Video of another site of mine

[Ryan]

I took a video of my satellite martin housing a couple months back. I was testing out a new lens and thought a spin with the drone around the housing would be a good test.

So this site in the video has never seen a martin, they're very rare up here. It's been up for three or four seasons now. It's on a unique piece of property that the town allowed me to use, which is on a small island right in the downtown core. It will be interesting to see if any martins ever take to it. I think it's a pretty good location.

Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a7kNmHE5BU




And here's my other chalet system that I posted a few months back. This one is located up the river in a area that you can see at the end of the above video. https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... =2&t=34877

[Dave Duit]

Thank you Ryan for sharing. Much appreciated and congrats on getting martins that far up north.

[maxxwlf]

Your video is awesome, and from the looks of the housing you've provided, I can't see anything that would deter Martins from inhabiting your site. In fact, you have all the necessary incentives for PM's to nest! I'm going to guess at one problem that might be causing failure to attract Martins...your "overall" location. By that, I mean you're located in Canada, and probably on the periphery of the Martin's established nesting areas. I've always believed that as you travel north from the Gulf of Mexico, the summer nesting sites begin to grow more sparse. My site is located in Missouri, which, although far from the coast, is right in the middle of a main artery of migration for the Martins. As the birds head further North, it could be they spread out (like capillaries from arteries and veins) and are then more apt to nest in well-established sites rather than looking for new areas to bed-down for the summer.

Now, the reason I've stated above for not getting any Martins at your sites is just my opinion, and I may be totally off the mark, but I would not give up! I started with one pair that took up residence in a Super Gourd that was hanging from a T-14 back in 2001. While your housing is extremely adequate and inviting, and you've done everything an aspiring landlord needs to do to attract Martins, the only suggestion I can make it to add a few gourds to your sites; it certainly couldn't hurt. Otherwise, you seem to have all the bases covered!

Your tenacity to attract Martins over the years is noteworthy...many others would have thrown in the towel long ago. Keep doing what you're doing and I look forward to hearing about your first pairs...and the growth of your sites as the years progress. Thanks again for the video...it's very impressive.

[Dave Reynolds]

Super job on the video... I can’t see any reason why they would not like your site.. It’s just a matter of time before they fine it, Keep doing what you are doing... It will happen.. Good Luck...

Dave

[Matt F.]

Great video Ryan!
You have really setup some wonderful Martin housing in your area - at numerous sites.
I always loved following your story.
Martins will eventually be back in that part of Canada, thanks to you.

[Yves]

One day, bam!!! they'll be there !!!!

I've waited 25 years to get them to nest at my place, I even lost all hope at the end......On the magic day, I woke up at 4 am for no reason, I said to myself, ah what he heck, I got the dawnsong rolling for 2 hours.....At 11 am, June 12 th,2 couples came in and never look back, 2 days and they started the nest built....What a wonderfull thing after so long of a wait, but worth every minutes of it !!!!!

I wish you good luck and please, don't you ever give up, Ryan !!!!!

Thanks for those wondefull vids.....

Yves

[Ryan]

Your video is awesome, and from the looks of the housing you've provided, I can't see anything that would deter Martins from inhabiting your site. In fact, you have all the necessary incentives for PM's to nest! I'm going to guess at one problem that might be causing failure to attract Martins...your "overall" location. By that, I mean you're located in Canada, and probably on the periphery of the Martin's established nesting areas. I've always believed that as you travel north from the Gulf of Mexico, the summer nesting sites begin to grow more sparse. My site is located in Missouri, which, although far from the coast, is right in the middle of a main artery of migration for the Martins. As the birds head further North, it could be they spread out (like capillaries from arteries and veins) and are then more apt to nest in well-established sites rather than looking for new areas to bed-down for the summer.

Now, the reason I've stated above for not getting any Martins at your sites is just my opinion, and I may be totally off the mark, but I would not give up! I started with one pair that took up residence in a Super Gourd that was hanging from a T-14 back in 2001. While your housing is extremely adequate and inviting, and you've done everything an aspiring landlord needs to do to attract Martins, the only suggestion I can make it to add a few gourds to your sites; it certainly couldn't hurt. Otherwise, you seem to have all the bases covered!

Your tenacity to attract Martins over the years is noteworthy...many others would have thrown in the towel long ago. Keep doing what you're doing and I look forward to hearing about your first pairs...and the growth of your sites as the years progress. Thanks again for the video...it's very impressive.

Thank you very much. This is one of the better responses that I've gotten over the years and your capillaries/veins comparison is dead on. I just don't get any overhead travel up here as none or a handful at best go north of me. My saying was being the last stop on a bus run, but no one is still on the bus when it gets there.

It will take time and many seasoned landlords have told me that over the years. After a while the expectations lessen and it's not as frustrating as it's more of a long shot. The excited and hope for immediate results fades from the early years.

I know the PMCA does great tracking work on the martins in the off season, marking them on their migration routes, but for me I'd love to see how far these birds travel during their time in North America from start to finish. For people looking to start colonies in scarce areas, it would be great to see how far from their housing the martins travel during the summer. I think you'd see different and surprising numbers from ASY Males, Females and un-mated SY Males. Would be great to see how far they go from "home".

[Wildriver]

I took a video of my satellite martin housing a couple months back. I was testing out a new lens and thought a spin with the drone around the housing would be a good test.

So this site in the video has never seen a martin, they're very rare up here. It's been up for three or four seasons now. It's on a unique piece of property that the town allowed me to use, which is on a small island right in the downtown core. It will be interesting to see if any martins ever take to it. I think it's a pretty good location.

Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a7kNmHE5BU




And here's my other chalet system that I posted a few months back. This one is located up the river in a area that you can see at the end of the above video. https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... =2&t=34877

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a7kNmHE5BU Enjoyed your drone video. I might steal your idea. We have urban park in Minneapolis that we are trying to get martins too. We got one pair last year! Here is an earth day video of some of our birds. Keep up the efforts, and Thank you.

[Wildriver]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ktb1_T81-g

Hi Ryan , Had trouble uploading Earth Day Video of our urban city park. We also have web site

www. cedarlakepark.org

Really like your drone video!