Nest building...don't think their Martins

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Joe W
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:04 am
Location: FL/Lynn Haven (near Panama City, FL)
Martin Colony History: 2020 10 pairs
2019 finally success! 8 pairs
Oct 10, 2018 Hurricane Michael
2018 visitors in April
2017 visitors in April
2016 visitors in April
2015 visitors in June
PMCA Member

I have visitors yesterday and today, but I don't believe they are Martins. I'm a hopeful Purple Martin landlord this year and have had nest building activity by a pair of small black birds with a short compact body. They are a little larger than the decoys and appear to be all black. The flight is a series of short rapid wing beats which really makes be believe it is not Martins. Any comments before I began the evection process?
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

A photo would be helpful. Could they be starlings?
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Courtney-NC
Posts: 592
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:28 pm
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Martin Colony History: 2009-2015-Helped to manage Raleigh site, 36 cavities
2016- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 1 pair at home site.
2017- 34 pairs at Raleigh site, 3 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2018- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 5 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2019 - 32 pairs at Raleigh site, 7 pairs at home site, 2 pairs at new Holly Springs park site

Do they look like this? http://www.purplemartin.org/species/starling.html
-Courtney
-------------------
NC Purple Martin Society (PMCA affiliate)
http://www.ncpurplemartin.org
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Tallsilver
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:16 am
Location: South Carolina, Conway

Check for yellow beaks on the males.......iridescent dots on the females. If so they're starlings.
Aaron S Piver
Conway, SC
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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.

SREH entrances may be needed.
~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.
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Joe W
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:04 am
Location: FL/Lynn Haven (near Panama City, FL)
Martin Colony History: 2020 10 pairs
2019 finally success! 8 pairs
Oct 10, 2018 Hurricane Michael
2018 visitors in April
2017 visitors in April
2016 visitors in April
2015 visitors in June
PMCA Member

Thanks to everyone! Here's a photo, hoping to get a better one when I lower the house this afternoon. The decoy is on the right!
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

Photo does the job - your visitors are starlings. Long pointed beak and rather full body, stubby tail help ID.
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DornCounty
Posts: 2169
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
Location: Rural SE Kansas
Martin Colony History: .
.
Trio-Jedi

yep.. starlings.. odds are very low you get martins with them building a nest. Great description by the way.. sounded just like a starling.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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Joe W
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:04 am
Location: FL/Lynn Haven (near Panama City, FL)
Martin Colony History: 2020 10 pairs
2019 finally success! 8 pairs
Oct 10, 2018 Hurricane Michael
2018 visitors in April
2017 visitors in April
2016 visitors in April
2015 visitors in June
PMCA Member

SREH entrances are in the works. (I should have a close-up photo of the offender soon.)

Thanks!
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