Been trying since 2017 and best success was 2020 and 2022. I felt defeated more than once but I stuck to it and had the two males return from 2022 and one paired up right away and the other a week later. Those two pairs called in nine more pairs and 11 of 17 gourds have nests. All the eggs hatched but two. My last nest check saw 51 babies. I’m in awe now as I can see my bird’s circle my yard from blocks away. Crows and Hawks get chased away quickly and I just worry about snakes. So far the predator guard is working and I’ll add some netting soon. I have a mix of BO-11, Troyer horizontal and vertical and a natural gourd. All my Troyers have owl guards and I’m working on adapting them to work on BO11s. I hope at least half my fledglings return and help new and old landlords with their colonies.
Red
2023 has been good to me.
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Rediwill
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2016 12:06 pm
- Location: fredericksburg, va
- Martin Colony History: 2016 6/1 Pole put up late due to HOA . Had visitor birds but no pairs that stayed.
2017 3/1 visitor birds but no pairs that stayed.
2018 3/1 visitor birds but no pairs that stayed.
2019 3/1 visitor birds but no pairs that stayed. Brothers Martins didn’t show up at all at his pole 10 miles away.
2020 7/30 Had 3 pairs, 1st- 5 eggs/ 2nd hatched 2 fledged, 2nd - 5 eggs/ 2-5 hatched fledging. 3rd formed late July and no nest built.
2021 3/1 no pairs returned. One lone male hung out few days then left. Weather was bad.
2022 6/1 one pair all four eggs that hatched fledged. I’ve had 6-8 visitors.
2023 6/15 Eleven pairs 4-6 babies per nest. 51 babies total hatched. Will start fledging July 4th until end of July. I am in total shock.....Wow
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Jones4381
- Posts: 830
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2020 10:54 pm
- Location: Southwestern VA
- Martin Colony History: 2020- 0
2021- 1 pair-5
2022- 5 pair-20
2023 34 pair-44
2024 30 pair-122
2025 54 Pair -178
Wonderful News and Congratulations on your successes! Looking forward to more stories and good times as your Colony grows and thrives!
Fellow Virginian here albeit 4 hours to your west
Fellow Virginian here albeit 4 hours to your west
"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." - Lao Tzu