Minnesota Martins: How to guarantee (almost) new colony success?

[Jardinage]

I make decorative birdhouses for Minnesota and the surrounding area, been reading ALL about PMs, and ... I have an idea:

Could I (a group really) learn enough about all the PM "success factors" (site, management, housing) to be able to somewhat predict success starting a colony? Provide a beautiful unique house, get the martins to do their part and... everyone would want one! OTOH, Failed efforts seem really bad for the needed step of getting people interested in landlording.

I've read a number of stories of frustrated efforts (in Minnesota/Wisconsin). I might ask, what's going wrong? (i.e. understand this! so you can fix it)

My sense is ES/HS competition is often too harsh. Could you survey their numbers first?
The other thought is, the population isn't big enough for martins to find new houses quickly. It a needle in a haystack for them.

Plus a longer list of other predation (owls), bad sites, cold snap starvation, lack of food/habitat, etc.

I don't understand how martins choose a new site: the "pioneer" birds that nest in a new location-- and, do they tend to return, propagating the colony? Do they come from (how far?) nearby colonies that are all full up? So, site near existing colonies?

It there something like a colony/site survey study to work with?

Allan

[flyin-lowe]

In the northern half of the country, even with "perfect" conditions starting a colony the first year is pretty rare. Once martins nest successfully at a location they will return there barring any predator attacks, tree encroachment, etc. A majority of the martins hatched at one location will typically choose a new location nest year, likely to avoid inbreeding. One problem with a new location, especially if there are other colonies nearby, is that they prefer to nest with other groups of martins. So if you have an empty house and there are several other colonies nearby their first choice would be one of the colonies with other nesting martins.

[Spiderman]

I think housing is secondary to location. People have been perfecting Martin housing, poles, and winch systems for the last 20 years.

I live on a lake and see Martins living in some really poor housing conditions. But there is an abundance of insects and fresh water very close.

[Dave Sig]

I live in northern Mn and have been a on and off PM landlord for the past 7 years.....Ive had 1 nesting pair for 3 out of the 7 years...All 3 years all young fledged. The last year I had a nesting pair was in 2017.. Just after the 5 eggs hatched a Coopers hawk took out the ASY male....Doing some research I read that after one of the parent birds dies the chance of the young surviving is really low....like 2 or 3 out of the original 5 might make it . The surviving PM just cannot provide enough food for her/ his young. I lowered the T 14 (3) times each day and put crickets inside the entrance..The lone female fed the crickets to her young till all 5 fledged...Time consuming on my part but well worth the effort..One evening after they fledged another hawk attack...This time the hawk missed but the damage was done...I truly believe that the hawk attacks put me out of business. Yes the weather here in the north can be a major problem but with supplemental feeding they can survive..2018 I had only visitors. I had a lone SY male hang around for a few days and one day he brought a female back with him..I thought I was back in business but the female just circled my martin setup for 10 minutes or so and was gone. Im still trying,, song bird magnet, mud around the entrances, dried pine straw in the nest boxes, egg shells on a raised platform. I haven't seen a PM yet this spring. I saw my first PM last year on May 25th.. Ive got open flyways and offer T 14 s and Troyer Gourds... Hawks , Hawks , Hawks...If some other seasoned landlords have any advice or suggestions PLEASE post it for me...Oh I live in Itasca co, half way between Grand Rapids and Hibbing, Mn. Thks. Dave Sigfrinius

[Dave Duit]

If you can contact Kelly Applegate, president of the Minnesota Purple Martin Working Group, you can get some great information and insight into this specific area of concern.

[Dave Duit]

P.S. He is in the Mille Lac Lake area with the Ogibwa Tribe.

[Dave Sig]

I belong to the Mn PM association and have been in contact with Kelly over the years....He has been a valued source of PM information... Unless I see otherwise or another landlord has some other idea's I still believe hawks are my biggest problem....Again Thk s to all .... Dave S

[Jardinage]

In the northern half of the country, even with "perfect" conditions starting a colony the first year is pretty rare. Once martins nest successfully at a location they will return there barring any predator attacks, tree encroachment, etc. A majority of the martins hatched at one location will typically choose a new location nest year, likely to avoid inbreeding. One problem with a new location, especially if there are other colonies nearby, is that they prefer to nest with other groups of martins. So if you have an empty house and there are several other colonies nearby their first choice would be one of the colonies with other nesting martins.

All very interesting. I was thinking >50% chance over 3 years trying, not just first year.

This seems to sum it up pretty well: http://bob-bystrom.com/robert_bystrom/O ... esota.html

So which activity produces more martins: more holes in existing colonies, or new quality housing in the area (50 mile radius)?

[John & Linda - KY]

A major factor in establishing a new site is availability of housing at established sites in the area. If there is plenty of established housing available martins are much less likely to move to a new site, no matter how attractive it may be. -- John

[Jared Graupmann]

If you have the option,set it up right in the water. Honoring Don Wilkins’ legacy.

I have a modified cedar Martin house from Fleet Farm. It has removable dividers right out of the box so you can double the cavity size and block off every other hole. Then I cut my own starling proof entrances.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.parkra ... irds%3Famp

[email protected]

[Birds]

Man that's a cool looking coliny( jaread). I'm still trying to attract martins here in OH and I'm running out of time.

[Birds]

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