I had the worst luck with decoys last year. When I had them up, martins would fly by but not land. I did an experiment and took the decoys down, and they all of a sudden started landing. Put the decoys up again later and the martin started swooping the decoys and hissing at them.
I had plenty of martins visiting at the end of the season, so I'm thinking I should be fine w/out decoys.
We'll see what happens.
Thanks for all the good advice.
Don- I'm sure you're AAA will look fantastic too. The neighbors think it looks really cool.
Oh and Gobbler- thanks for the advice... I definitely don't take constructive criticism as a slam. If it ever looks like it will cause a problem I'll cut them low close to the ground..... last year the one pair I had picked the gourd facing the bushes out of the 6 to choose from. Funny how these guys can be huh?
Out with the old-- in with the new (AAA-16 goes up)
-
dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
Last edited by dsonyay on Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
MingjoMartins
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 3:28 pm
- Location: Pataskala, OH
David -
Congratulations on your new rack! Wishing you all the best in growing your colony in 2012!
John
Congratulations on your new rack! Wishing you all the best in growing your colony in 2012!
John
2013 - 37 pair-179 eggs,142 hatched,139 fledged
2012 - 32 pair-163 eggs,141 hatched,134 fledged
2011 - 19 pairs - 78 fledged successfully!
2010 3 pairs - 9 eggs - 8 fledged!
2009 - 1 Sub Adult Male (only) - LOTS visitors
2008 - 58 Visitors by year end
2007 - 13 Visitors by year end
2012 - 32 pair-163 eggs,141 hatched,134 fledged
2011 - 19 pairs - 78 fledged successfully!
2010 3 pairs - 9 eggs - 8 fledged!
2009 - 1 Sub Adult Male (only) - LOTS visitors
2008 - 58 Visitors by year end
2007 - 13 Visitors by year end
-
dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
Thanks John! Good luck to you as well.