Martins in street lights - Central Florida
I posted a few years ago about finding martins in a street light near my house. Well it's been a few years and we moved about 30 miles to the northeast of Orlando. Today I was driving down a very populated street and noticed the same style of streetlights along the road. I had my window down and heard martins and was looking around to see if someone had housing nearby. I found their housing and it was those streetlights! I counted 5 pairs spread out over about 2 miles sitting on or entering the lights. It seems only some of the lights have an opening big enough for the martins to get in. I didn't see any sparrows or starlings. If anyone is interested in seeing them just drive down Lake Underhill rd. through Waterford lakes subdivision. Pretty neat to see them adapting to these man made houses, I mean lights!
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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.
I hope maintenence crews don't try to clear out the nests are close up the entrances.
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James Strickland FL
- Posts: 2249
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
- Location: Reidsville NC
- Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair
Gobbler, I am willing to try anything at this point.