Martin Colony History: Colony established May 20, 2017 after three unsuccessful years. Persistent and aggressive Tree Swallows plagued the site, but beyond learning - and practicing - to control them, was the return in 2017 of a 2016-SY-M previously unable to find a mate. As a handsome ASY-M, he brought along two females and a swagger that soon put the Tree Swallow issue to rest. As the anchor pair, he and his mate hatched all six of their eggs into fat and healthy babies into what settled in to be a three-pair, flourishing new colony with up to 11 birds total, including 3 SY-M trouble makers.
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: Colony established May 20, 2017 after three unsuccessful years. Persistent and aggressive Tree Swallows plagued the site, but beyond learning - and practicing - to control them, was the return in 2017 of a 2016-SY-M previously unable to find a mate. As a handsome ASY-M, he brought along two females and a swagger that soon put the Tree Swallow issue to rest. As the anchor pair, he and his mate hatched all six of their eggs into fat and healthy babies into what settled in to be a three-pair, flourishing new colony with up to 11 birds total, including 3 SY-M trouble makers.
You wander the isles of Home Depot and Lowes you never wandered before thinking "That would be a great addition to the Martin pole, or house, or gourd, or trap..." "or I can use THAT for pole stabilization," ..."or THAT would work GREAT for insulation" then try to justify all the expenses to the better half.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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. 2026- no pairs. One daily SYM here daily. Named him Riggs!
......you visit a colony nearby with over 80 pairs of birds, and for the rest of the day, you think you hear martins in your yard. Even over the lawnmower. Even after dark!! And then as if i managed to will him here, the next day, an ASY male glided in an hovered on the air currents for several minutes in my yard. He never landed but was quite a sight to see. I hope he brings his youngsters back for a visit in the coming weeks.
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!
You're a purple martin nut when you see them drop a dragon fly. Go pick it up and toss it in the air to see if they would catch it! NOPE they would not but looked at me like what is she doing with their head cocked sideways! So I lowered the B&B and placed it on there as they watched! Raised it back up and nope no takers but they know it's there! I seen ASY male swoop very close to it! A new way to supplemental feeding
Martin Colony History: In 2026, 88 pair with 333 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
You realize that only a roll of duck tape and a good set of handcuffs may be your only option in stopping yourself from continually adding improvements to the martin housing. Trust me, once it is in your blood there is no return.
Mite control, heat venting, predator protection and additional feeding during bad weather add up to success. IPMO LOGO1.jpg
Okie wrote:When you see a bank of lights at an athletic field and have to take a second look to make sure it's not a gourd rack.
Don't laugh . It happened to me
Ah, found this thread again!
Wife and I were driving somewhere a few days ago, deliberately taking routes we have not been on in years... Obviously looking for active martin colonies since we failed to attract any this year Looking for poles taller than a fence post but not as tall as a flag pole. Suddenly noticed a basketball goal. Bad thing to notice! Now we see them everywhere and they out number martin housing ten to one. Even poor, unmaintained former martin housing... Free advice is do not train your eyes to see basketball goals
See your point about athletic field lights, but they are fortunately rare where we live.
Pole up 2017, retired (and trying harder!) 2024, Purple Martins since ???
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !
..When, after several days of keeping an eye on the VERY LAST one to fledge, it finally leaves, & you're not there to witness it ! ( ) SO, you look ALL AROUND the area to make sure it didn't fall to the ground, is hiding under something, check to see where a Cat leaves feathers from one of it's victims ( ) & you lower all the other racks to make sure it didn't fly & landed on ANOTHER Gourd, or House !!
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
Martin Colony History: I inherited this colony when I purchased the property from my Great Uncle. To the best of my knowledge, he had hosted Martins since 1977. Housing consisted of three twelve compartment units that he had built. Small compartments, round holes and no way to lower for managing. There were maybe 6-8 pairs here when we moved in. Through reading up on information provided by the PMCA and that provided to me by Bob Buskas, the decision was made to upgrade the housing. We are now fully switched over to North Star houses and hosted 58 pairs this season(2017). 60 compartments open for business and being so close to 100% occupancy, I believe we may expand housing offered next season. Expansion will continue contingent to high occupancy, being able to keep up on management and or until it starts to feel like work.
When you're driving along in February. Snow on the ground and you've got a friend in tow, looking for deer shed antlers. You pile on the brakes and start backing up. Your buddy says "see an antler in that old yard"? As you stop and are looking through binoculars you reply "two T14s and they don't look used. I wonder if they want to sell them"? You glance across the cab and see your buddy with his shaking head resting in his hands.
You wake up and it's a dreary, cool morning and starting to rain. First order of business is to get the Martins breakfast so you can watch them eat while you do.
EVERY time you grab binoculars and go out on the deck to view, the window opens and in her best English accent your better half says "ooohhh I've just got to have my binoculars when I look at my Martins".
Any and all yard based vegetation decisions revolve around Martin acceptance.
You open your freezer and the very first thing you see are boxes or bags labelled crickets or meal worms.
Your sole reason for watching the weather network is for scheduling days conducive to nest checks.
You refuse to play a round of 9 holes at the local golf course because of the deplorable housing they provide for Martins.
Looking for poles taller than a fence post but not as tall as a flag pole. Suddenly noticed a basketball goal. Bad thing to notice! Now we see them everywhere and they out number martin housing ten to one. Even poor, unmaintained former martin housing... Free advice is do not train your eyes to see basketball goals 
) SO, you look ALL AROUND the area to make sure it didn't fall to the ground, is hiding under something, check to see where a Cat leaves feathers from one of it's victims ( 