I am thrilled to say that a female martin has arrived at our site this morning. She flew immediately into the west facing gourd, which was active last year. She flew off for a few minutes, back again, and is now sitting on top of the rack preening herself.
I am presently thawing crickets for her. We are supposed to get snow tomorrow, and want her to be comfortable. I will put a handwarmer in her chosen gourd tonight.
Weather next week looks good, highs in the "60"s, so probably she will be able to feed then.
This is such a thrill. What a wonderful morning!
Sue P
Morgantown, WV Martins
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
That is happy news, Sue - congrats! You are sure giving her the red carpet treatment - lucky martin. :-)
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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)
congrats,sue;;hoping a great martin season for you;;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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belpre gary
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:11 pm
- Location: OH/Belpre
Great news Sue , I had 3 Male and 1 female here for about 4 days and now I haven't seen them for a day or so !
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Sue,
I read your profile and see that you have a great setup. You have been very diligent working to attract martins to your site.
As nice as your setup is, it must be more difficult to attract martins in West Virginia.
Are there many local martin colonies in your area?
Mark.
I read your profile and see that you have a great setup. You have been very diligent working to attract martins to your site.
As nice as your setup is, it must be more difficult to attract martins in West Virginia.
Are there many local martin colonies in your area?
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Hi 4th Gen Martin Fan,
It was extremely difficult to attract martins to this site. It took me from 1992 to 2007 to get them. The purple martin assn was a huge help to me, but year after year I'd get a subbie boy who would bring in a girl, keep her here all day, then she would fly off into the sunset and he'd follow behind calling "come back, come back" in martin language, of course, but nothing happened until the magic year of 2007. My nerves were a mess that year, guarding the babies and hoping, hoping and hoping that they would make the migration safely and return. And they did. So I've been enjoying them ever since.
There are martins near the Ohio river, which is the southwestern part of WV, and some north of us near Waynesburg, Pa, but that is the closest. I grew up in northern Wisconsin and martins were common there. I missed them greatly, and didn't know if attracting them was a possibility, but I have been blessed.
Thank you so much for your inquiry.
Sue P
It was extremely difficult to attract martins to this site. It took me from 1992 to 2007 to get them. The purple martin assn was a huge help to me, but year after year I'd get a subbie boy who would bring in a girl, keep her here all day, then she would fly off into the sunset and he'd follow behind calling "come back, come back" in martin language, of course, but nothing happened until the magic year of 2007. My nerves were a mess that year, guarding the babies and hoping, hoping and hoping that they would make the migration safely and return. And they did. So I've been enjoying them ever since.
There are martins near the Ohio river, which is the southwestern part of WV, and some north of us near Waynesburg, Pa, but that is the closest. I grew up in northern Wisconsin and martins were common there. I missed them greatly, and didn't know if attracting them was a possibility, but I have been blessed.
Thank you so much for your inquiry.
Sue P
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
What a nice story! You are a dedicated lady for sure; You are right about the joy and worry! 
I'm sure your little lady will be comfy in her warm gourd tonight, and bless you later on with many sweet babies. 
Please keep us posted, and have a wonderful season!
I'm sure your little lady will be comfy in her warm gourd tonight, and bless you later on with many sweet babies. Please keep us posted, and have a wonderful season!~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.
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.
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Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2441
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged
Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged
Sue P -- Wonderful news, always wait to here that your birds have return..
Hope you have a great year again.
Dave
Hope you have a great year again.
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Good for you Sue!
Looks like both our seasons are starting the same time.
Doug
Looks like both our seasons are starting the same time.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
I am 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. Erie and Meadville are well north of me.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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~Ray~Gingerich
- Posts: 2122
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: Delaware/Dover
Good luck with your martins, I bet your young friend is as excited and happy to see them as you are 
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
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Peter C
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:16 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Farmington
- Martin Colony History: Rural area, only known colony in Fayette County, PA
Two wooden T-14s, each with four Troyer horizontal gourds, Conley II entrances
2017 26 pairs, 99 fledged
2016 21 pairs, 74 fledged
2015 15 pairs, 40 fledged
2014 9 pairs, 29 fledged
2013 8 pairs, 20 fledged
2012 1 pair, 4 fledged
2011 1 pair, 4 fledged
Sue, great to hear your birds are returning!
I'm about 25 miles northeast of you in Farmington, PA, Fayette County in the Laurel Highlands, not far from Ohiopyle State Park. Erected our T-14 today in the driving snow.... no tree swallows here yet even. But we are at about 2000 feet elevation, so things are always a little later.
I first erected my house in 2011, attracted one pair for the first two years, 8 pairs last year, so hope for many more this year.
The key to attraction in martin sparse areas such as this in my opinion was very loud Dawnsong, played almost continually starting at 4:00 am. Two large powerhorns pointing to the sky, driven by a large amplifier.
Even then it was a month before I even saw a martin. In addition, false nests, decoys, and mirrors probably helped convince my first male to stick around. All thanks to the PMCA's great information on social attraction techniques.
So keep it up and good luck. We're well on our way to bringing them back to our area !
Peter
I'm about 25 miles northeast of you in Farmington, PA, Fayette County in the Laurel Highlands, not far from Ohiopyle State Park. Erected our T-14 today in the driving snow.... no tree swallows here yet even. But we are at about 2000 feet elevation, so things are always a little later.
I first erected my house in 2011, attracted one pair for the first two years, 8 pairs last year, so hope for many more this year.
The key to attraction in martin sparse areas such as this in my opinion was very loud Dawnsong, played almost continually starting at 4:00 am. Two large powerhorns pointing to the sky, driven by a large amplifier.
Even then it was a month before I even saw a martin. In addition, false nests, decoys, and mirrors probably helped convince my first male to stick around. All thanks to the PMCA's great information on social attraction techniques.
So keep it up and good luck. We're well on our way to bringing them back to our area !
Peter
Peter, nice to hear from you. You are right about the dawn song. Once the martins arrive, though, they tend to dive bomb the cd player, so I quit using it then.
I am trying to keep my little girl martin happy. She is showing droopy wings this morning, but then we just got three inches of snow. My wings are drooping a bit, too! Can't wait for this stuff to go away. I have hand warmers and crickets in all of the gourds, so she has her choice. Just hope she will be alright. Warmer weather this week, I hope.
Good luck, Peter.
Post when your martins arrive.
Sue P
I am trying to keep my little girl martin happy. She is showing droopy wings this morning, but then we just got three inches of snow. My wings are drooping a bit, too! Can't wait for this stuff to go away. I have hand warmers and crickets in all of the gourds, so she has her choice. Just hope she will be alright. Warmer weather this week, I hope.
Good luck, Peter.
Post when your martins arrive.
Sue P