Where are they coming from??????
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Guest
Started out with one pair then two pair now they are everywhere...about 40 pms here this morning that would stay still long enough to count.Thnk I got one of those pre roosts going on?
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hi Mr. Lodi.
That's a good picture. Looks like the ASY Male in the middle has a bug in his mouth. Is that daddy to your youngest nest?
No, I don't think you are going to be hosting a premigratory roost at your house. I believe what you are seeing are the families of PMs from other colonies in your area. We've all been reporting large numbers of visiting birds at our sites. This weekend I saw 50 to 60 extra birds at my site. I have three nests left and one of them is very close to fledging.
Did the two young from your first nest fledge, yet?
I've been thinking about this "visiting" behavior and I believe it is the active nests still present in your housing that bring in the visiting birds. I think the parent PMs bring their young to a site that is actively successful at the time there are still nestbound young in the nests. The key word here being "successful". Next season, returning SYs will be discouraged from nesting at their natal colony. But, their parents want them to know where a successful colony was the prior season - so, they bring them by to see your site and my site and anybody's site that still has young in the nest.
I say this, because, suddenly when all the young have fledged and there are no more nestlings in active nests - all this activity ceases and things get real quiet.
Mr. Lodi - there should be a premigratory roost close to you. It is something that every PM landlord needs to see. If you're interested - go to PMCA Home, then Research, then Premigratory Roosts. An article will come up with a map and green dots. Find the dot closest to you and click on it to find out where it is and when it was last seen.
One word of caution... I wouldn't take off on a couple of hours drive to see a roost that has not been reported active this season. They move and they can be difficult to relocate.
Enjoy the increased activity - the Purple Martins are just giving you a sample of what you colony will be like next year - count on it!!!
That's a good picture. Looks like the ASY Male in the middle has a bug in his mouth. Is that daddy to your youngest nest?
No, I don't think you are going to be hosting a premigratory roost at your house. I believe what you are seeing are the families of PMs from other colonies in your area. We've all been reporting large numbers of visiting birds at our sites. This weekend I saw 50 to 60 extra birds at my site. I have three nests left and one of them is very close to fledging.
Did the two young from your first nest fledge, yet?
I've been thinking about this "visiting" behavior and I believe it is the active nests still present in your housing that bring in the visiting birds. I think the parent PMs bring their young to a site that is actively successful at the time there are still nestbound young in the nests. The key word here being "successful". Next season, returning SYs will be discouraged from nesting at their natal colony. But, their parents want them to know where a successful colony was the prior season - so, they bring them by to see your site and my site and anybody's site that still has young in the nest.
I say this, because, suddenly when all the young have fledged and there are no more nestlings in active nests - all this activity ceases and things get real quiet.
Mr. Lodi - there should be a premigratory roost close to you. It is something that every PM landlord needs to see. If you're interested - go to PMCA Home, then Research, then Premigratory Roosts. An article will come up with a map and green dots. Find the dot closest to you and click on it to find out where it is and when it was last seen.
One word of caution... I wouldn't take off on a couple of hours drive to see a roost that has not been reported active this season. They move and they can be difficult to relocate.
Enjoy the increased activity - the Purple Martins are just giving you a sample of what you colony will be like next year - count on it!!!
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
No Laverne they havent fledged yet.I noticed one of the adults still carrying groceries 
in to the young this morning.Th last time I checked on them they looked like they could leave anytime so I have left them alone and I am spying on the ASY pink babies now.How will I know when they have fledged????? HERES A LITTLE BETTER PIC THAN THE LAST.NEVER MIND IT WONT GO THRU 
in to the young this morning.Th last time I checked on them they looked like they could leave anytime so I have left them alone and I am spying on the ASY pink babies now.How will I know when they have fledged????? HERES A LITTLE BETTER PIC THAN THE LAST.NEVER MIND IT WONT GO THRU -
Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hi Mr. Lodi.
How will you know when they have fledged? I don't know exactly how to answer that one. Are they sticking their heads out? Are their parents still coming in with "groceries"? Do you know what day they will be 28 days old? That is my guideline - and I watch for them. The parents at my colony have been taking their young to one of the three big trees on our property. I know when they are there, because of the activity of the parents (going to the tree to deliver groceries) I can also hear the fledglings calling from the tree instead of from the gourd. It is good to know where the fledglings are even after leaving the nest. Just observe and let us know what you learn... Remember, the parents will bring them back each evening for about a week. That is always interesting to watch, too...
The following quote is from dkjtwo: This sure helped me...
How will you know when they have fledged? I don't know exactly how to answer that one. Are they sticking their heads out? Are their parents still coming in with "groceries"? Do you know what day they will be 28 days old? That is my guideline - and I watch for them. The parents at my colony have been taking their young to one of the three big trees on our property. I know when they are there, because of the activity of the parents (going to the tree to deliver groceries) I can also hear the fledglings calling from the tree instead of from the gourd. It is good to know where the fledglings are even after leaving the nest. Just observe and let us know what you learn... Remember, the parents will bring them back each evening for about a week. That is always interesting to watch, too...
The following quote is from dkjtwo: This sure helped me...
If you are using windows XP then its an easy process to size the pics for the web. Just highlight the photos you want to post and right click. Choose "send to" and choose "mail recipient." A pop up box should appear and ask you if you want to make your pictures smaller. Click this button and choose yes. Your mail window will pop up with the attched photos and all you have to do from here is to drag the resized photos your desktop. You now have pics that are small enough for the program and large enough to see. Just be sure to upload them from the desktop.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
We have this gathering of martins going on at our house, too. A week ago there were 7-12 PMs camped out in our dead oak tree - I was delighted! They are still visiting us every day, and today our numbers are up to 30-40, and I am ecstatic! I also wondered if we had some kind or pre-migratory roost going on. We have never had a colony here, and have not tried to attract them, so it is a blast! If this is what it might be like to have a colony, I can't wait! I have witnessed the "dog-fighting" martins that one of you mentioned in a post. And yes, it is noisy!
I have ordered my pole and gourds, and I cannot wait to actively try to establish a colony next year. I hope they remember how much they loved our dead tree and check in with us again next spring. I'll be ready, thanks you all your good stories and sharing of advice!
I have ordered my pole and gourds, and I cannot wait to actively try to establish a colony next year. I hope they remember how much they loved our dead tree and check in with us again next spring. I'll be ready, thanks you all your good stories and sharing of advice!
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Guest
Laverne I guess I shouldnt worry about the fledgelings being able to escape the crescent entrances.......and yes I noticed this afternoon they are hanging their heads out.........
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Omigosh, Mr. Lodi.
Somebody else expressed their concern about fledglings not being able to get "out" SREHd entrances.
Their parents have been going in and out of them all this time - I assure you the fledglings will have no trouble with the SREH!!
This SREH anxiety thing can be a real problem...
Somebody else expressed their concern about fledglings not being able to get "out" SREHd entrances.
Their parents have been going in and out of them all this time - I assure you the fledglings will have no trouble with the SREH!!
This SREH anxiety thing can be a real problem...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne