This weekend marks a year since 2 martins landed on my first six BO9 gourd colony. I have since added a second colony of 24 gourds to my martin experience. Today, a year later, I observed 6 birds playing between the two colonies. So, I'm 3 times last year's birds on the 23-24 February. Last year I totaled between 10 and 12 birds. Maybe this year I will have 3 times last years early arrivals which means 30 to 36 birds. I gladly take that mathematical extrapolation!
My biking buddy, Ken, has 12-15 or so birds playing between his 3 colonies. Ken is about 3 miles west of me.
Flyin-lowe - I like your cell-phone photo documentation idea. I'll use that technique this year in addition to my notes. I like notes. I love to read up on my pilot training log book back 50 years ago.
To my Louisiana martin friends; LSU looking pretty good in basketball this year. Geaux Tigers. My son has a lake house on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Says they are loaded with martins. Geaux Raceland and Boyce!
Palm City Update
-
mjfog
- Posts: 450
- Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:40 pm
- Location: Palm City, FL
- Martin Colony History: 2018 will be my first try. 6 S&K B09s. 29 eggs - 8 fledged
2019 - 12 Troyer Horizontals with tunnels, 6 S&K B09s and 12 B011s all with tunnels. 43 eggs - 36 fledged
2020 - Rack 1 - 6 B011s, Rack 2 - 24 B011s, and Rack 3 - 24 Troyer Horizontals. All gourds have tunnels, porches and crescent/Conley 11 entrances; racks have predator guards. 161 eggs - 88 fledged.
2021 - 54 gourds-214 eggs, 184 hatched, 168 fledged.
2022 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 363 eggs, 294 hatched, 278 fledged.
2023 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 321 eggs, 276 hatched, 246 fledged.
2024 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 330 eggs, 283 hatched, 250 fledged.
2025 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 347 eggs, 281 hatched, 266 fledged.
Well I am between you and Ken, not even a mile from Ken. I have one pair staying overnight (for the last week or two), and maybe a single, but not sure if he stays. I’m hoping you two will have to put out the No Vacancy sign, and they can check in with me.