Sad for my martins

[abernathys]

This is such a difficult time for me this year. I have been a Martin landlord for more than 25 years, last year I had 92 pair. We have sold our place and are having to move. I will not be hosting Purple Martins this year. I have so much housing and poles I do not know what to do with it all. I will not be able to have this type of colony in our new place. Any ideas what to do with all my housing and equipment would be greatly appreciated. I am between Lockhart and San Marcos Tx.
Thank you.

[C.C.Martins]

Oh boy, 25 years! Its a fear of mine as well. Yes its sad. Sorry for that. I hope you will be able to have at least some martins at your new place?
Your post will reach lots of Texas landlords.
Maybe a public site near you?
Tom

[abernathys]

That’s a good idea Tom. Thank you. I did not even think of it.

[C.C.Martins]

Its worth a shot finding someone like yourself who has put their heart and soul into them may be the hard part but you never know. I think though you'll get intrest from here.
Heck if I lived closer I'd take a trip north.

[dcronwell]

After I had no luck in three years down in west central Florida on a good 5-acre site with a pond on it and a huge lake less than quarter mile away, we moved back to Panama City and our new lot had way too many large trees for martins (until Hurricane Michael). So, I gave my 12-gourd set-up to a local wildlife rehab that set it up on the golf course that hosted their rehab building for free. They got martins the first year and for fifteen or so years in a row until the golf course ownership changed hands and they had to move. That old set-up of mine is now on a lake somewhere in east Texas. That reminds me, I need to check to see if they have gotten any martin activity the last few years. BTW, those Supergourds are now over 20 years old!

Also, having recently convinced our city parks department to focus on native wildflowers (particularly native milkweeds), I think that I have now convinced them to buy and set up a gourd rack on one of our city parks. I have tried to get them to do it in the next couple weeks to try to take advantage of this year's breeding season. Wish me luck on that endeavor. But... a local city or county park might be interested in a good condition set-up and a volunteer to teach them the ropes (literally and figuratively).

[Jones4381]

After I had no luck in three years down in west central Florida on a good 5-acre site with a pond on it and a huge lake less than quarter mile away, we moved back to Panama City and our new lot had way too many large trees for martins (until Hurricane Michael). So, I gave my 12-gourd set-up to a local wildlife rehab that set it up on the golf course that hosted their rehab building for free. They got martins the first year and for fifteen or so years in a row until the golf course ownership changed hands and they had to move. That old set-up of mine is now on a lake somewhere in east Texas. That reminds me, I need to check to see if they have gotten any martin activity the last few years. BTW, those Supergourds are now over 20 years old!

Also, having recently convinced our city parks department to focus on native wildflowers (particularly native milkweeds), I think that I have now convinced them to buy and set up a gourd rack on one of our city parks. I have tried to get them to do it in the next couple weeks to try to take advantage of this year's breeding season. Wish me luck on that endeavor. But... a local city or county park might be interested in a good condition set-up and a volunteer to teach them the ropes (literally and figuratively).

How uplifting. Good luck...hope you get to teach many during this journey

[C.C.Martins]

I wish you luck! I suspect there's your answer. Universities, wildlife centers, golf courses, parks...so they are out there, if you have a local Audubon chapter perhaps they can help. Nice thing is you can be choosy and feel them out, if they aren't serious and you suspect they will have it in a garage, you can pass. Saturday I was putting up 2 sparrow trap houses at our satellite site, one lady came by and said all she was looking for was a volunteer to maintain systems at what she thinks would be a great place for Martins, Id have jumped at it but its way out.
Tom

[Jones4381]

I wish you luck! I suspect there's your answer. Universities, wildlife centers, golf courses, parks...so they are out there, if you have a local Audubon chapter perhaps they can help. Nice thing is you can be choosy and feel them out, if they aren't serious and you suspect they will have it in a garage, you can pass. Saturday I was putting up 2 sparrow trap houses at our satellite site, one lady came by and said all she was looking for was a volunteer to maintain systems at what she thinks would be a great place for Martins, Id have jumped at it but its way out.
Tom

I really admire all you folks that do additional satellite locations...it's really cool how each of you are thinking of others and giving.
Even though I haven't done it yet (but is on my mind to volunteer and teach) I was thinking of going to multiple retirement centers in my county and offering up a Gourd rack and spend time with the 'forgotten' as I call our aging seniors. My daughters both did CNA work out of HS and moved onto RN and Cosmotology but they share how grateful they were to aid the elderly and become friends with many (they learned a great deal from many seniors and humbled them to be grateful for all that you have). They both said the majority were heavy into their birds as most have bird houses of some sort out each window around these parts.

I would add to your list Tom, retirement homes, as it would be a great place to spend some time with people who would love to spend some time outdoors witnessing nest checks, holding birds, and learning more about this species and having someone to just talk with. I believe it may be the time for me to go and speak with some of these locations and give back a little myself. Great thread and thanks for the topic.

[flyin-lowe]

I had to sell a house with an active colony back in 2012. It was spring time when the house sold. During our meeting with the buyers I explained to them the martin houses as I had them up already. They said they may or may not be interested in them. They agreed the first year to leave them up and I could come by and check them. I also knew I would be moving somewhere in the area but did not have a house bought yet. This gave me a season to build the colony a little larger and not displace the active the colony before I had settled in somewhere else. We ended up buying a new house the following fall. The new owners of my old house did not want to keep the housing or the colony so the next spring I moved it all to my new house. I set them up in the same configuration about 7 miles away. That spring I had several ASY pair show up and stay for about 4 days. I thought for sure they were from my old colony and would stay, however the moved on. I am sure somebody near by had a big increase, as the colony I left had 30 pair that final year.

It was sad that first spring as I drove by the house waiting for arrivals. The returning ASY's were just flying a round the yard, after about a week they would finally leave and move on.

[abernathys]

Those are all great ideas that I will need to look into.
I definitely want it to be someone who will put up the effort to protect and enjoy the martins.
Gosh if the Purple Martins fly around the yard for a week looking for their homes that will break my heart.

[Whippy]

Abernathy,

i have a ranch in the Bryan College Staton area 15 mile east of town on Hwy 21. Its 700 acres. We have a guy who loves nature living on it taking care of things and I am tempted to talk to him about putting up the martin housing there. My only fear is the hawks and owls might be too much for him to deal with. I'll talk to him about it. WE have wide open pastures with a two acre pond and plenty of insects. I see Martins every summer flying through.

In the meantime what do you have as far as houses and poles. If it already listed I apologize for asking.

Edit update:

I did speak to him and he is more than willing to begin hosting martins. I've been talking about doing it for years but never did it since I'm in Plano and can't be there all the time. But he is so if this is something you would like to entertain please let me know and we will determine how we may move forward.

Thank you,

Coolwhips

[lockharttaylor]

Sorry to hear that you are moving, your set up for great setup. Your setup for not the only one to go, there was a nice set up on 2001 close to town and it seems that for the last 3 to 4 years, the houses are leaning and in bad shape no longer being taken care. we still have ours but at least we do worry that some of the neighbors may start to complain , you just never know.

[abernathys]

Thanks for the reply Whippy I sent you an email.

Lockhart Taylor —-this place was always a great place for Martins. I hate that we are moving but things are changing in our quiet town. Makes me sad. You may get an overload of MARTINS this year. I have been sick and just went out to feed my dog and saw 3 Martins flying around wondering why they have no home
I hope you have a good year and your neighbors enjoy your birds

[apundt-TX]

I am interested is some free or cheap used Martin equipment. I had a MPP pole with two 8 room watersedge and 4 gourds. Along with a 12 gourd rack that I was not able to recover on my in-laws place after a divorce

Ex wife made me take down by AAA-16 and lone star gourd setup from dripping springs. Now my dad has these, offered to pay me for them but I don’t think he realizes how much these setups cost

[Whippy]

Abernathy,

This is the email I replied with but it did not find you at the location it was sent from.

Good morning.

I sincerely apologize for the late response. One day I have all the time in the world and the next day not so much.

I've not been able to get to the ranch due to my schedule so I haven't been able to set up for the housing. I was hoping to have a couple of days this week and next but that just didn't materialize. I don't want to hold you up on finding a home for the housing but I'll check in from time to time when I believe I'll be able to get down there. If you still have it that'll be great for me but if you don't that's great for you and the new owner.

Talk soon.

Thank you very much.

[h2y]

Abernathys,

Just curious if you still have your supplies available? I'm interested if you do. Tom "Whippy" kindly shared a different email for you but I'm not getting a reply. Thanks, Jim