Last Sunday June 10th I noticed a couple of green leaves going into some gourds. Last night June 17th I had my FIRST EVER PURPLE MARTIN EGG!!!
Maybe this post will provide some wannabe landlords like myself that there is still some hope in the Midwest. I'm in Northeast Ohio. I also have two other male subbies looking for mates and noticed another taking leaves into the T-14 but I do not believe he has secured a mate yet.
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
WOOT!!! Happy Dancing in the Buckeye State! YIPPEE!!! I know the feeling, as it is still very fresh. What Joy! May you have at least 3 or 4 more! Good Luck!
~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.
I'm a bit north of you (43543) but my first one in the new housing was 6-8 and another pair just started on 6-16. I'm pretty sure the 6-8 are both ASY, the 6-16 may be SY, and there is still some other messing around going on :-). If your not yet using the Online PMW excel spreadsheet, it is kind of cool. I have the "first egg" data in mine, but not faithful about logging nest checks :-).
Location: Pennsylvania/Espyville/Pymatuning Reservoir Area
Martin Colony History: Taking care of 11 active public colonies and trying to start two more in northwestern PA. Also attempting to restart another one in southwestern PA, in Collier Township's Hilltop Park. In 2017, not sure what happened but the ASY male returned and then a couple of weeks later he was gone. It could have been weather related. No other birds showed up. I had a starling nesting at the Public site that I had trouble getting rid of. In 2018, we fledged 629 martins at all of the sites.
Congratulations my Friend. I told you it wasn't to late. My SY pair came late last year and they raised 3 young and this year they brought back a lot of friends. I am happy for you. Dave
