3rd Nest Check

[DakotaLady]

I performed my third nest check and I am up to 76 eggs. I know I will have more as a couple nests only had 1 egg. I have 16 pairs and possibly 2 more as there are leaves in two more gourds but no eggs yet. I cannot wait to do another nest check next week as that should give me my total of pairs and eggs for the year. Can you believe I went from 4 pairs to 16? It is so amazing.

This is so much fun! While I work in my gardens it is so nice to have them around, flying over me trying to figure out what the heck I am doing. The calls begging for females or newcomers can no longer be heard in my colony. They seem to be matched up now and quietly just hanging out making the little chirping sound. They all seem content.

I learn something from these birds all the time, they are very intelligent. They know me and don’t seem to have a problem with me being around, they do not like if I put my hair up in a ponytail wear a baseball cap…yowsa. I was in a hurry and dashed in put my hair up, threw on a baseball cap, I had to run to the other end of the yard and to grab a couple plants for a friend. I thought they were going to rip my hat off. They were angry and swooped at me while loudly exerting their alarm cry. They display this same behavior when a fox ran thru the yard and when a stray cat walks through my gardens. However, I have a mother deer and her baby in my back yard and they let her walk RIGHT under their housing while they sit and preen and pay her no attention at all.

Now that almost everyone has eggs, it has gotten pretty quiet around here. I hate to say this, but I am missing the squabbles and begging for females. I will need to add quite a few more gourds next year as I only have 5 empty and 2 of those 5 have green leaves. Next weeks nest check will definitely tell me if I have two more pair. It took me 17 years to start my colony…I wish I would have put up a gourd rack instead of wooden housing 17 years ago as this is THE BEST entertainment I could ever imagine. Non-nature lovers are sure missing out!

Thankfully, the messy act of fertilizing our patio has ended. I wonder if they are being more careful now that they have eggs? Whatever the reason I am so thankful as hubby was getting really annoyed. I was worried he would not let me expand my colony. My goal is super colony. Not sure he will let me get that big but I sure would be in heaven if that were to happen. I took down my wooden house and built a rack using green fence posts this spring. It turned out so good and the martins LOVE it. I’m trying to figure out how to put another level on it for future expansion. As I have it built today it will hold 24 gourds. It is a very Tall steel pole so I am thinking if I put a third level on the rack I could add another 12 gourds without the purchase of a new pole. I may work on that this fall. The entire rack cost me $24 for materials. I only wish the pole was square. I have to crank it all the way to the top so that it does not turn in the wind.

I hope all of you are having a good season. Those of you still trying, take a good look at your setup and see what you can add to attract the attention of these birds…it is so worth it. Give a gourd rack a try if you have not done so already. That is what helped me after 17 years of trying.

[jedin]

Congrats on your success and enjoyment. 17 years was a VERY long, patient wait! It sounds as though you are being well rewarded.
Janet

[Archer]

That's very encouraging news, thanks for that. Are you able to post a photo of your home made gourd rack, I'm always up for trying something new. My founding pair did not return this spring so I'm back to trying to attract new birds. I had a couple of sy males drop in this morning for a visit, nice of them to stop by.

[Matt F.]

Great report Tangula!
I find myself often saying to the Martins, whenever they're dive bombing me:
"It's only me - no need to bust chops."

[MamaBruff]

I love reading your posts, Tangula! I'm so glad you have so many Purple Martins and that they are all doing so well! Just last evening, I was sitting on the patio relaxing, watching the sunset and seeing my martins go to bed, and was thinking how nice a jacuzzi would be...

[DakotaLady]

Janet,
It really was a long wait. BUT...if I get to enjoy these birds every summer like I have since last year, I would think every single bit of the wait was worth it. I love sitting outdoors and watching their goofy antics.

Archer,
I am so sorry that your pair did not come back this year. It is hard to figure out what happens to them and why a place is not good enough until all of a sudden they are swarming around. The ONLY thing I changed in my setup was the gourds. I will try to attach photos of my gourd rack I made from metal fence posts. Hopefully, I will remember how to upload a photo.

Matt,
Not sure I can type what I say to them. he he. Naw, I try to talk to them and I have a special whistle I use whenever I walk by their housing so they recognize me right away.

I am having a really tough time tonight, the neighbors are lighting off fireworks and it is scaring the bejeebers out of them. I feel so sorry for them, they are sitting on their racks and then when the loud fireworks go off they all fly around and sound off with their alarm cry. They are very nice neighbors so I don't want to say anything but UGH...cannot wait until the 4th of July is over.

Mary,
Thank you for the lovely comment. I am sitting outside on our patio with my computer enjoying the birds as I read through this forum.

I do think it is imperative that you have a jacuzzi. ha ha ha. I am certain your neck is sore from always having your head perched at that odd upward angle making certain your martins are doing well, I'm certain your arms just ache from hoisting up and down your martin house to make certain your martins are fine and what about those gluteus maximus and biceps femoris aches you are certainly experiencing from running back and forth to your window making certain your martins are doing well. That jacuzzi would take care of all these things. In addition, you could escape from the skeeters while you lounge in the jacuzzi watching to ensure your martins are safe.

Yes, you NEED a jacuzzi!

[DakotaLady]

Archer,
One last thing, I only have 6 gourds on the rack which will hold 24, because I did not have martins so I was only buying a few at a time. This year, I will have to invest in quite a few more in anticipation for another surge in martins next summer.

Here is a closer photo of he center piece I made to attach everything.

[Archer]

Cool, thanks for the pictures. The one pair I had last year nested in a Troyer gourd hung beneath my T-14. It was very disappointing when they didn't return. I had been looking forward to their return all winter and winter was long! Now I am happy when they come to visit. I will never give up. Can't imagine how much fun 16 pair would be. I would love to be an established landlord and share my hobby with others in the area. My goal for this year is to experience a roost site, that would be awesome! Hope the rest of your season goes Great!

[digger55]

I went from two pair last year to 8 pair this year. I live by lake okabena and there alot of people who have martins but dont report. I have been visiting with these peolpe and trying to teach as well.

[Matt F.]

Great photos Tangula!
I love the little Tree Swallow, partying with the Martins in that first photo.

[DakotaLady]

Archer,
I hope you have success. I am certain it will eventually happen for you too. I hope for your sake it is soon. Good luck.

Digger,
That is really neat that you live by a lake. What a perfect place to host martins. I'm sure a lot of folks host martins but do not post. I know that a couple I know mentioned they started getting martins the past couple years but do not post here either. Nice job on teaching others about the birds.

Matt,
That little tree swallow was a pain in my hiney. That female would NOT leave that dawg gone gourd. It even fought with a house sparrow for that gourd. Well, I did see the HS bringing in nesting material into one of those gourds so I set up my gourd trap. I happened to catch the tree swallow instead of the HS. That little tree swallow was so mad that it did not come back. SO...I learned that if one traps and releases a tree swallow they no longer are a problem.

[MamaBruff]

Don't you love those times, brief as they are, when "Life is Good"! Keep up the good work; looking forward to more of your interesting posts!