CONDITIONS: Positioned within the flyway, errected within advised guidlines, nesting material placed within, modified large cavitys, decoys deployed, on house with plastic gourds under the house. Dawnsong, to be activated towards the sky. There are no nearby active colonys. Presently all appartments are closed.
Scouts expected here, on or about April 14th. Without further advisement I would open a third, of my appartments about May the 1st. The ballance on or about May 15th. This more or less gets, in the middle, of the opinions I have found thus far stated, on this site.
Experienced comments, from other new colony succesfull landlords or from those coaching newbees would be appreciated.
WHEN TO OPEN NEW COLONY
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Dale Hrncirik
My advice would be to begin opening up some of the housing around April 7-14. You never know if martins returning in the area have lost their housing. I would start playing the dawnsong by mid April. Be sure to take action against any pest birds that try to make themself @ home. Good luck,
Dale
Dale
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CUL Lou~Mich
Even though my site is several (30+) years old, I've never had nesting PMs here. Therefore, I'll have my housing up and open about a week before they are expected in my area. There aren't many colonies around, but I'm not taking any chances. The PMs could have lost housing, due to S&S, or the housing being taken down. If they come, I want them to move right in. CUL Lou