I am taking my two 12-room Purple Martin housing down for the last time. There
has been no activity in the past three years. I see them flying around feeding in
the area but no visitor.
Mistake 1: having bird feeders that attracted local wild birds. Hawks feasted
on them and the Purple Martins. It was too late by the time I removed
my bird feeders. Avian predators were already established in my neighbor hood.
Mistake 2: having caged birds in my patio. It too attracted hawks to my backyard.
I thought I get to enjoy birds in my backyard year round....WRONG!
Adios Y'All.
Going Down After 22 Years
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G Saner
- Posts: 232
- Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2013 3:37 pm
- Location: TX/Kerrville
- Martin Colony History: Fort Worth, TX (1967-1976), The Colony, TX (1981-1985), Carrollton, TX (1986-2013), Kerrville, TX (2015-present).
Two SuperGourd poles (12 gourds on each) at River Point Assisted Living Center.
BumBee,
Sorry to hear about your hawk problem. I had the same issue at my last colony. I didn't get down to zero but did get down to 3 pair.
When I retired, our new backyard is poor martin habitat so I moved my gourds and set up a satellite colony. This is my current colony. My gourds are at an Assisted Living Center (with A+ conditions) and I couldn't be happier.
If you are willing to try something a little different to continue the hobby, a satellite colony might be good. Other good locations included golf courses or parks. Really anywhere that is open and you get permission can work. I just thought I would toss it out as another option.
Gary
Sorry to hear about your hawk problem. I had the same issue at my last colony. I didn't get down to zero but did get down to 3 pair.
When I retired, our new backyard is poor martin habitat so I moved my gourds and set up a satellite colony. This is my current colony. My gourds are at an Assisted Living Center (with A+ conditions) and I couldn't be happier.
If you are willing to try something a little different to continue the hobby, a satellite colony might be good. Other good locations included golf courses or parks. Really anywhere that is open and you get permission can work. I just thought I would toss it out as another option.
Gary
G Saner
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C.C.Martins
- Posts: 2879
- 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.
HOSP: 52 Starlings: 29
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 36 PMCA excluder gourds, 6 room trio mini castle with troyer tunnels and enlarged compartments.
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,
PMCA member
Bumbee,
Sorry to hear that, you've been at it for a while. Wish you all the best with your aviary. Hope your able to encourage others in your area to become landlords.
Gary had a great suggestion.
Tom
Sorry to hear that, you've been at it for a while. Wish you all the best with your aviary. Hope your able to encourage others in your area to become landlords.
Gary had a great suggestion.
Tom
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3582
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
The hawk is definitely a problem but I am not sure the other birds are to blame. The bird feeders will not draw any more attention of the hawks then a purple martin colony does. Even if you didn't have feeders or the birds on you porch, a colony of martins would attract the attention of hawks.
2024 HOSP count-26
2023 60+ pair, HOSP count-8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP count-14
2021 62 nest fledged aprox. 230, HOSP count-9
2020 42 nest, Fledged 164, HOSP count-8
2019- 31 Pair over 100 fledged
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair nested, 12 eggs total, fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles away, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2023 60+ pair, HOSP count-8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP count-14
2021 62 nest fledged aprox. 230, HOSP count-9
2020 42 nest, Fledged 164, HOSP count-8
2019- 31 Pair over 100 fledged
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair nested, 12 eggs total, fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles away, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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C.C.Martins
- Posts: 2879
- 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.
HOSP: 52 Starlings: 29
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 36 PMCA excluder gourds, 6 room trio mini castle with troyer tunnels and enlarged compartments.
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,
PMCA member
Yeah I saw him. Bet your birds were nervous. We have a few flocks of wild parrots here, saw a hawk on a high wire checking two out, the parrots knew it was there and were making all kinds of noise, looked to me like the hawk didnt know what to make of them.
Well you gave it a shot hanging in there for 3 years. Good luck!
Well you gave it a shot hanging in there for 3 years. Good luck!
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
Hi Bumbee,
I've always enjoyed your posts. You've always brought a wealth of knowledge to the forum, as well as some really cool, cutting edge housing designs.
I completely understand where you're coming from. These smaller hawks, namely sharpies and cooper's, have really done a lot of damage to the songbird hobby, for a lot of folks.
Yet another example of a species exploding in numbers, at the expense of other, just as important species, thanks to laws that are completely out of touch with what's actually going on.
I hope you keep contributing here on the forum.
Whether hosting Martins, or not, your knowledge, experience, and ingenuity will always be greatly appreciated.
I've always enjoyed your posts. You've always brought a wealth of knowledge to the forum, as well as some really cool, cutting edge housing designs.
I completely understand where you're coming from. These smaller hawks, namely sharpies and cooper's, have really done a lot of damage to the songbird hobby, for a lot of folks.
Yet another example of a species exploding in numbers, at the expense of other, just as important species, thanks to laws that are completely out of touch with what's actually going on.
I hope you keep contributing here on the forum.
Whether hosting Martins, or not, your knowledge, experience, and ingenuity will always be greatly appreciated.
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Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2308
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: 2017 Visitors
Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 58 Eggs, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 128 Eggs, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 156 Eggs, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 162 Eggs, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 146 Eggs, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 157 Eggs, 130 Fledged
Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Eggs, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Eggs, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 39 Eggs, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair 64 Eggs, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 89 Eggs, 84 Fledged
... Like someone said... You can move your housing to a Satilite Site and maybe enjoy Martins there.. That is what I did.. I got so tired after years of trying to start an colony, I ask the local Golf Course if I could try and start a colony on the course.. Sure enough 15 pair the first year at the Golf Course. Then the next year I got my first pair at home.. Strange the way things work out.. Good luck with your new project...
Dave
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
There they go. I gave them to a guy that has acreage and a pond in Alvin Texas.
He was doing some work for me, and he notice my PM housing. He started talking about
PMs. I asked if he would like to take my PM housing and he said yes. Today he came
and we took them down.
He was doing some work for me, and he notice my PM housing. He started talking about
PMs. I asked if he would like to take my PM housing and he said yes. Today he came
and we took them down.
- Attachments
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-
Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2308
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: 2017 Visitors
Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 58 Eggs, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 128 Eggs, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 156 Eggs, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 162 Eggs, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 146 Eggs, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 157 Eggs, 130 Fledged
Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Eggs, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Eggs, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 39 Eggs, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair 64 Eggs, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 89 Eggs, 84 Fledged
,,, Sorry to hear Bumbee ,,, But you gave it a good try.. Hope the owner of your houses has some success.. Keep us all posted how things are going for ya... from time to time..
Dave
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio