I'm have a very lean year so far. Only 7 ASY Males made it back from migration. I normally have 12-13 ASY's & a couple SY Males. No SY males here yet. Counted 7 females. I had 2 other females that were here a few days, then those 2 moved on.
A nest check today found 2 nests with eggs. First one was laid yesterday. One nest has 2 eggs, the other has 1 egg. The nests are huge. Packed full of straw all the way to the openings.
It's been pretty much nothing but rain here all of May, except for a few days with some sun. We're water logged.
Toy in PA
Eggs in central PA
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
PMCA Member
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C.C.Martins
- Posts: 3368
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
- Location: Corpus Christi Tx
- Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member
Toy, eggs already! seems like they just showed up. do you think the extra large nests are because of the cruddy weather? You guys have been hammered with rain, send some down to Louisiana and south Texas please!
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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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!
That does seem quick. But when you pick up a SY pair or two, you will be having a long season!!!
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.
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.
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
I heart birds wrote:Toy, eggs already! seems like they just showed up. do you think the extra large nests are because of the cruddy weather? You guys have been hammered with rain, send some down to Louisiana and south Texas please!
I'd gladly send you some of our rain. The ground is like a soaked sponge. Many farmers are a month behind planting because the fields are soaked.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
Dan:Dan G wrote:That does seem quick. But when you pick up a SY pair or two, you will be having a long season!!!
SY males are usually here by now. Not sure I'll get any due to last years egg losses.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
Toy,
I think your Martins are up here in NY. I have 41 pairs so far with one subbie arriving yesterday. You should pick up some more this week. Hopefully, you'll get some subbies. Good luck and don't get discourage. Having Martins for twenty two years, I've had several problems. I loss 41 Martins in one gourd in 2003 due to cold weather in May and about 60 counting the babies from owl predation in 2010. Your colony will rebound with time. Hard work pays off with Martins.
I think your Martins are up here in NY. I have 41 pairs so far with one subbie arriving yesterday. You should pick up some more this week. Hopefully, you'll get some subbies. Good luck and don't get discourage. Having Martins for twenty two years, I've had several problems. I loss 41 Martins in one gourd in 2003 due to cold weather in May and about 60 counting the babies from owl predation in 2010. Your colony will rebound with time. Hard work pays off with Martins.
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
Dave:cransy wrote:Toy,
I think your Martins are up here in NY. I have 41 pairs so far with one subbie arriving yesterday. You should pick up some more this week. Hopefully, you'll get some subbies. Good luck and don't get discourage. Having Martins for twenty two years, I've had several problems. I loss 41 Martins in one gourd in 2003 due to cold weather in May and about 60 counting the babies from owl predation in 2010. Your colony will rebound with time. Hard work pays off with Martins.
Well heck send them back
.Did you get 2 new SY Females in the last day or so? I had 2 here for 4 days, fed them up & then they left. I've gone thru 3000 crickets so far.
What baffles me is the lack off ASY Males this year. I normally have 12-14 pair by now. Only have 7 pair. I had no predation last year, other than a HS & we got him. The only thing I can think of is they did not survive migration.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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Buckeyefarmer
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 9:33 am
- Location: Ohio
- Martin Colony History: 2015- 0 visitors
2016- 0 visitors
2017- built T-14+songbird magnet, 6 pairs,15 fledged
2018- built 2nd T-14. Anxiously waiting!!
Youve had a tough couple years! I hope your weather and numbers improve. We have been fortunate here, most farmers have finished planting and the crops look fantastic. Good luck.
Mark
Central, OHIO.
Central, OHIO.