Miracle in the making

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tbone8705
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2016 6:34 am
Location: Deer Park, Tx

It took 7yrs a lot of prayers but I now have 3 pair. Two are gathering my pine straw and building nest and the other I expect are sub adults just watching to see what to do I guess. Do the adult females build more than 1 nest? One female is working very hard on 2 cavities, one on bottom and one on top and the pair seem to stay in both at different nights. I haven't figured it out yet. I think the sub adult female is just not ready to start building yet. I filled the 2 houses 4 dwellings in one and 6 dwellings in the other house and 4 gourds with straw before opening for the season and its fun watching them steal straw from each other when there is so much available for them. So far you newbies never give up your day will come and the fun begins. They are truly a blessing to watch and hear. Good luck all and lets make millions of babies.
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pmartinlover2
Posts: 521
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:37 pm
Location: IL/Hillsboro
Martin Colony History: 2011 Home site--1 SY pair--2 fledged
2016 Satellite Site---4 pair--19 eggs laid--17 hatched--16 fledged
2017 Satellite Site--8 pair--37 eggs laid--34 hatched--34 fledged
2018 11 pair--fledged 60
2019 20 pair-fledged 94
2020 23pair-fledged 108

Congrats tbone875! Getting your first martins does feel like a miracle! I waited 10 yrs. it was very hard dealing with the disappointment every year, but oh so worth the wait! I had 4 pair and they have not returned yet but I expect them anytime. You are going to love being a landlord! Enjoy every minute!
_____
Jody
Jody in Central Illinois
Landlord in 2016
2016—4 pr fledged 16
2017—8 pr fledged 34
2018—11 pr fledged 60
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

tbone8705 wrote:It took 7yrs a lot of prayers but I now have 3 pair. Two are gathering my pine straw and building nest and the other I expect are sub adults just watching to see what to do I guess. Do the adult females build more than 1 nest? One female is working very hard on 2 cavities, one on bottom and one on top and the pair seem to stay in both at different nights. I haven't figured it out yet. I think the sub adult female is just not ready to start building yet. I filled the 2 houses 4 dwellings in one and 6 dwellings in the other house and 4 gourds with straw before opening for the season and its fun watching them steal straw from each other when there is so much available for them. So far you newbies never give up your day will come and the fun begins. They are truly a blessing to watch and hear. Good luck all and lets make millions of babies.
Congrats :). Yes some do build 2 nests. I had one lay eggs in both. I just moved them together, into the nest they seemed to spend the most time at.

I get a kick out of watching them steal each others nesting materials.

Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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Glynn B - LA
Posts: 320
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:59 pm
Location: Louisiana West Monroe

I'm very happy for you. Some give up and quit trying. Yes there are peaks and valleys but they're well worth the wait. I wish you a successful season.


Glynn
2019 26 pair 116 fledged
2018 20 pair 76 fledged
2017 19 pair 82 fledged
2016 13 pair 48 fledged
2015 3 pair 13 fledged
2014 1 pair 4 fledged
2013 2 pair 6 fledged
2012 0 pair
2011 0 pair

I don’t have the perfect site. One open flyway with trees within 80 ft. I do have a small pond they utilize during the heat of Summer. (2017) HEAVY HAWK PREDATION
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

Congratulations Tbone! This is my 5th year and I get tired of waiting but nothing else I can do! Good luck on growing your colony! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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