Throwin in the towel for 2014

[phldave]

Well it's mid July and here I still sit with an empty house and gourds. I'm unplugging the dawn song and not playing it at dawn anymore this year.

I'm sure the neighbors around here think I have turned into some kind of ghoul, because all they see me do is take trapped birds into my shed only to return with a trap with only one bird in it, or nothing in my hands at all.

Sure hope next year it will be decided by the mighty martin puvod that I have done enough and paid my dues to enter into landlord status.

Except for the ASY couple that spent the night in April, this has been a very disappointing and unproductive year.

[DebA]

I'm so sorry Dave. That just sucks. I admire you and will continue to watch for that post from you someday. The one that says I am a landlord. If you think your neighbors think your nutso now just wait.
Deb

[taxidermy lady]

Your not alone! I am still singing the blues . But we will always have another chance, just have to wait 8 months now. Oh well we should not beat ourselves up. I know I give it my all to make a happy ranch for them so they will come! I have houses with large compartments, I have gourds, I have open fly space, no S&S, so just a matter of time and PATIENCE!!

[Chris B]

Did you have any 2" holes for them? What kind of entrances do others in your area use?

I have a hunch that may matter. I will be adding SREH to the mix next year but my 2" seemed to get them interested.

[Anthony Neira]

Dave, I hope you & everyone else, hangs in there for next year. Even though I've been blessed with martins these past years, I still hope they return next year. With all this crazy weather, & not knowing how humans will ruin mother nature somewhere in the world, I consider it a miracle every year I do get Martins. I always tell landlords I've known who have trouble getting Martins, to put up more housing. I would say the same to you. Now, I've been seeing a small trend from people who have praised houses, (and have/use them) to NOW, advise P.M Landlords to put up gourds/g.racks., but , of course, that's up to you. Hang in there, Anthony

[taxidermy lady]

Thanks Chris and Tony, there's several of us who struck out this year on the forum! Just speaking for me. I have a gourd rack with 6 troyer vertical,sreh, and tunnels. Three old plastic houses that has enlarged compartments. One house has two super gourds under it which my ASY male claimed and no female would stay. The other old plastic house has 2 Bo 11 gourds with sreh tunnels. I think the other plastic house is called farm and home with 8 compartments. I do not use the roof nesting area. I vented the entrances. It has the other S&K gourd Bo 9 under it. I will offer some round holes next yr. Hope that helps, thanks for all your information.

[taxidermy lady]

Question Chris, should I offer round holes on a few gourds and on a house? I really don't want to change all of the entrances. I had all sreh this yr. My only martin claimed an sreh hole but the females would not stay. They went in the gourd with him but when they came out, poof they would be gone! Can't seem to satisfy those females. Wish I knew why!!!

[phldave]

Deb, Chris, Tony, Sharon and everybody else, thanks so much for all your support. As Jackie Gleason (Ralph Kramdon) would put it "You're the greatest".

It is my truely sincere intention, to create something that my whole neighborhood will charish and enjoy. By creating something that we humans can delight in, I also will be helping a species thrive and prosper for future generations to adore. If I only would be given the chance to prove how much I want to serve these creatures.

Thanks again everyone!
Dave

[SteveJ]

Hi Dave,
I threw in the towel at home as well, stopped playing the dawn song & I'm sure my neighbours loved I stopped playing it at 5 in the morning. Over the years, I have put up decoys, added another house with round holes, another unit has starling proof holes, this year I added 4 gourds. And every year I add one more item or house to see if this is what i need to attract them. I'm crazy enough now to have 12 vines growing gourds in my backyard to get even more gourds for next year!

I started a colony at the cottage on Lake Huron 2 years ago which I'm grateful for. Nothing the first year, last year had 3 pairs, and currently have 13 pairs this year (18 unit house) There are currently 46 babies with one unit with 3 eggs in it awaiting to hatch.
It's not the same as having them at home but a least on weekends i have the pleasure of watching them.
I know why it's hard for me because there are no other colonies within a short distance from my house and am relying on that one or two that just happens to pass by and take a look. The last few years i have seen them come and go but this year nothing. Not a sign, chirp or even a passer by.
Got the whole winter ahead to build another house and strategically plan my next move...
I have learned a lot from this site and all the fine people who spend their time and advise. Thank you all!
Eh, if it happens, it was meant to be. if not it help occupy my time during the long cold winters...

[taxidermy lady]

Steve and all who have waited so long for martins. I hope your time is next yr. I have only tried from May 2013 to now. You deserve martins before me! It is tough to have to wait another year! But it will come if we keep trying. I feel real crazy for having so many poles and no martins but I think in the long run it will help! Godd luck to all who have waited years for martins!

[Hanover Bill]

Hang in there Steve. Anything worth having, is worth waiting for. It took me what seemed like five long years to attract my first nesting pairs, but really in the Purple Martin attraction game that is about the average length of time it takes to attract them. Many great landlords have waited far longer than that.

So hang in there, and remember the famous line from "Field of Dreams", "if you build it they will come", in the case of Purple Martins it is, "they will eventually come".

Best of luck for next season.

Hanover Bill.

[Hanover Bill]

Sorry, the above post of mine was actually meant for Dave.

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Dave,
I do not understand how the purple martins can resist your house and gourds!
The pictures show an ideal house and site to attract martins.
Where did you get the house design?
Your house has all of the characteristics recommended for a northern climate.
Are the round and square holes for ventilation?
Impressive is all I can say.
Mark.

[Jose Rodriguez]

Dave,
You are not alone and you've only just begun! Your goal is a good cause. My neighbors have always thought I lost it with my projects in helping the environment. I've been trying for years! I really lost my neighbors when I installed 2 Bat houses. Then I installed a Chimney Swift Tower 2 years ago and you should of heard the funny comments my neighbors said when the tower was going up. It felt like a scene from when Moses was building the Ark.
The tower is located right in the corner of both properties. Now my neighbors in our block are enjoying watching the Swifts, Martins and the Bats fly the neighborhood.

Looking forward to your success soon!

Your set-up looks awesome! My only concern is how close it it to the fence. These Martins are smart! I have had my site close to a fence twice in my years of moving my site around. Just my 2 cents.

[avesrun]

I'm with you Dave. My t14 and trio are now permanent hosp traps through September after which time I will take them down for the winter. I have all entrances closed except for a spar-o-door on the trio and two wire tunnel traps on Troyer tunnels.
Next season I WILL get martins!
Can anyone advise; is it a bad thing to keep entrances closed during Fall migration? On my t14 with tunnels, it seems the tunnel traps are only effective when all other doors are covered (excepting the nesting season where I have to wait till the sparrow nest is well developed for the tunnel trap to work). Is it THAT beneficial to have open house for Fall migrating martins? Thanks.
Tim

[taxidermy lady]

Tim, I just came in for lunch and around 9:30. There were martins swimming everywhere. I would leave the houses up for sure. These never landed but very vocal circling. There was serval ASY males, females and young! I think one was Fred he was circling me and really talking. I know what he was saying "Moma I'm showing off your site!!!!

Made my day!

[avesrun]

Sounds great Sharon but what do you think about having entrances blocked off and a few open ones with tunnel traps and spar-o-door? I'm anthropomorphizing but do you think visiting martins will say "not coming back to THAT site; it's closed and uninviting"!
Tim

P.s. plan to keep housing up till migration over; haven't had any visitors since I stopped playing cds about 5 days ago.

[avesrun]

P.s.s
The new crop of hosp is plaguing my setup presently

[taxidermy lady]

Do you shoot those things or can you shoot where you are. If I get a male hanging around all I have to do is shoot it and there's nothing for days sometimes a week or so. They don't like their brother being shot I guess!! I haven't trapped one since last yr. I find shooting works long term. Never let them get comfortable at a site.

I would think the martins are house hunting for young ones so having your compartments closed should be fine.

[phldave]

Dave,
I do not understand how the purple martins can resist your house and gourds!
The pictures show an ideal house and site to attract martins.
Where did you get the house design?
Your house has all of the characteristics recommended for a northern climate.
Are the round and square holes for ventilation?
Impressive is all I can say.
Mark.

Mark, Thanks for your comments. The squares you see in the pictures are mirrors and the round holes are actually circles cut from black duck tape to help as attractants. The house is my own design check out my profile for a few more specifics. Thanks again.

Dave