Debating on opening before I leave town next week.
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3795
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
I am going to be out of town from this coming Sunday until April 5th. Looking back between my old colony and this one I have only had an ASY return before April 6th 3 times since 2008. I usually leave everything closed up except for my insert trap until I see martins in my yard to help combat the TS and BB's. I think I will likely leave a few cavities open while I am gone next week and if I get an early returnee they will have a place to sleep. If the HOSP or TS move in while I'm gone I'll deal with them accordingly when I return. I just hate fighting the tree swallows. For some reason, even with the housing lowered if they get the chance to get into a cavity on my martin housing they will fight for it, even through there is available housing for them 30 feet away. I know if I leave it open my martins will still be three weeks away but if I leave it closed up they will show up needing in.
2026 HOSP 29
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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jhcox
- Posts: 804
- Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
- Location: tennesse
- Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair
I feel your pain on the tree swallows I have about 10 that want to use my gourd racks already this year and have not seen the first purple Martin. I have a bluebird trail up a fence row with eight bluebird boxes on it I have natural gourds Hanging from shepherds poles along the fence row As well. I’ve tried to entice them into the bluebird houses and the gourds using small feathers From the nest boxes of my chickens hoping they will take those into the bluebird houses or the natural gourds on the shepherd poles like they did last year. I have had to close all my purple Martin gourds just to keep them at bay and they still want to perch on top of the racks. I’m afraid they made a tour of purple martins just for the fact that they’re roosting on those racks. Well flyin-lowe have a safe trip and deal with those pesky house sparrows and starlings when you get home I guess good luck have a great season. JHCox Heiskell TN
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2026, 88 pair with 333 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
If you have a nearby neighbor willing to observe for arrivals, then this could be an option.
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Tengai
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2017 9:36 am
- Location: Townsend, DE
- Martin Colony History: 2017 first year
Same problem here. This will be my third season after 2 successful years. We are leaving on Friday for 6 days don’t have Martins yet but I expect any day since they have been reported fairly close by. Right now I have a few opened until I hopefully see something before Friday. If not I’ll open all before I leave.
Today I had a starling squeeze into a cresant opening didn’t have this happen before now. I will have to trap him if he or she continues
I have a combination of different startling resistant openings
Phil
Today I had a starling squeeze into a cresant opening didn’t have this happen before now. I will have to trap him if he or she continues
I have a combination of different startling resistant openings
Phil
Phil
Townsend DE
Townsend DE
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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.
I like Dave's answer on this one. Friend or family.
My second choice would be to open it all up and do battle when you get home if needed. There will likely be a party while you are gone but at least any returning birds will find a spot and have a home.
3rd choice open a few holes facing inward toward your house. But competition will likely beat them to these few holes. Leaving them homeless or beat up anyway.
Last choice would be to leave it closed. If you do they will wait around somewhere else till you get home. They are pretty loyal birds.
Doug
My second choice would be to open it all up and do battle when you get home if needed. There will likely be a party while you are gone but at least any returning birds will find a spot and have a home.
3rd choice open a few holes facing inward toward your house. But competition will likely beat them to these few holes. Leaving them homeless or beat up anyway.
Last choice would be to leave it closed. If you do they will wait around somewhere else till you get home. They are pretty loyal birds.
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.