This year, an ASY male arrived April 12th. The last nestlings fledged July 24th. 7 came in to roost in the gourds last night. There were 30-35 here three days ago roosting for the night. Slowly winding down for this season. Last year with one ASY pair completing a successful second nest, the season stretched out until September 11th when the last martin was seen leaving a gourd. I had not realized that 2017 was a 161 day martin season until I looked at my records. That may be hard to beat in the future. Southern colonies must have a much longer martin presence.
I leave one rack up for a week past the last martin observation for any migrants from up North.
Produce as many martins as possible.
Ed
117 days of martins and season ends 8/13 at 123 days.
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
Last edited by Ed Svetich-WI on Tue Aug 14, 2018 3:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Thanks, Ed. I was wondering what was up this year. Everything happened a bit later that previous years, when the gourds went empty around July 4th or so. Last year was a disaster, probably caused by the flimsy gourds I put up.
I only have six gourds, and they were all occupied until late July. I still have a few showing up every few days, so I have not touched the gourds.
So I wonder, should I leave the gourds in place, remove some, clean any? Advice from more experienced landlords is solicited.
I only have six gourds, and they were all occupied until late July. I still have a few showing up every few days, so I have not touched the gourds.
So I wonder, should I leave the gourds in place, remove some, clean any? Advice from more experienced landlords is solicited.
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
Since every migrating bird will be heading south, at least a few may appreciate a stop over at your location. If you had issues with poor gourds, can we assume that you have replaced them with something more substantial? There are several that you can choose from.
You still have plenty of time to clean your gourds. No rush. That is the one part that I do not look forward to each year.
Good luck in the future.
Ed
You still have plenty of time to clean your gourds. No rush. That is the one part that I do not look forward to each year.
Good luck in the future.
Ed
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3789
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Today was the first day for me since this spring that I have not seen a martin at my house. I need to go back and see the date but it has been a little longer season then normal for me.
2026 HOSP 28
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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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
7 still returning as of three days ago. Several daily fly bys of mostly males singing, which I found strange considering the late date. One came in the last two evenings to roost in the gourds. None today so I will call an end to the season. 12 gourds still up for at least a few more days until It cools off a bit so I can finish up the cleaning and storage.
All and all a good year. 107 fledged safely from 109 eggs that hatched. Almost 100%. 3 nest replacements on each of 22 nests. That is enough for me.
Plan ahead for 2019.
Ed
All and all a good year. 107 fledged safely from 109 eggs that hatched. Almost 100%. 3 nest replacements on each of 22 nests. That is enough for me.
Plan ahead for 2019.
Ed
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randyM
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2015 2:30 pm
- Location: Long Lake SD
- Martin Colony History: * 2016 - 1 pair (ASYM + SYF) 2/3 eggs hatched 2 young fledged.
* 2017 - 4 pairs, 16/17 eggs hatched, 16 fledged, 16 banded - 2 banded SY returned in 2018 (12.5%)
* 2018 - 10 pairs, 46/52 eggs hatched, 45 fledged, 29 young banded - 3 banded SY returned in 2019 (10.3%)
*2019 - 32 pairs, 145/160 eggs hatched, 139 fledged - 87 young banded - 12 banded SY returned in 2020 (13.8%).
* 2020 - 35 pairs, 180/199 eggs hatched, 178 fledged - 150 young banded & 42 SY returned (28.0%)
* 2021 - 89 pairs, 363/446 eggs hatched, 355 fledged - 150 young banded & 19 SY returned (12.7%)
*2022 - 116 pairs, 495/579 eggs hatched, 471 fledged - 150 young banded & 27 SY returned (18.0%)
*2023 - 160 pairs, 708/828 eggs hatched, 572 fledged - 150 young banded & 38 SY returned (25.3%)
*2024 - 235 pairs, 950/1153 eggs hatched, 865 fledged - 100 young banded & 18 SY returned (18.0%)
*2025 - 200 pairs, 795/953 eggs hatched, 739 fledged - 200 young banded
Congratulations on another great season, Ed! I had martins at my 3-year-old, 10 pair colony for 110 consecutive days this year. I had not seen a martin return to roost at my colony for the past 5 days, so I decided to begin playing my daytime chatter CD this afternoon. I had 5 martins swoop by my colony at sunset and passed over the speakers and decoys about 5 times. Two of the birds landed for about 30 seconds and then joined the others on their southward journey. Hopefully a few of these birds survive the migration and winter and remember my site on their return trip north and decide to stay (as they all appeared to be young-of-the-year birds). I'll continue to play the chatter CD until mid-Sept., as that is the latest I've seen martins in this part of the country. I usually have about two or three dozen martins stop by my colony during the fall migration through this area from mid-Aug through mid-Sept. I'm sure playing the CD each day makes a big difference in the numbers that stop by for a visit. Good luck to all next year.
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Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2442
- 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
randyM... That’s a great idea.. playing the down song to catch a few migrating Martins as they go by,, And making your season a little longer.. This was my first year with Martins, so I checked to see how long my Martins were here, so it turns out to be around 110 days.. A friend got his first Martin on March 21 where I got my first one on April 16.. We live about 10 miles apart.. He had Martins 132 days.. So I’m looking for a longer season next year
Dave
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
Hi,
I'm around the Ottawa Ontario region and my colony have made a very early departure this year, they usely leave at around mid August, but this year beat them all, on July 24TH I had no more Martins around, had them for 92 days total, first time I ever see an early departure like this one, same thing with my second colony 6 miles from here.
I guess the hot and humid weather we have been getting this summer is in for something ??
Cheers
I'm around the Ottawa Ontario region and my colony have made a very early departure this year, they usely leave at around mid August, but this year beat them all, on July 24TH I had no more Martins around, had them for 92 days total, first time I ever see an early departure like this one, same thing with my second colony 6 miles from here.
I guess the hot and humid weather we have been getting this summer is in for something ??
Cheers
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
Yves,
Maybe they know an early winter is coming. I always thought that a Canadian martin season would be shorter because of the later arrival of your martins due to the distance that they need to travel as well as the cooler temperatures that arrive up North sooner. Around here, martins usually wait about a month after arrival before getting down to nest building. Are yours quicker to build nests?
Tell us about your colony.
Thanks for participating in the Forum.
Ed
Maybe they know an early winter is coming. I always thought that a Canadian martin season would be shorter because of the later arrival of your martins due to the distance that they need to travel as well as the cooler temperatures that arrive up North sooner. Around here, martins usually wait about a month after arrival before getting down to nest building. Are yours quicker to build nests?
Tell us about your colony.
Thanks for participating in the Forum.
Ed