After 3 years of trying to attract martins to my new location, I finally had 3 show up. One male & female showed a lot of interest in one of the gourds. They spent 4 days in & out of one particular gourd, flying, chattering, etc. Then rain set in for a few days and they have not returned. I haven't seen or heard them at all for days now.
Has anyone else had this happen? I was so hopeful that since they were here four days, that they liked it and would stay to nest. I'm still playing the song bird magnet for several hours daily. I have several housing options available, all with pine needles.
Thanks
They Came, Stayed, and Left
-
Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2374
- 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
2024 - 41 Pair, 212 Eggs, 198 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
2024 - 22 Pair, 111 Eggs, 104 Fledged
,,, That is kind of common with a new site... But I have seen them come back in a few days and set up house keeping... So you are good... Hang in there... 
Dave
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
-
Thomas Maddox
- Posts: 442
- Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 5:23 pm
- Location: Sulphur, Louisiana
I agree with Dave. 4 days is a good sign.
-
LoneOakMartin
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2025 8:48 am
- Location: Texas
Thank you! They came back today. Fingers crossed they stay this time.Dave Reynolds wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 9:10 am,,, That is kind of common with a new site... But I have seen them come back in a few days and set up house keeping... So you are good... Hang in there...
Dave
-
flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3699
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Do they appear to be SY or ASY's? I am not sure what the timeline is in your neck of the woods.
2025 HOSP count-7
2024 60 pair, HOSP count-44
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.
2024 60 pair, HOSP count-44
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.
-
dsonyay
- Posts: 1627
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
When I moved from Slidell to Broussard (LA) it took me about 6 years to get anything. I would have visitors but no takers. It was frustrating. It was a far better setup at the new place too. Also had two really nice ponds close by.
I had 16 plastic gourds.. on the 6th season I took two gourds off and attached a SK barn to an arm. It seemed like something different made all the difference… I had visitors and 4 pair that year… from then on it was more and more.
So don’t give up.
I had 16 plastic gourds.. on the 6th season I took two gourds off and attached a SK barn to an arm. It seemed like something different made all the difference… I had visitors and 4 pair that year… from then on it was more and more.
So don’t give up.
-
LoneOakMartin
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2025 8:48 am
- Location: Texas
The male is ASY, hard to tell on the female.flyin-lowe wrote: ↑Tue Apr 08, 2025 6:27 amDo they appear to be SY or ASY's? I am not sure what the timeline is in your neck of the woods.
-
Dan G
- Posts: 416
- Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:52 pm
- Location: PA/Bellefonte
- Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius.
Have had visitor every year 2014-24.
2024, most active. Up to seven at a time but still no serious nest building
Too many mature trees.
They were only gone for a day or so, so maybe they never really left. Fingers crossed for you. I too am hopeful this will be ‘the year’.
Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days. Had an ASY male visit in mid June. One morning, there were 7! Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days. Had an ASY male visit in mid June. One morning, there were 7! Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.