New member needing help

[Martinmelody]

My question is when should I raise and open houses/gourds? The beginning arrival time in the past seem to be from mid January to late January for Mississippi. Is it too soon? Also when should I start playing Dawn Song? Thanks for any advice.

[C.C.Martins]

Hi! Good question!
I'm assuming no martins last year and will go that route unless you say diffrent.

You are on the cusp of arrivals for your area, but these are the oldest birds, focused on returning to their homes.
Normally, its the follow on younger birds that will start your colony, they will be coming March and April.
People will put up houses before they expect their birds, some plug a few cavities with foam to help keep house sparrows at bay...depends on how heavy their pressure is.

All that being said: you can put it up now, and play the dawn song. Control sparrows.
In my case, unknown to, me my neighbor had a martin colony, he passed away and the birds I got that year were probably left from his old colony. First year, so you never know what happened to a colony and you may just have an adult looking for a home!

Hope this helps, sure you are going to get lots of replies.
Tom

[Martinmelody]

Many thanks! I have not had any Martins stay in the past. For the past two years now I have had 1 fly over the house and land but does not come back. Years ago my Daddy had some. I live very close to a lake so keeping my fingers crossed. Thank you for your help. Will put up house/gourds tomorrow but leave them closed up. Big problem with sparrows here. Again...many thanks!

[flyin-lowe]

I always advise people you can't put them up to early as long as you are able to control competitors (sparrows, starlings, blue birds, tree swallows are the main culprits). When I was getting started, or am starting a new colony I put up housing just before the earliset reported arrivals in my area. If competitors start tryin to move in I will take care of them, and block of the entrances. If you continue to have competitor issues just leave them blocked off until you actually see martins in your area, or flying around your property.

The dawnsong is a great tool so as soon as people start reporting sightings in your area, turn it on. A big majoity of new colonies are started from SY birds, which arive later. SY (second year) were hatched last year so they will be looking for a new location. Statistically almost all older (ASY/After second year) birds that survive the migration will go back to the place the nested last year assuming there were/are no issues with that location. However if housing was taken down after last year and not put up, or damaged during a storm, or there were predator attacks, it is not unheard of to start a colony with ASY birds. That is why you want to be ready when they start arriving. If you can get an ASY or two to take up residence at your site you would be very likely to start a colony.

As far as competitors go, make sure you are able to identify a house sparrow and or a starling v. native birds (blue birds, tree swallows, etc.) The house sparrows and starlings are invasive and can be shot, trapped, etc. to control. Native birds are protected so your options are to block of the entrances to force them to move on, this needs to be done before they nest.

[Martinmelody]

Thank you for your advice. Sparrows are a nuisance here so I will do as you advised. Keep the entrances blocked until a Martin sighting. Could you tell me when I should play dawn song? I have read from 4 till 7 am. The times I have seen Martins in the past...it was always around 10 am.

[h2y]

If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and study chuckspurplemartinpage.com. It's like a Bible for us purple martin enthusiasts, compliments of Chuck Abare. Between Mr. Abare's site & this forum, you will be set to host martins.

[Unk Bond]

Hello and nice place for your birds

I have 3 T14 houses and a rack of gourds

First T14 faceting the east Then a gourd rack
Next 2 T14 same facing east
I have noticed for some reason my birds pick the east side first

Same with the gourds
Now my rain and bad weather comes from the west
Something to think about

Later [ Unk

[Martinmelody]

I will check out chuckspurplemartinpage.com
Thanks for all the advice/ help. Looking skyward!

[killerv]

you are probably gonna be waiting on younger birds looking to start their own community unless some houses older birds have used are gone or damaged. That being said, my first year I was greeted with adult birds in the beginning and arrivals got earlier and earlier each year after. Last year I had a big group of young birds show up a couple months later and raised a ruckus. The adult birds did not like it even after I had added additional housing. The young ones would not leave them alone.

[LCM]

I too will check out chucks web page. Thank you.

[brent]

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I think I posted under the wrong topic but someone was asking how to put pine in the nest trays. This is how I do it. You can see that the birds take to it and actually build their nest using what I put in. Brent

[LCM]

It was me Brent, thank you so much for posting those pictures, really does help
LCM