Hey WI,
I'm here in SE Wisc and put up one of my martin houses and my tree swallow/blue bird houses on Saturday. I had one lone tree swallow show up April 1. Typically I see the tree swallows around now, then barn swallows a week or so later followed by PMs.
I was planning on putting up my other house and gourds up April 15. For fun I looked at the scout report and there are reports all over WI.
I woke up to snow fall today ... how is this possible? Are they sticking around? Are you feeding them? Don't want to be late with my houses, but I can't get my head around how there are PMs here now surviving the cold. thanks - enjoy any input, as a second year landlord I know I have so much to learn.
Hey Wisconsin - what's up with your scouts?
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WI/MI Border
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:54 pm
- Location: WI/MI Border
Good to hear you are getting PMs. They'll survive a little snow. We have mostly snow cover but most will be gone in the next few days.
I just began building a PM house. I've no experience, and we are close to the northern limits of their range. I'm counting on getting a few in our first year as landlords but I realize that might not be in the cards. 50 miles due east of here (Escanaba) there are established colonies so I am hopeful.
https://www.dailypress.net/news/local-n ... e-martins/
The earliest I've had bluebirds is the third week of April but most arrive in May. 2025 will be my third year with two trails. 2024 results... 27 nest boxes, 13 nesting pairs, 64 eggs, 57 hatchlings and 52 fledglings. It keeps me busy so I'll put my one PM house in my yard even though it is not an ideal location.
Good Luck!
Tim
I just began building a PM house. I've no experience, and we are close to the northern limits of their range. I'm counting on getting a few in our first year as landlords but I realize that might not be in the cards. 50 miles due east of here (Escanaba) there are established colonies so I am hopeful.
https://www.dailypress.net/news/local-n ... e-martins/
The earliest I've had bluebirds is the third week of April but most arrive in May. 2025 will be my third year with two trails. 2024 results... 27 nest boxes, 13 nesting pairs, 64 eggs, 57 hatchlings and 52 fledglings. It keeps me busy so I'll put my one PM house in my yard even though it is not an ideal location.
Good Luck!
Tim
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SE Wisc hopefull
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2022 7:57 pm
- Location: Kenosha County
Tim,
I'm rooting for you. I got 3 breeding pairs last year and another 3 single males after so many years. Anxious to see if I can further fill in my 26 cavities/gourds.
This is a great video on your area if you haven't seen it. Would be great to see the UP get a PM revival.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofE4pmHQ2Vo
I'm rooting for you. I got 3 breeding pairs last year and another 3 single males after so many years. Anxious to see if I can further fill in my 26 cavities/gourds.
This is a great video on your area if you haven't seen it. Would be great to see the UP get a PM revival.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofE4pmHQ2Vo
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WI/MI Border
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:54 pm
- Location: WI/MI Border
That's cool. And that's Joe Kaplan. He was the one I contacted after hearing about his efforts at a Purple Martin booth at the Michigan Bluebird Association meeting in Ann Arbor last April.
As Joe says... Back in the 50s and 60s families would go to their summer lake house and "put out the dock, put up a Purple Martin House and crack a beer"... The summer "triathlon" Haha!
There are colonies along Lake Michigan (Green Bay shoreline) in Oconto and Escanaba. I'm hoping to go to the event in Oconto in June to learn more about them. I haven't found any local martin information or colonies in my area. Hoping that changes someday...
As Joe says... Back in the 50s and 60s families would go to their summer lake house and "put out the dock, put up a Purple Martin House and crack a beer"... The summer "triathlon" Haha!
There are colonies along Lake Michigan (Green Bay shoreline) in Oconto and Escanaba. I'm hoping to go to the event in Oconto in June to learn more about them. I haven't found any local martin information or colonies in my area. Hoping that changes someday...
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MY FYN 79
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:58 pm
- Location: Chilton Wisconsin
- Martin Colony History: 2019 - Sighting
2020 - Pair investigating
2021 - Got 2 eggs. HOSPs poked holes in them. Commence HOSP reduction
2022 - Off to a good start, tree swallows took over and Martins left
2023 - Off to a good start, Martin population dwindled and they eventually left
2024 - New standalone pole and gourd rack. High hopes for success!
We haven’t seen any Martins at our house or remote site, which is where we plan to build a house in 5 years or so. Both sites are in Chilton, east of Lake Winnebago.
We did take a ride to the remote site with a cup of coffee this morning and saw our first tree swallow there. Our house has a barn and we normally have a huge amount of barn swallows. Haven’t seen those yet.
Our first scout sighting last year was April 15th at the remote site. Later at our house.
Hoping to see one any day now!!
We did take a ride to the remote site with a cup of coffee this morning and saw our first tree swallow there. Our house has a barn and we normally have a huge amount of barn swallows. Haven’t seen those yet.
Our first scout sighting last year was April 15th at the remote site. Later at our house.
Hoping to see one any day now!!
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SE Wisc hopefull
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2022 7:57 pm
- Location: Kenosha County
Keep us updated MY FYN 79 ... I'm a couple hours south, so we should see them around the same time.
This will be my first year with returning PMs (hopefully). I have always had Tree Swallows in their houses and 'barn Swallows in our barn,
Last year Tree Swallows started arriving on 4/12 then barn swallows a week later. First PM visitor was 5/15.
This year one Tree Swallow arrived 4/1 and then 4 more over the last few weeks. So far no barn swallows or PM
This will be my first year with returning PMs (hopefully). I have always had Tree Swallows in their houses and 'barn Swallows in our barn,
Last year Tree Swallows started arriving on 4/12 then barn swallows a week later. First PM visitor was 5/15.
This year one Tree Swallow arrived 4/1 and then 4 more over the last few weeks. So far no barn swallows or PM
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WI/MI Border
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:54 pm
- Location: WI/MI Border
Hey Big G. There's an event in June in Oconto you might be interested in. I've never attended but I am going to try to get there.
http://www.wisconsinpurplemartins.org/martinfest.html