May 1, 2006 Update ? Victor Stoll Colony
It has been enjoyable to read of all the success purple martin landlords are having with their martin colonies? and the not so enjoyable things. As my father used to say. If a thing seems to good to be true,, then mostly likely it is not true?.
I was disappointed that we as a human family do not show more respect for each other? I for one , needs to put this in practice more.. So far every thing is shaping up real well.. I am devoting more time to the martin colony this year? The starling has been giving me fits.. Now it is a week that we are starling free and do not expect a problem after the first week of May..
Last year we had 667 total pair nesting in 814 total rooms.. This year we have a total of 825 rooms.. In 2004 we had 729 nesting pair in a total of 860 rooms??...
The SY, Subadults are just pouring in the last few days.. My three 32 room houses are already at capacity or almost full????
To have a successful purple martin colony?.. You must control their enemies?
Parasites, and predators ? Starlings and English Sparrows?.
Rooms at least 6 x 10 x 6 high . Open spaces or fly ways are a must..
Proper ventilation .. maybe this still in time for our Northern Landlords?God bless you..
Victor
update Victor Stoll Colony
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Leverett Doehring/Mo
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2004 12:04 pm
- Location: Villa Ridge, Mo
- Martin Colony History: 1st birds 1990. 1 12 room metal house, colony started.
current 2 tr14s, 1 tr18, and 56 gourds, usually average @ 70 pair. 102 rooms available.
above mounted on 4 structures..
Always good to see a post from you and hear about your colony, and I will also add that I'm looking foward to visiting you again in June during the fest. About the starlings I use an s&s controller (Troyer) with very good luck, there were 3 in it this am. There are others that would be easier to build (nb) but I am not familiar with them. A couple of traps on the fringe under trees would help. Again, good to hear from you.
itsjustLEV