I hope
After trying for a while. I believe that maybe I might have some tenants. We were in our yard today and I noticed a pair that would come & go. They would stay longer each time they came. The last I seen them, was about an hour before dark. The male was in the house, which is a first for me & the female was outside. I made it a point to watch them before it got dark & the female flew away, the male came out, looked around and then went back in. I am pretty sure he's still in the house. I waited until it was dark and I never seen him come out. And you can rest assured I will be out before light tomorrow morning. What does this mean? The male was an ASY. I would assume that I would be looking for SY to start a new colony. Is there anything else that I should be or maybe I should not be doing. This is as close as I have ever come to attracting these guys. I was like on cloud nine when I seen this pair here for the most of the day.
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
That sounds VERY ENCOURAGING, Bret!!!! She may even have come back after dark. I have had them arrive after darkness had already fallen. Glad he stayed in.
I assume you have the pine straw in the compartments and such.
Keep us informed!
I assume you have the pine straw in the compartments and such.
Keep us informed!
I have some pine straw in some, However the one's that they are in do not. Should I? I did not put straw in all of them for I have been battling sparrows. I am only down to tearing out two sparrow nests a day. I hope to have my trap in operation this week.
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
Yes, get those HS trapped.
I would go ahead and add a little pine staw to all of the compartments while the martins are off feeding. Just a little in the compartment he is staying in and maybe a bit more in the other compartments. Most martins really like the pine straw but if he chose one without it I would not put very much in.
I would go ahead and add a little pine staw to all of the compartments while the martins are off feeding. Just a little in the compartment he is staying in and maybe a bit more in the other compartments. Most martins really like the pine straw but if he chose one without it I would not put very much in.
I have had our first scout this season. I wake up at 7AM and he is sitting on the deck looking frozen as it is cold here still. But then he is gone flying for bugs at the lake all day. Then last night at 845PM I saw him sitting on the deck and then poof in the hole and his little black beak sitcking out..Last year they flew into their cavities so fast at dusk you would never know they are there until you get your binoculars and see little beaks sticking out.
I premake all the nest with fine cut up straw and some dead leaves making a mound and closer to the back. They are pretty tired flying all the way from Brazil. I would do this right away. Good luck
We only got our first 2 pair last year so I think I might go get some crickets today as we are getting snow tomorrow ugh!!!!
I premake all the nest with fine cut up straw and some dead leaves making a mound and closer to the back. They are pretty tired flying all the way from Brazil. I would do this right away. Good luck
We only got our first 2 pair last year so I think I might go get some crickets today as we are getting snow tomorrow ugh!!!!
2007 none
2008 few landed
2009 - 2 pair - 9 eggs- 9 fledged
2010 - 1ASY pair and 4SY pair total 10 bird
2011 first ASY pair May 06
2012 first pair arrived May 01, May 21 total 10 pairs 49 babies
2013 May 04 martins 2 pair May 19 total 12 pair
2014 May 08 2 pair May 12 almost full 10 pair
2008 few landed
2009 - 2 pair - 9 eggs- 9 fledged
2010 - 1ASY pair and 4SY pair total 10 bird
2011 first ASY pair May 06
2012 first pair arrived May 01, May 21 total 10 pairs 49 babies
2013 May 04 martins 2 pair May 19 total 12 pair
2014 May 08 2 pair May 12 almost full 10 pair
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
Those Alberta martins are a hardy breed as are the people! Good luck with your colony and thanks for all you do.
Carl
Carl