Indiana Martins

[Indiana_Tom]

My martin did make it back. I was beginning to wonder. Only starting last year and having one pair I was really getting worried. I have a fine young ASY male that has taken charge and is looking for a girlfriend. I am looking forward to this year but expect numerous challenges to come up. We will face them as they come.

If other Indiana landlords could pass info on this thread, it would be a big help. I would be interested in how many SYs are arriving. Any bug or mite problems or other things I should watch for.

I did not have much interest in my T-10 last year except by HS so I am only offering Natureline Gourds this year. Have 8 up and 4 in reserve.

I am located 5 miles straight North of Paragon, IN

I would like to thank everyone in advance for information provided. I have always gotten quick responses to my questions and really rely on and enjoy this site.

Good luck to all

[Grady]

Hi Tom,

I'm in Aurora, IN, just west of Cincinnati. Last year was my first year and I got martins in mid to late May. I ended up with 4 nesting pair. This year I added a T-14 and gourds. I started seeing an ASY male on Easter Sunday. Last night there were 5 martins flying around my houses. At least 2 were females. Hopefully they'll be there tonight when I get home from work. I have had a ton of Tree Swallows in my gourds. I shut all but a few up. When I saw the martins last night I reopened all of my gourds and houses. I did have a mite problem right after my first hatching and removed the hatchlings and quickly replaced the gourd with a little bit of Sevin dust under the cedar shavings. All fledged.

Good Luck,

Grady

[Rich Jewell In]

I have one asy male that has come and gone 3 different days this week. He stays about 10 minutes and leaves. I had 1 pair last year that fledged 3 babies. I had hoped to see my pair return but doesn't look like they made it. Should have been here by now. I live in NW Indiana(Crown Point) about 10 miles Southeast of Gary. I had lots of visiters last fall (20at a time) so I'm hoping to have a better year. Just have to wait and see!

Rich

[flyin-lowe]

Most of the sites that I know of in my area have ASY's but they are not all filled up yet so I would say they have not all returned. This is my third year with the T14 up and last year I had an SY male spend the summer here in one of the Big Bo's so I am hoping that he returns. I swapped out two of the Big Bo's for Troyer Horizontals this year. i also built all new nest boxes and got rid of the cardboard ones I had last year. I am about 50 miles straight east of Indianapolis.

[Indiana_Tom]

Good to hear from all of you. Crown Point, don't give up hope yet on last years pair. I just got what I assume to be my male back 3 days ago. Although the martins seemed to get to TX and FL early this year it stayed cold up here and got cold down there. Everything I have heard says that slowed them down. I haven't seen a female here yet but have had several ASY males stop over. I had a T-10 up last year with 8 gourds but the martins (the few I had stop by) were more interested in the gourds. I had a BB and a HS very interested in the house so I closed it off.

It is early to be playing dawnsong although I have played it some. If anyone sees SYs, give me a shout.

Hope everyone has a great year.

[jonkertb]

Hi Tom,
nice name by the way...easy to spell :>)
My birds were the latest they've ever been and are still arriving.
Tree Swallows and BB have taken up residence in the BB boxes that I have within 30 feet of my PM housing so that takes care of them and the HOSP are trying to gain a foothold so the war has been declared....I am now retired so the war is beginning early :>)
I would recommend providing BB housing close to your PM pole so as to not have the PM closed up at this time.
Tom
by the way...I'm not too far north of you, Coatesville...used to teach at Cloverdale...

[joeinindy]

So far I'm up to around 15, it's early yet so more are on the way. Last year I ended up with 30 pair.

[Guest]

Tom, I have yet to see any martins here or at some of the nearby normally populated sites. Lots of tree swallows and had two pairs of bluebirds that started nesting on the 13th. Expecting my orioles and hummingbirds about the 24th. While sitting outside watching the bluebirds yesterday I looked beyond the bluebird box and lo and behold there was a hen turkey strolling across the yard. In my 42 years at this location it's the first I have seen. When she got about 30 yds. from the county road and adjacent woods she took off in flight through the trees. That is a sight to behold! I am about 10 miles east of Columbus in a small area called Newbern. We wish you luck this coming season.

[Indiana_Tom]

I knew there were a lot of Hoosiers that were landlords. Good to hear from all of you. I thought a specific thread for Indiana would be a benefit to us. The entire site is excellent but having a thread for local info can be a big help also.

My ASY male is still hanging around. I have a tree swallow that is interested in the gourd rack also. I have two single unit TS gourds set up and the tree has checked that out also. Haven't seen any BBs yet.

I am hoping to get a good increase in the number of pairs at my location. I think the only thing worse than worrying about my one pair this year was worrying about getting my first pair last year.

I haven't seen any females here at all yet. has anyone seen any SYs yet?

[Guest]

Hello Indiana friends,

I have 4 pair of pm's so far!! It's early, I've had them come into middle May. Still plenty of time yet. Been fighting Starlings this year, not much trouble "YET" with HP's. I'm sure their waiting in the wing..... Hoping you all have a great year!!

[Indiana_Tom]

Hi Tyler,

Sounds like you are getting a great start this year. As I said earlier, I only had the one pair last year (first year). When the male arrived on the 12th, I opened all the gourds. Does anyone have comments on whether that is the right thing to do? Or, should I leave them closed until the SYs start to arrive to avoid TS or HS conflict. I have a TS showing some interest in the PM gourds and some in the TS gourd.

[rtolliver]

great to hear from you Tom. As of today i counted 14 martins at my site. Low numbers compared to last year. I understand they may be running a little late for unknown reasons this year. In regards to your T-14, you may attempt to attach a THG entrance cap on your T-14 entrances, this may help in getting them to move into your t-14.

[Christopher Norris]

Indiana Tom

Here is a picture of my site. I have not had martins here yet, but on 4 april I had a ASY pair show up for a little while and on April 6,7,8 a ASY male hung around. Havent seen him since.

Chris

[Indiana_Tom]

Really nice site Chris. You sure have plenty of open country. I have 10 1/2 acres but about half is trees. I have a large pond next to the house and wanted to start a martin colony there but not enough open space.

I am originally from Odon, down your way, but went in the military in 67 and haven't lived there since. Only been back in Indiana about 10 years.

We aren't seeing much in the way of martins here yet. I only had one pair last year and had a male come back on the 12th but he is spending most of his time out and about. Hope he remembers where he is supposed to nest at.

I didn't put the T-10 up this year. Last year the martins that stopped by didn't pay any attention to it. The HS and BB sure did. Spent a lot of time getting rid of HSs.

Do you play DAWNSONG or CHATTER at your site. I found it helpful last year.

Have a good year and drop me a note on this site when you see the SYs. I plan to spend a lot of time trying to build this year.

Tom

[Indiana_Tom]

Hi rtolliver,

Hope you had a good winter. I was sure ready for it to be over. I don't like cold weather anymore.

From the looks of your numbers, you have been growing steadily. I just had the one pair here last year and would be very happy if I can get 4 or more this year. If the male that is hanging around is from last year he may give me an earlier start than I had last year.

Hope you have a great year.

Chris has a nice setup in the Sandborn area. If I remember right, he is not too far from you.

Give me a nudge if you see anything interesting (SYs).

Tom

[Christopher Norris]

Tom

I just sold my house in Odon last july, I had martins there. But I lived in town by stolls limber yard. I bought this land because me and my wife wanted to move to the country. I plan on building a house this fall. When I bought the property, I was looking for a place with wide open space, so maybe I could get more martins.

Chris

[Indiana_Tom]

North East Texas reported a bunch of SYs (approx 150) coming north. I am sure ready. You Hoosiers in the south get first pick but send two or three on North.

Tom

[Indiana_Tom]

Hi Chris,

I am trying to figure out how to add a Pic of my gourd rack. So---if it doesn't work right I will have to do some more reading.

As apposed to your "Hilton" style, mine is more of a Stop and Snooze.

Tom

[Rich Jewell In]

Tom, You were right. My asy male showed up alone. He went to the t-14 in the front yard and the same cavity. He has been here a week looking for a mate. A couple of days ago another pair of asy's showed up and are staying in my gourd rack in the back yard. Waiting for the sy's, could be a good year.

Rich

[Indiana_Tom]

Hi Rich,

Good for you. Glad you have martins there. Sounds like you should do well especially when the SYs arrive. Your present birds will be spreading the word.

My ASY male left for a while during the cold snap but has been back for over a week. This morning what I believe is an ASY female was here. They checked out the accommodations and had a good time all day. At about 8:15 this evening another pais came by and mine took off south with them. about 8:30 my male came back but I didn't see the female unless she came back after dark. I think she will be around in the morning but doesn't want to seem easy.

Haven't seen any SYs yet but they should be here at any time. I have a HOSP wanting one of the gourds but my male and a pair of TS keep running him off. I haven't been able to hit him with a pellet but will keep after it. I also have a repeating trap I plan to put out tomorrow if weather permits.

Best of luck and let me know if you see any SYs.

Tom