Checked my colonies today. Began check around 12:40; no birds at either colony or flying above. Parked my tractor and trailer beneath the first colony and began my check. Colony 1 is a six gourd tri-tel colony I erected last year. This year I removed the 6 Bo9s and installed 6 Troyer horizontals with porches. Inoculated these gourds with pine needles back in January. No nest building at this colony; it's just used as a perching station. As I moved the 35' or so to Colony 2, I could hear martins overhead. Lowered the colony and began my check of these 24 gourds. Birds seemed more curious than alarmed. Seven gourds had leaves added to the pine needles I earlier added (suggests nest building?) and one gourd, a Bo11, contained one egg (this morning's production?). No green leaves, all brown live and laurel oak leaves. I raised the colony and with my notes, pen and step stool, walked to my tractor. As I turned and looked up at the colony, all birds had returned, perched and burbling like nothing untoward had happened. Gotta love this species.
Summary - nesting activity in 4 Bo11s and 4 Bo9s. Nothing hapening in the 12 Troyers. Had a bad storm yesterday afternoon. Partly cloudy today; temps projected in mid-eighties. Summer's year in south Florida.
Second nest check
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mjfog
- Posts: 446
- 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.
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KaraInTexas
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:29 am
- Location: North Texas
- Martin Colony History: 2020 - 10 nest sites.
2019 - 8 nest sites and 28 fledged.
2018 - Three mating pair. 12 babies, all fledged. Found one adult female dead in house. Cause of death - unable to ascertain. Very sad day.
2017 - First mating pair in Heath house. May 3-5: 5 eggs laid. June 1-3: all hatched. July 3: all 5 fledged.
Approximately 20 adult martins here for the fledge party.
July 1: Installed 4 gourds as well as the 3 houses. The Martins love them!
2016 - Many martins, no nests or eggs. Too many HOSP.
I have a 12 compartment Heath house I converted to a 4 compartment house to allow the Martins more room and hopefully evade owls. I have put in a second house, the S&K 12 compartment one which I converted to 6 compartments. My neighbor also has the same S&K house I converted to a 6 compartment house.
I have eight or more Martins that visit daily.
Exciting! I can't wait to hear more about your colony!
May the Martins be with you. 