pine needles

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glfriend
Posts: 109
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2020 6:55 pm
Location: Virginia
Martin Colony History: 2021- First Colony 8 Pairs 37 eggs 15 Fledged
2022- 12 Pairs 62 Eggs 45 hatched 45 Fledged

As I prepare for sprng 2021....in my area there are quite a few white pine trees. I am concerned if I rake some in a neighbors yard where they use round up that some of the needles could have been sprayed. Now the round up was used in the Spring & summer months of 2020. Or should I just purchase the pine needles and feel sure they are not contaminated?
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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

Better safe then sorry, id look elsewhere. It will be a cause to worry. Just my 2 cents.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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Dave Duit
Posts: 2145
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
Location: Iowa / Nevada
Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.

A great place to visit for soft white pine needles is golf courses. Just go to their club house and ask their permission. Most of these clubs will be glad you want to take some of their white pine needles.
ImageMite control, heat venting, predator protection and additional feeding during bad weather add up to success.
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Conrad Baker
Posts: 754
Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:43 pm
Location: Paulina, Louisiana

I just purchased some from the "Shop Purple Martin" section on this Forum. I order them every year, and they are excellent. Nice and clean, and delivered to my door. Price is reasonable too.
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Cjs180
Posts: 42
Joined: Thu May 28, 2020 8:17 pm
Location: Oshkosh WI

Use them. Glyphosate has no residual affect. Plus they probably have been rained on/washed since the gly was applied.
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3788
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

I thought I had read that round up goes inert pretty soon after use. I would guess the local golf courses use more chemicals than land owners use. Those places are constantly spraying and spreading stuff.
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.
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2441
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged

Dave Duit wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 3:14 pm
 A great place to visit for soft white pine needles is golf courses. Just go to their club house and ask their permission. Most of these clubs will be glad you want to take some of their white pine needles.
..
.
Dave ,,,, That’s where I get my pine straw, at the local golf course where I play.. They are glad to let you have all you can carry away,, Martins love it too..

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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Habsboy
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri May 11, 2018 5:38 pm
Location: Gesto, Ontario

I've worked over 40 yrs in landscaping field. The round up residual is very fast. All's good with them. I get mine at course that sprays on a regular basis. All chemical will be gone. No worries
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Dave Duit
Posts: 2145
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
Location: Iowa / Nevada
Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.

Thanks for the clarity on golf course white pine needles. If a person is still hesitant on using golf course white pine needles you can always ask when they last sprayed and if they spray under the trees.
ImageMite control, heat venting, predator protection and additional feeding during bad weather add up to success.
ImageIPMO LOGO1.jpg
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