Purple Martin Colony Left August 5, 2017
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GaryU
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:49 pm
- Location: PA/Transfer
- Martin Colony History: 1st year....just visitors.
2nd ......praying!.......prayers answered 5/28/16 with 10 couples and lots of 1st year males. Making improvements and planning for 2017 and beyond.
3rd year.....all compartments on both poles (28 + 18) and planning on 18 more for 2018.
2018 added gourd rack (18 gourds)
4th/5th/6th year ......established colony.
2022 added 2 new poles with polywood T-14’s. Filled up 1st year in use.
2025 adding 3 new poles with polywood T-14’s +12 gourds.
Total: 8 poles, 84 T-14 compartments, 64 gourds. (148 nest cavities)
Friday after the storms, I went checked on my birds and all was well, they were putting on a show both flying and singing. Saturday morning about 8:00 I went up to listen to their songs and the housing was empty. I worked about the farm all day and no birds, watched at sunset, no birds, same for Sunday. So I think it is official, my 2017 season has come to an end. It was lonely tending my gardens with the PM visuals and songs. Glad I have audio/video of their best days. Can't wait for spring 2018. I will start my clean up and expansion for next year. Gary
Gary U
N.W. PA, Mercer County, Delaware Twp.
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handyman315
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 11:03 am
- Location: SW Ohio
- Martin Colony History: Colony established May 20, 2017 after three unsuccessful years. Persistent and aggressive Tree Swallows plagued the site, but beyond learning - and practicing - to control them, was the return in 2017 of a 2016-SY-M previously unable to find a mate. As a handsome ASY-M, he brought along two females and a swagger that soon put the Tree Swallow issue to rest. As the anchor pair, he and his mate hatched all six of their eggs into fat and healthy babies into what settled in to be a three-pair, flourishing new colony with up to 11 birds total, including 3 SY-M trouble makers.
August 6, 2017: Some of my PMs, mostly fledglings, are still coming back 8:00 - 8:15 p.m. to chatter a few minutes, fly and feed a little, then spend the night in my gourds. Had one late nest with three babies here in SW Ohio, but even with the two parents, there are some other birds mixed in - tonight there were ten birds total (that I counted).
Rest of the day, including daybreak, they are all gone. Any day now I expect that evening bedtime will not happen either.
Rest of the day, including daybreak, they are all gone. Any day now I expect that evening bedtime will not happen either.
2023-42 Nests, 197 Eggs/Babies
2022-48 Nests Fledged 203
2021-43 Nests Fledged 185
2020-31 Nests Fledged 133, three early deaths due to cold & rain
2019-19 Nests Fledged 84
2018-11 Nests Fledged 48, ASY-M Arrived April 6, Despite Snow & Cold, Joined Soon by Mate & Two Adult Pairs
2017-3 Nests Fledged 13, FIRST-YEAR LANDLORD! Resident SY-M from 2016 Returned (as ASY-M) on May 20. At Least 11 Adult Residents
2016 Late-Arriving SYs, Resident Lone SY-M
2015-14 Many Visits
2022-48 Nests Fledged 203
2021-43 Nests Fledged 185
2020-31 Nests Fledged 133, three early deaths due to cold & rain
2019-19 Nests Fledged 84
2018-11 Nests Fledged 48, ASY-M Arrived April 6, Despite Snow & Cold, Joined Soon by Mate & Two Adult Pairs
2017-3 Nests Fledged 13, FIRST-YEAR LANDLORD! Resident SY-M from 2016 Returned (as ASY-M) on May 20. At Least 11 Adult Residents
2016 Late-Arriving SYs, Resident Lone SY-M
2015-14 Many Visits
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John & Linda - KY
- Posts: 599
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:19 pm
- Location: Kentucky/Hawesville
We still have a few coming back once or twice during the days and in the late evening. That won't continue much longer, the season's over. -- John