Hello all,
Just to let you know, i did a nest check today and come to find out i have three eggs so far. I know i have a total of three pair and 3 bachelor males here so there could be a small window of opportunity for maybe one more pair if they hurry. just thought i would give you guys an update. Hopefully i can give you some more pics next nest check in about a week.
Although it took me three years, I'm still in shock i think from getting this many right off.
Out on the west coast wishing for the best !!!!!
Mike Davis
2008: Visitors
2009: Visitors
2010: 3 Active pair, 13 birds total
2011: 10 Active pair, 24 birds total
2012: hoping for 20 pair but they have to get here first.
Very happy for you, Mike. That's about the amount of time I waited when I lived in the middle of the city in Baton Rouge. Then I got just one pair. The next year I moved south to the present location, and the sky opened up for me.
So I know how you feel in your wait, and the excitement of having pairs laying eggs now,
Watch those SY males. They are thief's! They'll remove eggs from a nest in hopes of getting that female to mate with them in the already prepared nest. They are even know to take out newly hatched babies, too!
Hello Mike. I live in the central valley of California and if I can get
permission, I plan to put up housing very close to what you have.
I have been watching two pairs of martins nesting here this year
60-80' up on power towers. They have never nested on the valley floor
before. They may not have ever seen a gourd or birdhouse before
but I would like to give a try. Do you think the decoys helped attract
your birds? Ihave two hours of chatter from our old colony back in
Tennessee. I will try everything. I have some nice gourds already
that Im putting tunnels on. I worked in constrution for many years so can build whatever I need. Good luck with your birds, I know they will
give you many hours of enjoyment.
breeder 1
you know i would have to say i'm not sure on the decoys although this is the first year i had them up, but i have had visitors all three years of trying.
What i think that had a huge influence, is my single boxes that i had stained grey for the weathered look. single cedar box 11Deepx6Widex6Tall
Im no expert but the only way to find out is try. I'm up to about 13 birds total and as of yesterday i have 12 eggs with 3 pair and two more gourds with green leafs.
Good luck, and i will have to say there are people out there that could further you along and there names are Stan Kostka, Dan Airola. I believe Dan lives in sacramento,ca and Stan has done work down there for the birds. you could look them up on the forum here and im sure they would give you some advise
Out on the west coast wishing for the best !!!!!
Mike Davis
2008: Visitors
2009: Visitors
2010: 3 Active pair, 13 birds total
2011: 10 Active pair, 24 birds total
2012: hoping for 20 pair but they have to get here first.
Your colony is pretty exciting. We have been cheering on your neighbor Ken Buker since his colony got up and running.
I'm not sure if Breeder1 wants to remain anonymous, but he and I have been in close touch in his monitoring of the birds breeding in the transmission towers in Tulare County in California. It is a very unusual situation, at low elevation and open country where no other martin populations (except the Sacramento bridge-nesters) have been able to survive starling competition.
You should come to the PM Western Working Group meeting this fall in Vancouver, WA and report on the outcome of your efforts.
Hey Dan,
Thanks for the reply,
I have it in my plans this year to attend, although it was there last year as well. Yes, Ken is a good guy and has pushed me this far. His ear has got to be full by now especially this year. We just did nest checks this evening at his place and things look to be doing well. Just to let you know I did do a recent update as of yesterday here (update3) has some pics as well if you are interested.
thanks again
mike
Just to ask, were I-5 south splits to go to Sac. or San Jose I believe it is 505 have you ever drove through there in search of martins under those over passes. The reason why i ask is i moved my parents up from san jose and seen birds using the weep holes. martin or not im not sure 70 mph its hard to tell. But where i seen it, it was fairly close to the interchange
Out on the west coast wishing for the best !!!!!
Mike Davis
2008: Visitors
2009: Visitors
2010: 3 Active pair, 13 birds total
2011: 10 Active pair, 24 birds total
2012: hoping for 20 pair but they have to get here first.
Whoops - sorry I forgot we met Mike. Advancing age, I guess.
There are a lot of suitable overpasses around the state, but most are not occupied. We have never found an occupied one that has freeway traffic below it. The key to occupancy is a nearby source population. The Sacramento population has a critical mass of birds to keep a set of the suitable sites occupied, but it is declining, so is not sending out many birds to new areas. The only other bridge/overpass sites that are occupied that we know of in CA are on the coast, where adjacent, relatively healthy tree nesting populations occur.
Regarding what birds could have been entering holes at the site you saw, of course I can't completely rule out martins, but much more likely candidates are white-throated swifts, starlings, and northern rough-winged swallows.
just thought i would give you guys an update. Hopefully i can give you some more pics next nest check in about a week.