Finally after 3 years I have Martins
Had 3 show up a week ago. None are older birds but atleaat I have a few. They’re out of the houses at daylight off to wherever and come back several times during the day. Back at the house for the night, then off the next morning. Could just be 3 males since I really haven’t seen them making nexts alot.
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DeeCee
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Fri Jul 26, 2019 2:59 pm
- Location: Brandon, Manitoba
- Martin Colony History: 2019 1 pair 4 fledged
2020 4 pairs 11 fledged
2021 7 pairs 33 fledged
2022 9 pairs 35 fledged
2023 9 pairs 37 fledged
2024 8 pairs 34 fledged
Congradulations DonDon!! Hopefully they stick around and reproduce. How exciting 
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Martintown33
- Posts: 1366
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
- Location: Laplace,La
- Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack
Congratulations dondon.. sounds like your persistence and dedication is paying off… sounds like you may have the start of your colony!
Good luck,
Rob
Good luck,
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La
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Martini
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Sun Apr 02, 2023 7:53 pm
- Location: Chatom, AL
- Martin Colony History: S&K Bo9 Clinger Gourds with tunnels and porches, S&K Barn(modified for big compartments), Watersedge 8 Room Condo, and Troyer Deluxe 18 gourd combo for the 2025 season.
2023-- A lot of visitors
2024-- A lot more visitors
Congratulations!
~Nick
Congrats DonDon, that's awesome...DonDon wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 9:07 amHad 3 show up a week ago. None are older birds but atleaat I have a few. They’re out of the houses at daylight off to wherever and come back several times during the day. Back at the house for the night, then off the next morning. Could just be 3 males since I really haven’t seen them making nexts alot.
I'm about an hour from you near Brookhaven and started with three males not long before you. I now have 9 with three pairs building nests. Those males will attract others fast. Like you, I have all inexperienced SY birds. I just hope we can get some eggs started before it gets too hot. If we can get some to fledge this year we will be set. Good luck!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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Whippy
- Posts: 1023
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:15 pm
- Location: Plano, Texas
- Martin Colony History: See Signature
Don,
That's how it all starts. Congratulations.
I started with SY visitors one year then the next year an ASY showed up in the same gourd that was used by the SY the year before so he got a mate and started my colony. This year is my 8th year and I'm at 98% capacity having 48 cavities. One gourd rack with 24 cavities, a T-14 with 4 gourds hanging on the bottom and a Trio wade with 6 rooms (converted from 12 to make bigger rooms).
It gets better and better every year. Spend time with them outside and let them get comfortable with you. I visit mine almost daily and they always come around a greet me. i have a SY male who is getting beat up pretty good by the ASY's so when I'm outside he likes to fly close to me. I'm not sure why but he circles me and comes within a few feet. He chatters rather than provide the vocal warning they do to the squirrels and crows. Maybe he was hand raised by a landlord last year and is used to the relationship with humans.
Anyway. I'm rambling. Sorry. Point is, you'll have a great time so enjoy every minute of it. Good luck to you.
Coolwhips
That's how it all starts. Congratulations.
I started with SY visitors one year then the next year an ASY showed up in the same gourd that was used by the SY the year before so he got a mate and started my colony. This year is my 8th year and I'm at 98% capacity having 48 cavities. One gourd rack with 24 cavities, a T-14 with 4 gourds hanging on the bottom and a Trio wade with 6 rooms (converted from 12 to make bigger rooms).
It gets better and better every year. Spend time with them outside and let them get comfortable with you. I visit mine almost daily and they always come around a greet me. i have a SY male who is getting beat up pretty good by the ASY's so when I'm outside he likes to fly close to me. I'm not sure why but he circles me and comes within a few feet. He chatters rather than provide the vocal warning they do to the squirrels and crows. Maybe he was hand raised by a landlord last year and is used to the relationship with humans.
Anyway. I'm rambling. Sorry. Point is, you'll have a great time so enjoy every minute of it. Good luck to you.
Coolwhips
2016 - many visitors
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2026, 88 pair with 333 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.
Don Don, This is great news. Congrats !!!! It will be a numbers game from here on. If they find mates and are successful in raising a few babies; 10-15% of those babies will return to your place next season. Hopefully all make the trip back to Brazil and return next year. This year it is vital to eliminate all starlings and sparrows from your location and practice good landlord skills and tasks. Such as supplement cricket feeding during bad rain and cold, check for bird mites in the cavities, put out crushed prepared egg shells on a platform. etc... I have a feeling you will do great.
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Kegger
- Posts: 381
- Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:58 am
- Location: Awesome Florida
- Martin Colony History: 2020: 2 pair of SY with 4 eggs ,fledge 7
2021: 5 pair 25 eggs fledge 18, 4 egg 2nd brood attempt
2022: 13 pair 61 eggs fledge 56 added 11 cavs. now 22 total
2023 15 pair 75 eggs fledge 51 only 3 of 11 eggs hatched cavity 10
2024 11 pair 50 eggs fledge
26. 1 renest cav1, cav10 8 eggs 8 fledged 2 couples ASY and Sy
Happy for you, hope they have some little ones-
flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3792
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Depending on their markings, often times the SY males can be hard to ID compared to females. Some really have some nice dark spots on their underside that make it easy, some not so much. For me the dead giveaway is their vocalization. Listen to them and if you hear a series of clicks at the end of their vocals that is a male.
2026 HOSP 29
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.