First time landlord

[Tommy Coley]

If you lower it 2 to 3 feet, they won't act like they even noticed. Leave it down until the threat of strong winds are over. If I lower mine down for a thunderstorm overnight, I don't raise it back up until the next afternoon when I come home from work, so I'm not interfering with ther social time.

Ok, That’s what I’m going to do. Thanks for the advice.

[Tommy Coley]

Can someone help me in letting me know do you have to register separate to post scout returns.It doesn’t work for me with my account login. Thanks Tommy.

[deancamp]

Yes you do.

[Abigayle0721]

I put my condo house up this February, I put 16 gourds up last year. I saw a few visitors last year, nothing until today I saw 6 sitting on my perch I made for them, is this a good sign they will nest this year or next? I live in Jonesville SC

[Ransom Graham]

Don't get to excited yet! But anytime a Martin comes to visit it's a great sign. If they start investigating your housing and spending the night you are in business! This time in the cycle they are most likely looking for a nesting site!

[Abigayle0721]

Thanks! I got very excited, lol!

[Tommy Coley]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who gave me advice on starting my colony. This was my 2 nd year trying and it worked out well this year. I had ASY birds & SY birds with 20 pairs in all. Had 40 babies & fledgling 36 they are all gone for this year. Going to make some adjustments on some room sizes to give them a little more room in my house’s. Add another pole and gourds, may build 2 more houses. Don’t know how fast my colony will grow just want to be ready.

[Tommy Coley]

Hey Tommy - How's your season going? Hope those B09s I sent you are full of martins! My 3 racks in my colony are now up to 81 eggs.

Best wishes, Mike

Mike, just wanted to let you know the Martins filled up those bo9’s this year I got from you & some. I had 20 pairs this year. Hatched 40 eggs fledging 36. I’m putting up 2 more houses I built & 18 more Bo9’s . Don’t know how much my colony will grow in 2021 but I’m ready. Thanks to you and everyone who gave me advice.

[Tommy Coley]

Mjfog , Hey Mike , just wanted to let you know the Martins filled up the bo9’s I got from you this year. I had 20 pair laying 40 eggs. I fledge 36 , I am looking forward to 2021. Not knowing how fast my colony will grow I built 2 more houses with 7 by 12 rooms 8 rooms in each house. Going to put up another post with 18 more bo9’s with tunnels. I also want to thank you & everyone on this site for your help & advise. Tommy.

[Tommy Coley]

Hi Tommy! Greetings to another NC purple martin lover. I happened to check the forum today and saw your post. I live in Holly Springs, not far from you at all, and I think I might know the fellow you mention with the big martin colony not far from you. Have you met him in person?
I encourage you to check out our group - the NC Purple Martin Society. We are affiliated with the PMCA. We're friendly and informal. Our website is ncpurplemartin.org . I'm the current president and also have a small colony at home. I manage the colony at University Club in Raleigh as well as the small new colony at Sugg Farm in Holly Springs. Feel free to send me a message and we can talk martins sometime. I'm also on Facebook.

Regarding hanging the Bo9 (or Bo11) gourds, I find it's easiest to get them to hang straight if you use arc arms pointing forward on your rack, if you have the choice on what arms to use. They do tend to hang down in front otherwise, unless you rig them up 'a bit funky' to allow for the forward tip.

Kind regards,

Ms, Courtney, glad to see you have your Martins back for 2021 season hope all goes well. I have a question about returning Martins this year. I had 20 pairs last year & fledgling 38. I would think this would be an established colony. I had one snake get past my guard & got into 1 nest. I got rid of him & made repairs. Everything after that went well. This year I’ve not seen 1 Martin. Do you think I’ll have to start over this year. You’re advise would be greatly appreciated. Tommy.

[Tommy Coley]

Some of the ASY Martins from last year returned March 25 th. I’ve not seen any SY’s that nested last year. Do they usually come back with the ASY’s or come later?

[Whippy]

Tommy,

Last years SY martins will return as ASY Martins this year and the best way to determine that they came back is to remember which gourds the SY martins were in last year and watch the ASY Martins to see which ones they go in this year. They will most likely return a little earlier than the SY martins arriving.

Good luck to you.

Coolwhips

[Tommy Coley]

Whippy, I understand that the SY’s return as ASY’s this year. Do they usually return when the older ASY’s do or filter in over the next few weeks.The males I have are solid purple which makes me think they are more than 2 years old. The young ASY’s would not be that color yet would they? Sorry for so many questions, thought I would have more back than I do right now. With all I had last year. I understand that some don’t make the trip. Out of the 20 pairs last year I have 5 birds back. Thanks Tommy.

[Whippy]

Tommy,

Give them time. They'll get there.

As for the ASY, maybe someone will correct me but once they turn into the adult plumage I don't think one could tell a first year ASY apart from a 3rd or 4th year ASY. I just don't know. I will take closer looks at my martins to see if some are darker than the others. I glassed one up close yesterday and he was just as purple as purple can be. I have no idea how old he is nor did I think of comparing him to others. I will do that in the next few days. But, there are more people here with much more experience than me that should be able to let us know if there is a difference between old ASY and young ASY males. I'll compare my colony starter with others. He's 6 years old. We met when he was an SY male.

Also. I did not mean to step on your toes about the returning ages. I wasn't 100% sure of your questions so I just threw that stuff at ya just in case.

I wonder though if the older the ASY males get do they begin to return earlier and earlier every year? This year my colony starter arrived a couple weeks earlier than pervious years. Maybe just a coincidence.

Coolwhips

[Tommy Coley]

Whippy, No harm done when trying to answer my questions. I’ll try to speak more clearly with my questions. The older colonies I see around here have a lot of birds back but not as many as they usually have. Mine are 7 days early this year. It may be the older the colony the more that come back at a time, & sooner. My neighbor down the road started getting his back 2 weeks ago. His is a older colony. Always something to learn with these Martins.Nice talking to you. Tommy.