The Martin Season has Begun! First Scout Arrival Reported in FL

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Site Admin
Posts: 339
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2003 1:16 pm
Location: Erie, PA

The first Purple Martin of the season was reported in West Palm Beach, FL on December 17th! As with all first arrivals, this report was verified by the PMCA—let the martin season begin!

Stay up to date on Purple Martin arrivals with the PMCA’s citizen-science project, the Scout-Arrival Study: https://www.purplemartin.org/research/8 ... val-study/
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2441
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged

.. Wow ... That sure seems like a little early this year... but ,, oh well,,, It is the first report, So the season has started for a few of us... I sure hope the Martins brought their Long John... There In for a cool spell...

Dave.
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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C.C.Martins
Posts: 3368
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
Location: Corpus Christi Tx
Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.

Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member

Oh wow!!!! They come with the worst weather dont they. Great news, but good gosh its cold. Boiling water in the iced over bird bath this morning and its iced again.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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Unk Bond

Hello
I am envious :) [ Later
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sonja8582
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2022 10:31 am
Location: Tyler, Texas

I am worried about them being too cold- last year arrived in Baton Rouge 2-22 and this year arrived per scout study on 1-11? That’s about 5 weeks early!

Anyone experienced this concern- and how should I prepare in East Texas?
2021: 1 pair-2 fledged
2022: 3 pair- 7 fledged
2023:5 pair- 16 fledged
2024: 14 pair- 62 fledged
2025: 15 pair-55 fledged

Sonja Hampshire APRN, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP
Purple Martin Landlord since 2021
Texas Girl - born and raised, not leaving either
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sle62
Posts: 36
Joined: Wed May 03, 2023 6:09 pm
Location: Palm Beach County

It seems they are arriving earlier each year. It has been extremely warm in Brazil. My neighbor spotted a colony of Purple Martins on 12/18/23 at River Ranch, FL (south of Orlando, center of the state)
Susan

Happy Purple Martin Landlord since 2021
PMCA Member
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Clebone66
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2025 7:27 pm
Location: Vine Grove KY

Here in Vine Grove KY. I had a scout show up March 22nd. It hung around about 20 minutes and flew off. No arrivals since ☹️
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AngieMH
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2025 10:51 am
Location: Marion

Hi! I am so excited to be a part of this. We have tried for a couple years and finally we have Purple Martin's! The scout showed up very end of May early of June. I wanted to keep the holes closed on there 2 level house. My husband begged to differ and it now is full of sparrows. The first time we saw them I went out and got 2 gords and we hung them under the bird house. I also put a decoy out. I've had 6-8 coming many times a day declaring war on the sparrows. They hang on the outside of the guards but don't know that they have gone in maybe one. One male did go in the middle upper level hole and stay a bit. We live in Marion Iowa in town. People doubted it would happen lol
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AngieMH
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2025 10:51 am
Location: Marion

It looks like I posted on the wrong place, sorry. can anyone help me get to where you can get your sighting on the map.
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LCM
Posts: 121
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2025 4:33 pm
Location: Many Louisiana
Martin Colony History: Have had martins 20 years, I have anywhere from 6 pair to 10 pair
yearly.

I sent you an email Mrs Carol. I hope I have explained so you can understand.
Please let me know if you’re still having trouble and I will try to help
Linda Moore, Many Louisiana
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sonja8582
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2022 10:31 am
Location: Tyler, Texas

Tyler TX - there were 2 people in east texas that noted martins before I did and I have my trendsetter now ready! And… just a few days ago I heard the song of a Martin high up in the air! Did not get a visual- but then I heard and saw him!!! A scout singing loudly as if to say “I’m back and I am announcing my return to the world!!!!!”

So excited - one of the few things that makes me feel like a kid again :)
2021: 1 pair-2 fledged
2022: 3 pair- 7 fledged
2023:5 pair- 16 fledged
2024: 14 pair- 62 fledged
2025: 15 pair-55 fledged

Sonja Hampshire APRN, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP
Purple Martin Landlord since 2021
Texas Girl - born and raised, not leaving either
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LCM
Posts: 121
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2025 4:33 pm
Location: Many Louisiana
Martin Colony History: Have had martins 20 years, I have anywhere from 6 pair to 10 pair
yearly.

Congratulations Sonja!!!! Best to you for 2026!!!
Can’t wait to post my sweet babies return this year.
Linda Moore, Many Louisiana
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Phil01
Posts: 346
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:42 pm
Location: Fernandina Beach FL
Martin Colony History: 52 Cavities offered.
24 unit gourd rack with Troyer Horizontal and Vertical Gourds. K-18 gourd rack all Troyer Horizontal Gourds. Sunset Inn aluminum house with 4 Troyer Horizontal Gourds.

2020- 1 pair, 4 eggs, fledged 3
2021- 3 pair, 15 eggs, fledged 8
2022- 5 pair, 26 eggs, fledged 21
2023- 10 pair, 53 eggs, fledged 27
2024- 26 pair, 125 eggs, fledged 83
2025- 32 pair, 182 eggs, fledged 134
2026- Added a Troyer K-18 all Troyer Horizontal.
PMCA Member

Congratulations!! They are gonna be pouring in now!!
Wishing you a great 2026 season!

Phil
PMCA member
Fernandina Beach, FL
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