seen by others in my area on scout report ? Thanks, Karen

[Kyler]

Karen,
Mine usually arrive between March 20th through the 30th. I have my houses up by March 5th. I have all the holes plugged except 2 and those are where I have my traps. I try to get all the Sparrows and Starlings out of the way before the martins arrive. But anyways I think many people put there housing up when there are reports close to there area. They also have them plugged in till they see martins then they will open some. Hopes this helps!!

Kyler,

[flyin-lowe]

You should be able to know from past experience and the scout reports the "general" times when martins arrive in your area. I usually have my housing up 3-4 weeks before arrivals. I keep them closed except for nest box traps. If you have an established site keep them closed until martins actually arrive in your area. Returning PM's might cause a little ruckus if their doors are closed off but they have site fidelity and will not leave right away. Once you see them in your yard or on your housing start to open up some cavities.

[karen]

Thanks !

[C.C.Martins]

Karen, early arrivals are important. Houses need to be up for them before they show, but they will hang around waiting for their house for a week or so...they aren't in a rush to nest and are waiting for the others to arrive. It will give you a chance to iron out last minute pop up problems. A consideration for you are the later younger birds who will be looking for their first nesting site. folks keep at least some holes closed for them until they are on site. With the martins come the predators so now will be time to watch the starlings and sparrows.

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Tom,
Your enthusiasm is contagious. You have inspired me to get my colony and mentees' colonies ready for the coming season.

[C.C.Martins]

kind words sir, when I saw the scout report in Corpus I raised them all up! My wife was placed on 24/7 Martin Watch (she refused and sent me to do dishes). It did help to have them ready early, the trio needed rubber washers on the locking devise on the pole; it was slipping down. I will not be as desperate to adjust and fix things like last year, I cannot wait for them to show...if this year is a bust...well, Ill be ready next year!
Tom

[flyin-lowe]

After the 2012 season when I moved from my old house to my new house I took my martin housing with me as the people who bought my house had no interest in them. Plus I was only moving about 6 miles away so I was hoping the displaced martins would find their old housing (at my new location). I am fairly confident they did. I drove by my old house ever afternoon for a couple weeks. The first weeks there were tons of ASY's just circling the yard where they houses once were. It was a sad sight to see. About a week later I looked out and had about 8 ASY's on my house. At first I thought they had to be starlings but when I went out they were PM'S. I opened the housing and they stayed for about 5 days then one Saturday morning they were all gone and never saw them again. I still kind of feel like they were possibly my displaced PM's as it seems odd that that many ASY's from another colony would spend almost a week at my place. On the other hand if they were my displaced PM's I can't imagine why they would stay for a week and then leave..... Anyway I just know first hand that they will stick around a place for a short time waiting on their housing to be erected.
I also think in some parts of the country their arrival behaviors are different. I don't recall ever having my first arriving ASY's spend the night right away. I don't know if they stay in larger roosts somewhere but it is almost always like they show up, come in and out during the day and then 3-5 days later they start staying in a cavity.

[BobbyG]

As long as you have no starling or sparrow problems it doesn't matter I took mine down in august after the martins left scrubbed and repainted and put them right back up. I had 213 fledges last year.