My colony was started about 43 years ago. The nesting martins were constantly harassed by gangs of wandering martins. At times, toward the end of the season, there would be up to a hundred martins on the house and the power lines. Due to competition, at the beginning of the season, several martins could be seen and heard flying around "selling real-estate", trying to attract females that would stay. The martins stayed close to the nest site. Most of the time you could always see one or more flying around or on the house.
Over the years the numbers of visiting martins have declined drastically. For about the last four years, the martins do not stay around the area very much and doing much less "selling real-estate". The area has been free of sparrows and starlings the last four years. The number of nearby, active colonies is the same.
My guess is that the combination of not having to deal with nest-competing birds and roving gangs of martins, the martins have no need to stay close by. It has been exactly one month this year since they bonded with the site. They occasionally check in and they roost at site only when weather is good. They should start nesting soon.
The bottom line is that the martins are probably happier, but I miss the chatter, the flying and all their antics. I am very concerned about the population decline.
Happy Martins, Sad Landlord
Thats a tough one to explain philsand. Hopefully, things will turn around for you. I was going to say it's possibly the late cool weather we've been having but then realized you said 4 years. I'm also hearing a couple of others speak about declining numbers. I hope this isn't a sign of what's to come. Might just be some off years. All we can do is keep doing what we are doing. My biggest concern is whether or not the next generation will take the same interest in martins that we have.
2019- 6 Pair, 30 Fledged
2020- 8 Pair, 32 Fledged
2021- 10 Pair, 39 Fledged
HOSP count 130, Starlings 2
2022- 31 Pair, 146 Fledged
HOSP count to date 17, Starlings 1
2023- 28 Pair, 124 Fledged
HOSP count 47, Starlings 1
2024- 40 Pair, 192 Fledged
HOSP count 37
2025-42 Pair, 202 Fledged
HOSP count 46
2020- 8 Pair, 32 Fledged
2021- 10 Pair, 39 Fledged
HOSP count 130, Starlings 2
2022- 31 Pair, 146 Fledged
HOSP count to date 17, Starlings 1
2023- 28 Pair, 124 Fledged
HOSP count 47, Starlings 1
2024- 40 Pair, 192 Fledged
HOSP count 37
2025-42 Pair, 202 Fledged
HOSP count 46
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Most people have the opposite problem and it makes me wander if something else is going on. The happier the martins, the more time they will spend around the colony. Martins that stay gone and come in right before dark and don't spend much time colonizing are usually being pressured by hawks or some other predator.
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.
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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Jones4381
- Posts: 830
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2020 10:54 pm
- Location: Southwestern VA
- Martin Colony History: 2020- 0
2021- 1 pair-5
2022- 5 pair-20
2023 34 pair-44
2024 30 pair-122
2025 54 Pair -178
This is not logical. Some type of predation or threat is present is my thoughts. Good luck and let us know if you figure this out.
"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." - Lao Tzu
I guess I am being dramatic, but when I compare the past to the present, it makes me wonder if my area of the country could be the "Canary in the coal mine" concerning the martin population.
As some have suggested, my martins may not stay around because of predators. I have not seen that to be an issue. They were comfortable nesting for about four days. They were comfortable checking in to lay eggs and are now incubating them. A male will occasionally sit on a perch or nearby power line. I occasionally see one in the sky and rarely hear them up there. There have been no young martins visiting.
I came across some articles concerning a mercury problem in the Amazon where they winter. It seems criminals are mining gold and using mercury to extract the gold. The mercury is getting into the environment at high levels.
Apparently, an article suggests, the martins are ingesting insects that have mercury in them. It is estimated that we are losing about 1% of the martin population annually because of the mercury.
I really appreciate the hard work all of you are doing out there.
As some have suggested, my martins may not stay around because of predators. I have not seen that to be an issue. They were comfortable nesting for about four days. They were comfortable checking in to lay eggs and are now incubating them. A male will occasionally sit on a perch or nearby power line. I occasionally see one in the sky and rarely hear them up there. There have been no young martins visiting.
I came across some articles concerning a mercury problem in the Amazon where they winter. It seems criminals are mining gold and using mercury to extract the gold. The mercury is getting into the environment at high levels.
Apparently, an article suggests, the martins are ingesting insects that have mercury in them. It is estimated that we are losing about 1% of the martin population annually because of the mercury.
I really appreciate the hard work all of you are doing out there.