nest building

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vman
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 10:42 pm
Location: wisconsin
Martin Colony History: have not had martins for last 20 yrs. trying to re establish a colony
2018 1 asy pair fledged 2

we had a asy pair show up on june 5' i'm guessing from some other colony, these were the first martins we have seen this year at our site. today they began nest building, after a lot of indecision by the female, she finally chose a horizontal troyer gourd and began picking up dry grass and taking it to her gourd, the male mainly watches and follows, like a good husband on a shopping trip :wink: Hoping all goes well and they are successful, we have not had martins nest here since the mid 90s, never say never!!!
Jim
Jim
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3788
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

That is great news, hopefully they stick with it and you have eggs soon....
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.
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TheSmiths
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 1:02 pm
Location: Western KY
Martin Colony History: •
•
Tried to attract PMs 2004; began more earnest attempt in 2014.

Current home site consisting of 2 modified Trio M12Ks, 4 ChirpyNests, and assorted artificial gourds, all enclosed in owl/hawk cages.

2018 — 3 pairs
2019 — 6 pairs
2020 — 12 pairs; barred owls late in season
2021 — 17 pairs; enclosed housing
2022 – 14 pairs
2023 – 18 pairs
2024 – 18 pairs
2025 – 24 pairs
2026 –

Manage FILs colony & public park colony. Attempting to start a colony at a wildlife refuge.

~20 years of providing housing for cavity nesting birds including Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Great-Crested Flycatchers, Northern Flickers, & Prothonotary Warblers.

man wrote:...we have not had martins nest here since the mid 90s, never say never!!!
Congratulations. No martins anywhere in your area since the '90s?
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vman
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 10:42 pm
Location: wisconsin
Martin Colony History: have not had martins for last 20 yrs. trying to re establish a colony
2018 1 asy pair fledged 2

no, just none here on our farm
Jim
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2441
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged

vman wrote:we had a asy pair show up on june 5' i'm guessing from some other colony, these were the first martins we have seen this year at our site. today they began nest building, after a lot of indecision by the female, she finally chose a horizontal troyer gourd and began picking up dry grass and taking it to her gourd, the male mainly watches and follows, like a good husband on a shopping trip :wink: Hoping all goes well and they are successful, we have not had martins nest here since the mid 90s, never say never!!!
Jim

That super news... Timing is just right,, She starts and he follows.. Keep us up to date on their progress..

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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vman
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 10:42 pm
Location: wisconsin
Martin Colony History: have not had martins for last 20 yrs. trying to re establish a colony
2018 1 asy pair fledged 2

our late asy pair appears to have finished their nest, they were taking in green leaves yesterday and a few today, how soon should we look for the first egg to be laid?
jim
Jim
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BillieJR
Posts: 766
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:39 am
Location: Monroe, WI

That's awesome, vman! Congrats!
Billie from southern Wisconsin
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sugarcreek
Posts: 252
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 10:43 am
Location: Sugarcreek, Ohio
Martin Colony History: 2016 First Yr.

vman wrote:our late asy pair appears to have finished their nest, they were taking in green leaves yesterday and a few today, how soon should we look for the first egg to be laid?
jim
She should lay any day now , Congrats
16 - 14 Cavities 4 Act. Ne 9 fledged, 2.25 Fl. per Act. Ne
17 - 36 Cavities 18 Act. Ne 65 Fledged, 3.61 Fl. per Act. Ne
18 - 54 Cavities 43 Act. Ne 169 Fledged, 3.93 Fl. per Act. Ne
19 - 108 Cavities 67 Act. Ne 209 Fledged, 3.12 Fl. per Act. Ne
20 - 108 Cavities 72 Act. Ne 243 Fledged, 3.38 Fl. per Act. Ne
21 - 112 Cavities 91 Act. Ne 313 Fledged, 3.44 Fl. per Act. Ne
22 - 114 Cavities 101 Act Ne 355 Fledged, 3.51 Fl. per Act. Ne
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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!

Congratulations! It takes that one pair to get a colony started! :) Good luck!
Sharon from southern Illinois
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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.

I reestablished our martins after a loooong hiatus. Last two seasons we had one nesting pair. Both years we were successful at fledging some new martins. This season we have three pair. Sooo… as was said above. Just takes one pair to get it started again. Good luck and enjoy them.
2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 1 pair - 5 fledged
2018 - 3 pair - 11 fledged
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vman
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 10:42 pm
Location: wisconsin
Martin Colony History: have not had martins for last 20 yrs. trying to re establish a colony
2018 1 asy pair fledged 2

our asy pair have 2 eggs so far!!! hoping this is the start of a successful colony!!
Jim
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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!

Man they are getting with it! Congratulations! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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BillieJR
Posts: 766
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:39 am
Location: Monroe, WI

Congratulations and good luck with having some healthy babies.
Billie from southern Wisconsin
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