We "MUST" think open flyways ,, these rules can be bent but not broken. If you want Martins you have to stop and and take a good close look at your sight and ask yourself what is more important to you that huge beautiful shade tree to close to your sight ? Or Purple Martins ?
Yes open flyways are SO important! That is why I relocated my pole this year.
I sincerely hope our "Wannabe Club" disbands soon due to lack of members... Glad to read the exciting and encouraging reports so far. Time will tell.
I have renewed hope with the arrival of SYMs. Mostly I see 2 at a time drop in briefly or circle by. But TODAY there is one SYM who is VERY interested and spending a lot of time investigating and hanging out!! He seems to prefer the THGs. So when he left to go cruising around, I opened up a bit more of my housing in hopes of enticing any recruits he might bring by. I have all 4 of the THGs open, and 8 compartments on the Trendsetter 12. The changes did not deter him, and he is back again and again, checking it all out. This period in 2013 is when things got "happening", so we shall see. I will not allow myself to get too excited yet. ONE SYM does not make a colony. He is like a drop of rain on a hot day.
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!
This is great news! Wow at least your half way there if he sticks around! He will start recruiting soon if he likes what he sees!!! So awesome! Wishing you the best of luck!!!,
Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius. Have had visitor every year 2014-24. Two large trees removed in fall 2024 and moved T-14 to a more open location. 2025- 1 SY pair. Fledged 2.
Sounds encouraging, and i understand not getting your hopes up, but you cant have a thunderstorm till the first drop hits the ground.
MamaBruff wrote:Yes open flyways are SO important! That is why I relocated my pole this year.
I sincerely hope our "Wannabe Club" disbands soon due to lack of members... Glad to read the exciting and encouraging reports so far. Time will tell.
I have renewed hope with the arrival of SYMs. Mostly I see 2 at a time drop in briefly or circle by. But TODAY there is one SYM who is VERY interested and spending a lot of time investigating and hanging out!! He seems to prefer the THGs. So when he left to go cruising around, I opened up a bit more of my housing in hopes of enticing any recruits he might bring by. I have all 4 of the THGs open, and 8 compartments on the Trendsetter 12. The changes did not deter him, and he is back again and again, checking it all out. This period in 2013 is when things got "happening", so we shall see. I will not allow myself to get too excited yet. ONE SYM does not make a colony. He is like a drop of rain on a hot day.
Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!
How's the wannbe gang? Seen any? Tell us what's going on!
I still have a pair hanging around! No action yet! Cold like Feb. today! No martins flying around in this stuff! Suppose to turn nice tomorrow! Good luck!
Well, Sharon I already told you this but will pass it along to my other wannabe
friends. I have never played the dawn song ever in the 10 yrs I've been trying to attract martins to my site. Why haven't I? Thought I needed to have it playing right at the bottom of the pole. I didn't think it through very well obviously. Anyway yesterday I played my song magnet that I bought from Sharon just outside my house about 70ft. from my gourd rack. An hour later I looked at my rack and there were 2 SY martins looking in the gourds. They stayed 10 minutes. Shortly after 2 more came then a single then a SY female and another SY (don't know the sex). I had 7 martins in 3-4 hours when I had only seen 2 this whole year. They did not stay unfortunately but I was thrilled just to see them. I learned 2 things: there are martins in my area which I had doubted and the dawn song WORKS in attracting purple martins! I'm amazed and really have no excuse for not trying it before now. It's a good thing indeed. That's all that's happening here! Good luck everyone!!!
Have 2 pair which have been here consistently, and a third which apparently has "set-up shop". One pair flew off the Gemini rack, to the top of a big popular tree, and was pulling off green leaves .
2 pair, 12 eggs….first pair's first egg was May 30th, and the second pair laid their first two days later. If Murphy doesn't intervene, hatching should begin in about a week.
Fabulous news!! 12 eggs is like, WOW! Wishing you the best, and hope to see many more updates and baby pics. Then you will have to start a new thread, LOL! Congratulations!
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Yep, Mary, we are really tickled. The fact PM's actually came & stayed was really cool. First pair was comprised of obviously ASY birds; the second pair's female is a SY Martin. The fact they stayed, and she layed six eggs, was a wonderful surprise.
4 or 5 days away from projected hatch- date. Keeping our thoughts positive.
Martin Colony History: Started with Amish copy of Trendsetter 12 room house, added Trio Grandpa with expanded rooms, and North Star 8. Taking Trendsetter down this spring and adding gourd rack.
Can I join the club? I thought I was set as last year I had a pair and fledged four. They must have perished so I'm back to being a wannabe. I had a lone male on the wire today but it's too late for any hope. So sad!! I do enjoy seeing them once in a while but there's an ache looking at empty housing most of the time.
2020 - A pair of SY birds with three nice chicks. Lots of visitors all year long.
2015-2019 - A few lookers.
2014 - ASY male and SY female fledged four chicks.
2013 - Several visitors but none stayed to nest.
2012 - Lots of visitors all season long. We had a pair of sys but no chicks survived.
2011 - New location - A few visitors
2010 - First year – Poor house location.
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!
Martin Colony History: Started with Amish copy of Trendsetter 12 room house, added Trio Grandpa with expanded rooms, and North Star 8. Taking Trendsetter down this spring and adding gourd rack.
I don't know how much fun I'll be as I'm pretty down right now. Thanks for the invite!
2020 - A pair of SY birds with three nice chicks. Lots of visitors all year long.
2015-2019 - A few lookers.
2014 - ASY male and SY female fledged four chicks.
2013 - Several visitors but none stayed to nest.
2012 - Lots of visitors all season long. We had a pair of sys but no chicks survived.
2011 - New location - A few visitors
2010 - First year – Poor house location.
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!
Peter Alberda wrote:Can I join the club? I thought I was set as last year I had a pair and fledged four. They must have perished so I'm back to being a wannabe. I had a lone male on the wire today but it's too late for any hope. So sad!! I do enjoy seeing them once in a while but there's an ache looking at empty housing most of the time.
I'm no expert, but I think you still have lots of time, especially with the late start.
2010- 1 SY male on and off for a couple weeks
'11- 0 visits
12- 0 visits
13- 0 visits
14- 1 SY male stopped by over 2 weeks.
15- 0 visits
16- 0 visits
17- 0 visits
18- 0 visits
19- Break-through year. Had a SY Male stop in on June 7th and stay all day, every day until end of June
20 - The male didn't return. I did see a SY male do a few flyovers.
21- a couple brief visits
22-3rd rack added, all within a mile. This one at prime location, 0 visits
23- 0 visits
That is amazing you have 5 pair!! You are assured of returning birds next year with that many pair!!!! I'm afraid I may become a Wannabe next with only one pair this year. I had a second SY pair that hung around for about two weeks and spent the night but the female disappeared. I couldn't imagine having 10 birds flying all around all at once!!
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Glad to read the exciting and encouraging reports so far. Time will tell. 
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