Getting concerned...no PM's here in western NC yet......

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geneinmurphy
Posts: 348
Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2003 12:09 pm
Location: North Carolina/Murphy

Last year they were here in Murphy around the third week of February.....
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LoneOakMartins
Posts: 166
Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:05 pm
Location: Lone Oak, TX

Mine were late coming back this year also. Everyone kept telling me they were coming, but I still worried. I finally had 3 show up and are staying, but they were at least 2 weeks later than last year. I was sure Id have 6 - 8 pair by now. Maybe they're just taking their time getting here. Hope your martins show up soon, hang in there....they are coming.
2014 - 50 pair, 206 eggs, 179 fledge
2013 - 36 pair, 176 eggs, 148 fledge
2012 - 8 pair, 21 eggs, 15 fledge
2011 - 6 pair, 15 eggs, 11 fledge
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Connie
Posts: 441
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.

It is soooo nerve wracking. Now I have some that are back I am sweating and fretting about the ones that are not back. Then, of course, I am going to worry and fret all season long about predators and then my fledglings and the heat and whatever else I can think to fret about!!
Isn't wonderful? I love it worrrying and all!! :) :) :)
Connie
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LoneOakMartins
Posts: 166
Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:05 pm
Location: Lone Oak, TX

Oh so true Connie!! Constant worry this time of year. Where are our martins, are they coming back, do I need to change something, do I have enough crickets, etc, etc.
2014 - 50 pair, 206 eggs, 179 fledge
2013 - 36 pair, 176 eggs, 148 fledge
2012 - 8 pair, 21 eggs, 15 fledge
2011 - 6 pair, 15 eggs, 11 fledge
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dhjohnson
Posts: 478
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
Location: North Carolina/Clayton
Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy

Gene,
We're in Clayton, NC. I've had three visitors so far. Single birds. Today the first male ASY showed up. Our gourds were plugged so he found somewhere else to spend the night. Had a female Sunday that was in very bad shape. She could barely fly. I opened one gourd and put chrickets on the porch and inside the cavity but she didn't return. They are having it tough with this last cold snap and rainy weather. Those that are supplemental feeding with success are going a long way to sustaining the martins. From those of us fretting and worrying Connie, we appreciate all those caring landlords out there taking care of the birds they have. I'm hoping several of mine are out there somewhere safe and well fed.
Keep the faith,
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
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AidanRois
Posts: 182
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:19 am
Location: Mississippi/Horn Lake
Martin Colony History: Since 2012

Mine aren't back yet either. Seems like I'm in a little hole here with reports literally all around me. Keep the faith though, the wild weather may be keeping some of them back for a bit. Or at least that's what I tell myself. :)
Tiffeny N. - Horn Lake, MS - PMCA member
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Since 2012
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jr 2
Posts: 749
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:20 pm
Location: ohio,proctorville(just across ohio river from huntington,west virginia)

by what i've been reading;;;if you have a younger colony your martins don't come back till later;;say if your colony was 2 years old and your nneighbors colony right beside you was 10 years old his would be back soooner;;jr2
PMCA member; s 2011 2 pair fledged 3; 2012 3 asy pair,4 sy pair,2013 8 asy pair,6 sy pair;2014 19 asy pair,2 sy pair
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John A Green Jr
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2012 3:54 pm
Location: North Carolina/Elizabeth City
Martin Colony History: Currently have 4 gourd racks with 24 Bo-9/11 gourds on each. All have tunnels and porches. One Lowes martin house.

Gene,
My one pair were back by now last year. The weather was a lot different then too. As much as I want to see them I would rather they take a little longer and be healthy. Man I sure do miss them though.
Proud Martineer

2011- 1 pair
2012- 10 pair
2013- 28 pair
2014- 33 pair
2015- 53 pair
2016- 73 pair
2017-
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LoneOakMartins
Posts: 166
Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:05 pm
Location: Lone Oak, TX

This will be my 3rd year to host martins, but my neighbor has had them for at least 20 years. Since he took all his housing down before the start of the season, I assumed that his birds would be at my place. I've got 3 martins is all.
2014 - 50 pair, 206 eggs, 179 fledge
2013 - 36 pair, 176 eggs, 148 fledge
2012 - 8 pair, 21 eggs, 15 fledge
2011 - 6 pair, 15 eggs, 11 fledge
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geneinmurphy
Posts: 348
Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2003 12:09 pm
Location: North Carolina/Murphy

was beginning to worry because this is a lot later than last year's arrival. So far, just one PM but I'm sure he'll draw in more soon......
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