Sunday I saw the first Martin paire arrive at Lake Buchanon, Texas (seems late but last year it was April 17). I have gourds up and they landed on top. I then put up two 12 slot houses right away. I came back the next day, since I don't live there and saw the male Martin on the house perch next to a male sparrow, both watching a Starling try to exit one of the house slots and I have the crescent shaped entrances! I've never had starlings get in before.
When it did exit all the birds took flight and I pulled the houses down and cleaned out 4 sparrow nests. The Martins returned and checked it out. When I return red the next day the martins are gone and the Sparrows have moved back. Wondering if I pulled a Martin nest (didn't think it could be that quick and I know Sparrow nests) or if it might have been the Starling getting in that scared them off? Any ideas? We have neighbors with plenty of other locations, boo hoo!
Martin nest appearance
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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.
Rick, maybe the martins were out feeding when you visited.
~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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threelilkids
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:11 pm
- Location: Denham Springs, La
- Martin Colony History: 2014 1 pair 3 hatched 3 fledged
2015 1 pair 5 hatched 5 fledged
2016 1 pair 5 hatched 4 fledged
2017 2 pair 8 hatched 8 fledged
2018 4 pair 15 hatched
Put sparrow traps in the house where they are building, it works wonders for me, I trap one every day.