they are not staying
-
rbblongview
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2016 6:57 pm
- Location: Senoia, Ga
For many years, I have had a thriving colony of 30 Natureline gourds with round holes. However, each year more and more starlings took over gourds, killing several martins. This year I changed all entrances to crescent holes. Last week, 2 males and 1 female arrived at my site. This is the normal time frame for my location here in Mid Georgia These three martins are still here. Each night they bring home one or two more but the others are not staying. Of course, I don't know if the ones visiting and leaving are from my last year's group, but I'm worried that the new holes are keeping them from staying. Am I worried too soon?
-
James Strickland FL
- Posts: 2249
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
- Location: Reidsville NC
- Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair
First it is not the entrances that you have changed over too. I remember when I changed and saw what looked liked they were having trouble, they will learn and not leave your site. I have never lost any birds due to entrances. They learn very quickly. Also the numbers will change at the beginning of the season as the nesting urge has not really kicked in. As you have stated you have a nice colony and they will come back to you.
PMCA MEMBER
Don't fret it. I started my colony with SREH entrances. The first male struggled to get in and I worried. He figured it out and all was good until he would bring a female back near dark. She struggled and couldn't get in and would leave for the night and I worried. Guess what, after a few days she figured it out and it would be the same with each bird after that. Let them work it out.
Jeff
-
rbblongview
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2016 6:57 pm
- Location: Senoia, Ga
Thanks for the replies I hoped I would get!! I'll be patient and let nature take its course.
-
C.C.Martins
- Posts: 3368
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
- Location: Corpus Christi Tx
- Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member
You did the right thing, the birds will figure it out. Sometimes its best not to watch. You will be relieved knowing the martins are safer. Soon they will barely touch the porch and zip right in.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
-
Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Not sure if you have the old Natureline Gourds. I had them at first.
The company went out of business years ago. Not the best gourd to use. They get wet and no porches.
The crescent with no porch is tough for them to navigate and raise young in. I suggest an upgrade. Or make a slit under the entrance and add a porch.
Doug
The company went out of business years ago. Not the best gourd to use. They get wet and no porches.
The crescent with no porch is tough for them to navigate and raise young in. I suggest an upgrade. Or make a slit under the entrance and add a porch.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
-
Brad Biddle
- Posts: 523
- Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 6:22 pm
- Location: Marshall County AL
As Doug said, porches would help a bunch. The NL gourds do have a tendency for the nests to get wet but will raise Martins just fine.
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 162 plastic gourds with tunnels, all with Conley II entrances with the Lewis modification. I have 24 Supergourds and the rest are Troyer Horizontals.
-
flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Martins have strong site fidelity. They would stick around for quite some time and would learn to navigate SREH before they would abandon your site. At my old colony the year after I moved the new owners did not want housing up. After the martins arrived they flew around the yard for over a week without any housing at all up before they finally took off to find a new colony to join.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
-
rbblongview
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2016 6:57 pm
- Location: Senoia, Ga
Thank you all for the great advice. Your suggesting that I be patient paid off. They are back and they are staying!! The starlings are frustrated but they are not getting into any gourds. When I changed my entrances before the season began, I did add porches onto many of the SREH entrances that I had bought years ago but had never used. The ones that have come back seem to be using both types of entrances - those with and without porches. I'm so glad I made the change and now I don't have to worry about those "devil" birds anymore!! Woohoo!!