First, HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my Purple Martin friends (the best people in the world). I wish you all the PM's your little hearts desire this year!!!
I have a question to pose to you..... I had 7 successful pairs my first year and 15 last year (with many subbies).... What do you think I can expect in ways of numbers this year? Will it depend on how many cavities I offer?
I plan to go "all gourd". Right now I have 32 and am thinking about offering another 12 for a total of 44........ Do you think that will be enough?
HOW MANY MY THIRD YEAR?
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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
We still don't know if the hurricanes affected the martins, but if it didn't, I would say that you will more than double this year if you have enough cavities. The larger the location, the quicker they build. If you put up 44 gourds, that is a good number in my opinion.
I started about like you, then the gourds all filled up,and they would fight & fight, so I would add more. I finally had to stop, there comes a time when you must say "enough"!
I started about like you, then the gourds all filled up,and they would fight & fight, so I would add more. I finally had to stop, there comes a time when you must say "enough"!
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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floridasunshinegoddess
Thanks, Emil. I think I'll go with 44 and see what happens. Got to get busy now.... Got some gourds to paint!
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Bob Burkard
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 7:56 pm
- Location: Oldsmar, FL
2005 was also my third year with nesting martins. I went from 2 pairs to 13 pairs. I offer 18 cavities: 1 T-14 and 4 gourds. I was planning to wait until 2007 to put up an additional gourd rack. Other than hosting fewer pairs, is there any disadvantage to limiting the number of cavities offered? I just don't want to spend the money this year.
Bob Burkard
Douglassville, PA
Bob Burkard
Douglassville, PA
Bob Burkard
Oldsmar, FL
Oldsmar, FL
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CUL Lou~Mich
Bob. In my estimation, yes there is an advantage in offering less cavities. The less one has, the less time it takes to do nest checks, the less money has to be spent, and the more inclined the landlord/landlady is to do a good job. Since money is your reason, I believe it's very valid. A person really don't need any reason for expanding, or NOT expanding, other than that is their preference. The disadvantage to not offering more, would be you could have some fighting start when there are more birds than the set up will hold. However, hopefully there will be other colonies close by for them to go to. CUL Lou
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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
Bob, I see no disadvantage to hosting a certain number, in fact, we all must stop somewhere, we cannot just keep adding.
If you had say 2 cavities, that may be a disadvantage, if only 1 bird makes it back. However, if you have about 6 or more pair, you should get some back easily. In fact, many larger colonies cut back in time to reduce the amount of landlord work. The best rule of thumb is not to have more than you can manage very well. Unless you are really dedicated, about 30 to 50 pair sounds like a good maximum
If your houses fill up, there will be a lot of fighting for about 3 weeks, until the excess birds leave.
If you had say 2 cavities, that may be a disadvantage, if only 1 bird makes it back. However, if you have about 6 or more pair, you should get some back easily. In fact, many larger colonies cut back in time to reduce the amount of landlord work. The best rule of thumb is not to have more than you can manage very well. Unless you are really dedicated, about 30 to 50 pair sounds like a good maximum
If your houses fill up, there will be a lot of fighting for about 3 weeks, until the excess birds leave.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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floridasunshinegoddess
Emil, I agree. 30-50 pairs would be more than enough for me.
I believe I could have a Super Colony very easily but it would require a lot of work to manage it and then there is the chance that it might attract more predators.
I'd rather do a good job with a modest colony than a poor job with a Super Colony.
Like Clint Eastwood said, "A man (or woman) has to realize his limitations."
By the way, how many pairs did you host last year or can't you count that high... smile.
I believe I could have a Super Colony very easily but it would require a lot of work to manage it and then there is the chance that it might attract more predators.
I'd rather do a good job with a modest colony than a poor job with a Super Colony.
Like Clint Eastwood said, "A man (or woman) has to realize his limitations."
By the way, how many pairs did you host last year or can't you count that high... smile.
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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
I had about 180 pair last year, so who am I to say that 30 to 50 pair is enough? There are many things to consider however, and here are some in my case:
My gourd racks are homemade, I make my own tunnels & entrances, I have a few plastic gourds (the early models) that were made wrong so I modified them and got them at a very low price, Most of my gourds are naturals & I grow my own gourds, of course I finish my own gourds, I make my own traps, I am retired and in good health where I can still do many things, and I have continuously had martins since 1969 (usually only 1 homemade house), I live on 2 acres so I have plenty of room, and the lots on all 4 sides are vacant so they do not bother my neighbors, but most of all I really do like to take care of them and watch them. My garden is right beside the martins, and I am within 6 ft of them when I work in some parts of my garden and they hardly look at me. We don't travel much so I am here with the martins most of the time. As you can see, I put in a lot of time to have that many martins.
If I ever get neighbors next door, I may need to reduce the number of cavities, at least by 1/2
My gourd racks are homemade, I make my own tunnels & entrances, I have a few plastic gourds (the early models) that were made wrong so I modified them and got them at a very low price, Most of my gourds are naturals & I grow my own gourds, of course I finish my own gourds, I make my own traps, I am retired and in good health where I can still do many things, and I have continuously had martins since 1969 (usually only 1 homemade house), I live on 2 acres so I have plenty of room, and the lots on all 4 sides are vacant so they do not bother my neighbors, but most of all I really do like to take care of them and watch them. My garden is right beside the martins, and I am within 6 ft of them when I work in some parts of my garden and they hardly look at me. We don't travel much so I am here with the martins most of the time. As you can see, I put in a lot of time to have that many martins.
If I ever get neighbors next door, I may need to reduce the number of cavities, at least by 1/2
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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eyeamtheman
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 3:21 pm
- Location: Quitman, La
- Martin Colony History: Super colony
Hey Barbara,
As Emil stated, MOST well located colonies, and especially the ones around an abundance of birds, usually have no problem getting "all you want" in just a few years. I emphasize "usually" because some areas, like where I am just does not have an abundance of martins, and growth apparently comes slowly. 2006 will be my 4th, and I still am not over 10 pair. Even though my site was more open than the other one house sites around, there was a wall of tall trees beside, and behind my house, with outermost limbs within 35 yards of my 2 poles. Those trees have been removed now, opening my site up tremendously, so if I have a bigger growth this year, I will contribute it to the tree removal. My belief in success is not only an open location and good housing, but a good to moderate martin population that you can work with.
Good Luck!!
As Emil stated, MOST well located colonies, and especially the ones around an abundance of birds, usually have no problem getting "all you want" in just a few years. I emphasize "usually" because some areas, like where I am just does not have an abundance of martins, and growth apparently comes slowly. 2006 will be my 4th, and I still am not over 10 pair. Even though my site was more open than the other one house sites around, there was a wall of tall trees beside, and behind my house, with outermost limbs within 35 yards of my 2 poles. Those trees have been removed now, opening my site up tremendously, so if I have a bigger growth this year, I will contribute it to the tree removal. My belief in success is not only an open location and good housing, but a good to moderate martin population that you can work with.
Good Luck!!
Johnny
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CUL Lou~Mich
Johnny. You might want to put up a few more houses. I just read on another forum, a person stating that there is lots of PM housing that is no more. He says year before last, to the East of him got slammed by Ivan, then last year the area to his West got hammered by Katrina. He says there's lots of housing that is either not there now, or severely damaged. CUL Lou
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floridasunshinegoddess
Emil, I now know the key to your success! If I ever get out your way, I'd love to see your set-up!
Johnny, I bet you do real well this year. Like Lou said, with the hurricanes causing damage and now your new, more open location, you might be pleasantly surprised!
Johnny, I bet you do real well this year. Like Lou said, with the hurricanes causing damage and now your new, more open location, you might be pleasantly surprised!
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1 Ron Vasser
- Posts: 584
- Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2004 8:26 pm
- Location: Georgia/Rome
Hi Barb, glad to hear you have martins in your area. What a way to start the new year. This will be my third year also and I'm going to expand. My first year I had 8 pairs in a T-14 with 4 gourds. Last year I offered two t-14s and 8 gourds and they filled those and kelp coming so I put up a gourd rack with 8 more gourds. I had 43 pairs in 44 cavities. I'm going to offer 88 cavities this year and see what happens. If they fill these I'll have more on standby. Good luck.
Ron
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floridasunshinegoddess
Ron, I believe you are only limited by the number of cavities you can offer. Your location is so good.... and you do everything right. I am rooting for you!