What next?
Well I have finished cleaning up the yard from Dennis. PMs are gone and I am bummed out. After cleaning out the old nests should I apply Sevin to the houses and gourds? What do yall recommend,Liquid or powder? Anyone else in the Mobile area still have birds around?
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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.
Were your PMs still tending nestbound young - or had everybody fledged?
I just hope all the Purple Martins in Dennis' path were able to get outta the way! I think they must have some good method for dealing with severe weather - I'd like to know more about that aspect of their lives.
As for your Sevin question: Let personal preference guide you. Some landlords report mixing up a liquid and spraying everything - others dust.
I'm bummed with you...
I just hope all the Purple Martins in Dennis' path were able to get outta the way! I think they must have some good method for dealing with severe weather - I'd like to know more about that aspect of their lives.
As for your Sevin question: Let personal preference guide you. Some landlords report mixing up a liquid and spraying everything - others dust.
I'm bummed with you...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
the last of my young birds fledged July 4th. The storm hit July 10th so I think they were o.k. As I posted earlier they came back with hundreds of friends the evening of July 10th I suspect to make sure they had a home for next year. After that short visit I have not seen any more. Has anyone seen large flocks headed west? I think I will take the last house down now. Is that the thing to do?
My brother has a colony at Seagroave Fl. He still had young birds that had not fledged. The houses and these young birds were taken by the storm. He was not even able to find the houses. Gone into the gulf.
Thanks for the advise. I will treat the houses with a liquid Sevin spray before I put them back up in Jan. 2006.
My brother has a colony at Seagroave Fl. He still had young birds that had not fledged. The houses and these young birds were taken by the storm. He was not even able to find the houses. Gone into the gulf.
Thanks for the advise. I will treat the houses with a liquid Sevin spray before I put them back up in Jan. 2006.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
If you have an established colony, it is not necessary to leave them up. I take mine down about 3 days after I see the last martin, I take mine down, clean the housing, spray it with sevin, and hang into the garage for the winter. The natural gourds last longer if you take them down, and then I don't need to worry about storms or hurricanes.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
Well I cleaned out the old nests this afternoon. There were 15 nest that had young ones and several that were just nests(I guess these were bachelor pads).I must confess I do not open the nests during the year to check the young.I may start doing that next year. I have always been afraid that I would spook them and they would leave. After reading what yall say I realize they do not seem to mind. Next year I would like to get a gourd rack. Can any one recommend what type is best? I need one that can withstand high winds! Anyone have pictures of a good set-up?
Well I cleaned out the old nests this afternoon. There were 15 nest that had young ones and several that were just nests(I guess these were bachelor pads).I must confess I do not open the nests during the year to check the young.I may start doing that next year. I have always been afraid that I would spook them and they would leave. After reading what yall say I realize they do not seem to mind. Next year I would like to get a gourd rack. Can any one recommend what type is best? I need one that can withstand high winds! Anyone have pictures of a good set-up?
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Bob Rogers
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 6:48 pm
- Location: Arnold, Missouri
John,
Reviewing your picture --"beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
Your gourd pic looks pretty to me. Hope you had a great year. About taking down houses too soon --- I have seen a small flock of PM's lazily flying in a southern direction in mid October here in Missouri! It was a beautiful fall day and rather warn to boot. I'm quite sure they came from one of the most northern colonies that late. Because my houses were still up, they circled around (very high) before continuing south. Wantabe landlords might want to leave there housing up a little longer for a good look by SY PM's going south for their 1st time.
Reviewing your picture --"beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
Your gourd pic looks pretty to me. Hope you had a great year. About taking down houses too soon --- I have seen a small flock of PM's lazily flying in a southern direction in mid October here in Missouri! It was a beautiful fall day and rather warn to boot. I'm quite sure they came from one of the most northern colonies that late. Because my houses were still up, they circled around (very high) before continuing south. Wantabe landlords might want to leave there housing up a little longer for a good look by SY PM's going south for their 1st time.Bob R.