Hope they stay...(photos)

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AndyShutterbug
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 10:58 am
Location: Midland, MI
Martin Colony History: 2013 Heath hexagon 12 cavity...no birds
2014 T14 added. Couple of visitors only.
2015 Four birds? At least one pair? 5 eggs in three different cavities! Abandoned.
2016 Heath house not put up. Only visitors.
2017 Only visitors
2018 No activity
2019 Visitors 20May only
2020 Visitor 22May, 3 birds suddenly 20Jun!?
2021 Nothing
2022 Sudden flurry 04Jun. Pair hanging out. High hopes!
2023 Few visitors. Disappointing...then moved from this house.

Well, first arrivals at my wannabe site in Collegeville, PA! A male and female (I think) arrived together when I was home to see them. I'm worried that they may just be a pair from another nearby colony exploring for their morning meal...or a couple heading on north. I'm sure hoping they stay.

http://imgur.com/a/YupFM

It's clear to me that the songbird magnet works. This is the second time purple martins showed more interest in my perch/eggshell tray with the speaker mounted than to the housing itself (it's admittedly, very McGuyver'd from an old heath pole). If I don't get any to stay, I may have to move the speaker right to the housing. These two did check out the housing. But they spent more time on this perch.
AndyShutterbug
Central Michigan
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BillieJR
Posts: 766
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:39 am
Location: Monroe, WI

Great pictures!!!
Billie from southern Wisconsin
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[email protected]
Posts: 93
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:35 am
Location: Raynham MA. 02767
Martin Colony History: 2016, put Troyer pole with 6 units Horizontal with Conley 11 Tunnels.
Had some visits (two sittings) last year. A visit this year 2017.

AndyShutterbug wrote:Well, first arrivals at my wannabe site in Collegeville, PA! A male and female (I think) arrived together when I was home to see them. I'm worried that they may just be a pair from another nearby colony exploring for their morning meal...or a couple heading on north. I'm sure hoping they stay.

http://imgur.com/a/YupFM

It's clear to me that the songbird magnet works. This is the second time purple martins showed more interest in my perch/eggshell tray with the speaker mounted than to the housing itself (it's admittedly, very McGuyver'd from an old heath pole). If I don't get any to stay, I may have to move the speaker right to the housing. These two did check out the housing. But they spent more time on this perch.
Congratulations and those are nice pictures. Good luck..
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[email protected]
Posts: 93
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:35 am
Location: Raynham MA. 02767
Martin Colony History: 2016, put Troyer pole with 6 units Horizontal with Conley 11 Tunnels.
Had some visits (two sittings) last year. A visit this year 2017.

[email protected] wrote:
AndyShutterbug wrote:Well, first arrivals at my wannabe site in Collegeville, PA! A male and female (I think) arrived together when I was home to see them. I'm worried that they may just be a pair from another nearby colony exploring for their morning meal...or a couple heading on north. I'm sure hoping they stay.

http://imgur.com/a/YupFM

It's clear to me that the songbird magnet works. This is the second time purple martins showed more interest in my perch/eggshell tray with the speaker mounted than to the housing itself (it's admittedly, very McGuyver'd from an old heath pole). If I don't get any to stay, I may have to move the speaker right to the housing. These two did check out the housing. But they spent more time on this perch.
Congratulations and those are nice pictures. Good luck..
Talking about McGuyver'd I have my songbird magnet duct Taped to the pole lifting section of my Troyer pole and gourds. Seems to be working fine. Although I have yet to have any martins stay around. Last year I had the song Manet sitting on porch about 20 yards away from Gourds. The martins were more interested in the Song Magnet than the gourds!!! :oops: :?: :???:
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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!

I had my song magnet inside a natural gourd! Just cut it in half and then caulk the gourd back together! Then stick a decoy in the hole! It made it very natural! Good luck!
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Sharon from southern Illinois
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AndyShutterbug
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 10:58 am
Location: Midland, MI
Martin Colony History: 2013 Heath hexagon 12 cavity...no birds
2014 T14 added. Couple of visitors only.
2015 Four birds? At least one pair? 5 eggs in three different cavities! Abandoned.
2016 Heath house not put up. Only visitors.
2017 Only visitors
2018 No activity
2019 Visitors 20May only
2020 Visitor 22May, 3 birds suddenly 20Jun!?
2021 Nothing
2022 Sudden flurry 04Jun. Pair hanging out. High hopes!
2023 Few visitors. Disappointing...then moved from this house.

Unfortunately, they were just passing through. Why oh why won't any birds find my setup appealing. I guess there might be better options nearby.
AndyShutterbug
Central Michigan
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Glynn B - LA
Posts: 320
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:59 pm
Location: Louisiana West Monroe

Is the martin on the left banded? Looks as if it's right leg has a band?

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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AndyShutterbug
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 10:58 am
Location: Midland, MI
Martin Colony History: 2013 Heath hexagon 12 cavity...no birds
2014 T14 added. Couple of visitors only.
2015 Four birds? At least one pair? 5 eggs in three different cavities! Abandoned.
2016 Heath house not put up. Only visitors.
2017 Only visitors
2018 No activity
2019 Visitors 20May only
2020 Visitor 22May, 3 birds suddenly 20Jun!?
2021 Nothing
2022 Sudden flurry 04Jun. Pair hanging out. High hopes!
2023 Few visitors. Disappointing...then moved from this house.

No, he doesn't have a band. It's a trick of the light or leg feathers higher up. The lighting was very low from the right (just after sunrise).

Still no birds here. :-(
AndyShutterbug
Central Michigan
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