Types of Tree leaves PM favor in your area?

[Jones4381]

Thank you to PM's everywhere as they have allowed me to learn more about many topics than before it's begin in 2020. This past season my 14 birds that called this place home took to two primary trees for their leaf gathering stage. The fake pear tree in the back yard was an obvious favorite for them as it was closest in proximity, ease, and a liking but the second tree was an enormous Black Cherry on a fence property row that I've overlooked the past 20 years here twice the distance from the rack (200-250 feet). The Black Cherry is nearly 90 feet tall with an impressive trunk that we've estimated to be over 150 years old with its 30"+ diameter. It soars equally with some very old white and and red oaks along the same fence row. The birds use this tree for leaf gathering and several fledglings seek shelter here on their maiden flights.
It was noticed as we are going to plant a dozen Giant Sequoia's and California Redwoods for the next 1000 years and have been researching and discussing this over the holidays...This old giant Black Cherry that the Martins were pointing out created a thirst for more knowledge and identification of trees on the property...We searched the property and found a middle aged Beech that we (love this species) had overlooked as it was a good 12" in diameter. Later we discovered a Black Oak we had overlooked while marveling at the 5 or 6 acre stand of 200 year old 120 feet white pines that the Crows and Ravens use for their early morning calls (about 25-30 old growth mammoths).

Purple Martins reveal things we hadn't discovered before and curious as to other landlords experiences in the desired tree leafs your birds desire or subsequent teachings we learn as we open up our souls to the beauty we sometimes take for granted that nature has on display for us. Happy New year as today the Christmas lights come down and we begin the 3 month await here in the SW Blue Ridge Mountains of VA for our Martins to begin arriving to offer us new hope and appreciation of this amazing cycle. Wishing all a satisfying 2023! Rod and Cheri

[C.C.Martins]

Well said!!! Its true that the martins have opened new appreciation for things otherwise missed.
Chief among them is how fine the balance between living things is, and how resilient it is if we just let it be itself....although it does need our help.
To trees....can't compare to towering giants, oak and mesquite dominate here. Our birds used to like the very tall ucalyptus trees that perished in the polar vortex, they attempt (without much success) to take leaves from a neighbors ash but seem to prefer the crepe myrtle leaves.
I guess its being more attuned to nature and appreciating the little things, there is a bit of joy in watching a flock of wild parrots land in our oaks at work for example, missed by others too focused on other things.

Ps: love the Sequoyah idea! There are 5 on a hill top in Germany wife and I visited....some german Duke brought them from Oregon and planted them early 1800s or earlier i forget now.
Massive, massive trees. I got two pine cones and tried to plant the seeds. In a hundred years my landlords relatives will be wondering i hope.

[jhcox]

My martins are really tough on my peach and pear trees when in comes to building the nests. I have a fairly large colony had 62 nesting pair last year. So when 120 to 140 birds descend on a little fruit tree it can do some damage. I have a small orchard of peach, pears, apples and cherry trees. So they do spread the love a little between the trees so its not to bad. I'm in east Tennessee hope this helps.

[dcronwell]

This is an interesting question. I just assumed that all PMs liked what my colony seems to use - laurel oak and cherry laurel. I have both kinds of tree near my colony. Since I just got around to cleaning out last year's nests last Saturday, I went out to sift through the nest remnants on the ground and those are the only two types of leaves I found in the old nest piles. I'll raise the array back up in a week or so.

[Birdiegirl]

Fun question! For the martins that chose my site last year, white oak leaves seemed to be the favorite.

This is my first visit to the forum in a bit- it's nice to see the excitement starting again! Have fun southern landlords- I'm already counting down the days until late March but look forward to reading about your earlier arrivals

[randyM]

Green ash, lilac and elm leaves are typically used by martins in my colony from the tree belts near my home. This tree belt also includes Russian olive and one large Cottonwood tree nearby, the leaves from these types of trees have not been observed in any martin nests at my site. Nearest other trees are more than a mile away. Last spring was very cold and late and trees in my area had not budded leaves when the first martins were building nests, so many of the early nests were lined with green grass.

Randy

[Habsboy]

Up north here. SW Ontario, I have a small amount of birds here but I have witnessed them going to the top of the tallest trees and collecting young leaves of Cottonwood, Oak of all kinds and the odd Beech. Lots of mature trees here and they have many to choose but they seemed fo favour the tallest trees. Must be that they have a clear view all the time for predators and that they had a clear flight path back to their gourds.

[Keith]

My colony seems to prefer the Ash and Wild cherry leaves.

[Dave Reynolds]

.. I have a few Wild Cherry trees close by in the wood from my houses.. I watched them for hours picking the Wild Cherry leaves and taking them to the houses and gourds..

Dave

[DeeCee]

" My " martins use the lilac leaves. We have a hedge surrounding the firepit. I haven't noticed any other kind of leaves.

[Badger]

My Martins prefer pear or willow oak leaves.

[Dave Reynolds]

.. I have a few Wild Cherry trees close by in the woods from my houses.. I watched them for hours picking the Wild Cherry leaves and taking them to the houses and gourds..

Dave