I see where Carolyn in Louisiana and Brian in Venice have reported early arrivals. If you guys are forum participants, please let us know about your sightings. Did you see these birds inspecting your housing? Did you see them perched on a telephone wire or perhaps soaring over your property or favorite bird-watching spot? Just curious. I "prenested" the gourds on my three racks and raised them Christmas day and have begun my 4th season as a landlord. Can't wait to see my first arrivals but if the previous seasons are any indicators, I'll have to wait until the 2nd or 3rd week of January before seeing martins.
Mike
Two December arrivals, LA and FL
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mjfog
- Posts: 443
- Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:40 pm
- Location: Palm City, FL
- Martin Colony History: 2018 will be my first try. 6 S&K B09s. 29 eggs - 8 fledged
2019 - 12 Troyer Horizontals with tunnels, 6 S&K B09s and 12 B011s all with tunnels. 43 eggs - 36 fledged
2020 - Rack 1 - 6 B011s, Rack 2 - 24 B011s, and Rack 3 - 24 Troyer Horizontals. All gourds have tunnels, porches and crescent/Conley 11 entrances; racks have predator guards. 161 eggs - 88 fledged.
2021 - 54 gourds-214 eggs, 184 hatched, 168 fledged.
2022 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 363 eggs, 294 hatched, 278 fledged.
2023 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 321 eggs, 276 hatched, 246 fledged.
2024 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 330 eggs, 283 hatched, 250 fledged.
2025 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 347 eggs, 281 hatched, 266 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
.... Great to see Martins back on US soil... Maybe a little early... But two Martins soon become three and Three martins become four... I’m ready to celebrate, and my Martins are not due here until March.. 
Dave
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
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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.
I'm much like you Dave, on the late March arrivals in the midwest states. I pre-nest like you too, I have a good feeling when I have everything in order and ready before they arrive.
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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 ... Your right ... My houses and gourds go up the first week of March.. Sometimes I get my Satellite Site houses up last week of February... Good Luck in 2021
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
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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.
Nice to see the Oxbow Golf Course satellite colony is in good hands. I have an educational satellite colony in Ames, Iowa at the Ada Hayden Park. I do the satellite location pre-season prep work before I do my own colony too.
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PMDavid
- Posts: 534
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 8:50 pm
- Location: Boyce,Louisiana
- Martin Colony History: 2018 1 lone nut and lots of visitors
2019 6 pair -21fledged
2020 18 pair -60 fledged
2021......to be seen.
24 natural gourds on a satellite rack,9 other gourds scattered around
2-12 compartment trio houses
Rarely see a sparrow or starling,but when I do they don’t last long!
Will have a second satellite rack for the 2022 season and phase out the houses,the martins here strongly prefer natural gourds.
Hey y’all, excited to see the beginning of the year kickin off. I must say just for curiosity’s sake I would be interested to know the situation under which the birds were reported. I have no doubt about the sightings as those guys are long time martineers and absolutely know what they have seen. But......like someone else said ,did they land on your housing,sittin on a line ,flew by,are they there and stayin? Was it one ,two or more? All I can tell y’all is when I saw the report it was Xmas day and I spent the day hanging and pre nesting my 33 naturals! I know I’m 4-5 weeks early but oh well it’s done now right. Excited to see the season gettin here. Good luck all.
I'm getting ready. Already harvested pine needles and plan to pre nest the 1st week of January. My first sighting last year was January 13th but my first arrival was the 1st of February when I spotted 2 ASY males circling and singing. Now I'm really excited. Can't wait to hear them again!
Brent
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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 ... The Oxbow Satilite site is doing well... The owner of the Golf Course wants me to put up more houses for him this year.. But the makers of the Trio MK-12 (ERVA) is sold out of those houses.. I hope they start back up in production soon... Like to get a couple before March.... Hope all is well and you have a great 2021...
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
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Rafke77
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 10:47 pm
- Location: Plymouth, IN
- Martin Colony History: 2022 First arrival 4/5. 32 pair, 94 hatched. 11 males found dead throughout the season.
2021 Texas deep freeze, first arrived 4/6. 37 pair, 143 hatched, 140 fledged, 21 non viable.
2020 first arrived 3/27. 21 pair, 92 fledged, 9 non viable.
2019 first time with Martin's, first arrived 4/24 10 pair, 24 fledged, 15 eggs non-viable.
First time I've opened this forum in a few months and saw the good news! We're really looking forward to this year!
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John Evans
- Posts: 323
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:56 pm
- Location: Cocoa Beach Florida
Hi Mjfog,
I saw a female yesterday casually flying out over the fairway yesterday morning but didn't report because she showed no interest.. Didn't circle or get anywhere near our housing.
We're located in Cocoa Beach right across the Banana River from Cocoa which already had a scout report. Ours should show up soon..
Take care and good luck!
I saw a female yesterday casually flying out over the fairway yesterday morning but didn't report because she showed no interest.. Didn't circle or get anywhere near our housing.
We're located in Cocoa Beach right across the Banana River from Cocoa which already had a scout report. Ours should show up soon..
Take care and good luck!
PMCA Member
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mjfog
- Posts: 443
- Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:40 pm
- Location: Palm City, FL
- Martin Colony History: 2018 will be my first try. 6 S&K B09s. 29 eggs - 8 fledged
2019 - 12 Troyer Horizontals with tunnels, 6 S&K B09s and 12 B011s all with tunnels. 43 eggs - 36 fledged
2020 - Rack 1 - 6 B011s, Rack 2 - 24 B011s, and Rack 3 - 24 Troyer Horizontals. All gourds have tunnels, porches and crescent/Conley 11 entrances; racks have predator guards. 161 eggs - 88 fledged.
2021 - 54 gourds-214 eggs, 184 hatched, 168 fledged.
2022 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 363 eggs, 294 hatched, 278 fledged.
2023 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 321 eggs, 276 hatched, 246 fledged.
2024 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 330 eggs, 283 hatched, 250 fledged.
2025 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 347 eggs, 281 hatched, 266 fledged.
John, Thanks for your observation. Since the first two posts, Branch and Venice, I've scanned the sky above my three racks here in Palm City hoping to spot or hear Martins. No such luck as of yet. Now have sightings in Pt. St. Lucie, Vero, Cocoa, yours in Melbourne, Kissimmee and Lakeland! Those sneaky rascals must have slipped by me!! My first birds last year showed near mid-January so I'll have to be more patient. These constant winds from the south are pushing 'em up.
Mike
Mike