I had 56 PM cavities available this year, a mixture of houses and gourds. With 35 pair and fleglings now from most cavities, it is a "Super" sight. There are between 125 and 175 purple martins sticking multiple heads out of each cavity hole (parents & babies) and most houses are "black" with PM's on porches and perches in the AM and PM. I know it won't last much longer this year, but, now I'm enjoying every minute!
To all the wantabe landlords --- hang in there as it don't get much better than this. Your trouble, sweat, and prayers will be rewarded! Good luck to all, and hope the recent hurricane did you no harm.
Not a Super Colony, but still Super ---
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Craig Haddox
- Posts: 444
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 5:13 pm
- Location: Missouri Washington
Bob, congratulation's on a great year. I had 40 cavities available and ended up with 29 pairs. Out of 115 babies there are still 8 left to fledge. Their stay seems to get shorter every year.
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Guest
I think you're right, Craig, it seems like mine left a little early this year. I have not kept track of when they leave, but I'll start making a note of that as well.
Mine have been gone since July 6, that's when the last ones fledged. Right now, you couldn't find a PM with a Search Warrant around my home. But I worked over in Webb City, MO yesterday (20 miles away) and the man across the street still has quite a few at his colony.
Man, I hated to see them leave. Now I'm seeing wasps around our house.
(If my spelling is offensive, I can't get the SpellCheck to work for me)
JW
Mine have been gone since July 6, that's when the last ones fledged. Right now, you couldn't find a PM with a Search Warrant around my home. But I worked over in Webb City, MO yesterday (20 miles away) and the man across the street still has quite a few at his colony.
Man, I hated to see them leave. Now I'm seeing wasps around our house.
(If my spelling is offensive, I can't get the SpellCheck to work for me)
JW
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Steve Kroenke
- Posts: 4342
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Logansport
Hey Bob,
Sounds like you have had a great martin season! I like to see those postings on the Forum!
I am several hundred miles south of you and I now have only one pair of SY martins with young. These babies are about 2 weeks old. I am still seeing many martins socializing around my colony site in the mornings, but the numbers are dwindling. Last evening, I had between 50 and 75 martins still coming in to roost and these are mainly fledglings though some of the parents, particularly the female are sleeping with their young. The Cooper's hawks continue to predate the recent martin fledglings though the parent martins are now taking their young farther away from this area. The hawks have killed large numbers of fledglings in both Bob's (my neighbor) colony and mine this season. Continued great success.
Steve
Sounds like you have had a great martin season! I like to see those postings on the Forum!
I am several hundred miles south of you and I now have only one pair of SY martins with young. These babies are about 2 weeks old. I am still seeing many martins socializing around my colony site in the mornings, but the numbers are dwindling. Last evening, I had between 50 and 75 martins still coming in to roost and these are mainly fledglings though some of the parents, particularly the female are sleeping with their young. The Cooper's hawks continue to predate the recent martin fledglings though the parent martins are now taking their young farther away from this area. The hawks have killed large numbers of fledglings in both Bob's (my neighbor) colony and mine this season. Continued great success.
Steve
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John Atteberry
You sure had a nice season, didn't you? Well I had three pairs with 12 babies that fledged, so hopefully next year will be better like your's! Have a great martin season! John!