ALL WELL IN FOMBELL

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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.

Thought I would report in from my neck of the woods.

So far so good here. We got out of the lousy weather and into the 80s and nesting went into full swing here. I did a nest check 2 days ago. Here are my results so far. 186 eggs 27 young 45 pair out of 51 compartments. There is still eggs being laid and 6 egg clutches are common. This could be my best year yet.

An interesting note was the pair that built 3 nests on the entire 3 hole side of the T-14. (they were hogging the whole side)The female laid 2 eggs in #2 and 2 eggs in #3. So I moved the eggs from 2 all to #3. I now have 4 newly hatched young in #3 and a new pair has moved in and begun laying eggs in #1 now as a result.

Today I got greeted at the door as we had a very cold windy air mass move in. So I reluctantly fed them mealworms and crickets. They were very hungry and took food in to the young as well. They sure are spoiled though. :roll:

I was also very pleased to fledge 4 bluebirds last week. The last few years I had a killer sparrow that would seek and destroy BB and TS nests. He did not want to nest there, but he would just show up and kill them. I guess he must have met his demise with the other dozen or so I got this spring in traps and shooting. I waged an all out war on them a while back.

The neighboring colony is also doing well with over 32 pair and almost 150 eggs in place last count. So Fombell PA may be fledging over 350 young into the air this summer. Now that's an accomplishment for an area previously void of Purple Martins.

This year the Martins are so quiet, peaceful and non stressed. Very relaxing to watch for a change. In past years things were rowdy and noisy. So this is a very welcome change. I am really enjoying my birds.

Happy Martining

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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Matt F.
Posts: 3978
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Houston, TX

Great report Doug!
I hope your Martins realize how fortunate they are to have you there!
I have a feeling they do.... 8)
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avesrun
Posts: 1127
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:10 pm
Location: Iowa/West Des Moines
Martin Colony History: Home Site: 2017- 0
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
Satellite Site: 2017 (3rd season)
34 pair
Fledged- 102

Doug thanks for the post. It's great hearing from martin folk throughout the continent. I marvel at the whole martin population dynamic in north america. They're not a rare species but only common where there are dedicated landlords such as yourself who are helping to keep the species alive and well in your local area. Especially for being in the northern latitudes I commend your efforts and wish you the best of the remainder of the season.
TimG
PMCA Member
Home Site: 2012-15 visitors
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
2017-18 Zero
2019- 3 Successful Pr
2020- 21pr, fledged 76
Satellite Site: 2014 - visitors
2015 - 2 pair fledged 9
2016 - 13 pair fledged 44
2017 - 31 pair fledged 118
2018 - 44 pair 163 fledged
2019- 49 pr 219 fledged
2020- 47 pr 209 fledged
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dhjohnson
Posts: 478
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
Location: North Carolina/Clayton
Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy

Great report Doug,
Glad to hear your colony with your superior support weathered the cold, rainy weather. We are doing okay this year. 100% occupancy, 58 gourds with 58 pair. We did lose 32 young to the cold, wet extended weather event . Offered crickets but there were no takers. We have 191 current young and about 110 eggs left with a high probability that about 58 of them will actually hatch. Again, cold weather related. Perhaps some will renest but they are still here.
Wishing you your best season ever! :grin:
Debbie
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
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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

Hello Doug,
great to hear you are doing well up there ! glad you survived the cold, wet start to the spring. Luckily for me here in the Laurel Highlands of Fayette County ( think Ohiopyle State Park, Fort Neccessity, Fallingwater, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort ) , my martins held off arriving until just after that nasty weather with single digit temperatures.
This is definitely my best year ever, my sixth year of attracting martins back to Fayette County. I have 100% occupancy, 18 pairs in my T-14 and four Troyer horizontal gourds, each nest with eggs, and more eggs coming. And for the first time, I now also have three pairs with eggs in my T-14 which is about a quarter mile away, through the woods and down the hill. So they have "spilled over" to my second site.
Like you, it feels really good to be bringing them back. As far as I know, this is still the only colony in my county, so I hope more people will be inspired to become landlords.

all the best for a successful season,

Peter
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