Is it time to raise the gourds?
I know the purple martins are back in this area - a friend of mine about 10 miles from here has 2 as of today - and WI has several other locations further north even, that have had their's return. So - should I raise my gourd rack or not yet? I probably wont' get any PMs until the SY come in May - (hopefully) but should I still raise them now incase some of the ASY are looking for housing or just be patient and wait until I actually see some to raise them? Thanks
Billie from southern Wisconsin
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MY FYN 79
- Posts: 163
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:58 pm
- Location: Chilton Wisconsin
- Martin Colony History: 2019 - Sighting
2020 - Pair investigating
2021 - Got 2 eggs. HOSPs poked holes in them. Commence HOSP reduction
2022 - Off to a good start, tree swallows took over and Martins left
2023 - Off to a good start, Martin population dwindled and they eventually left
2024 - New standalone pole and gourd rack. 1 nest, 4 eggs, none hatched
2025 - 9 nests, 37 eggs, 23 hatched, 19 fledged!
I'm following with interest Billie. I have mine up with the holes plugged and 2 decoys on the perches.
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Wildriver
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2016 2:48 pm
- Location: Luck Wisconsin
- Martin Colony History: Landlord of colony started in 1940 by grandfather. Completely lost colony due to houses that did not provide protection from owls.
New T-14 houses installed. 100% full with no nest abandonment due to owl guards, predator lights and decoys.
Starting new colonies in Minneapolis with new T-14 houses. Planning on community martin houses in park system. Re-claimed wetlands next to city lakes would be excellent site. Currently their are No colonies in Minneapolis, MN. Hoping to have same success as I had in Western Wisconsin
Good idea. Get your housing opened up.. I put up a new T-14 about six years ago. They found it immediately. This was the start of a good thing for me. It was amazing how fast they arrived. It was almost like they have been waiting on me. Before I had the T-14, they would come by and look at my older houses and move on. They wanted to stay but not with all those nasty owls. They remembered the past years problems. Not sure why northern Iowa and southern Minnesota have no scout reports??? Going to open my site today!