Video of my Purple Martin Colony

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
Michael Sanford ~ OK
Posts: 233
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 9:00 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Edmond

Superior location: check.
Elimination of HOSP: check.
Elimination of EUST: check.
Superior housing: check.
Supplemental feeding when necessary: check.
Elimination of ground-based predators: check.

Result: many, many, happy purple martins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__IaGl0NWiM
MICHAEL C. SANFORD
EDMOND, OK
Top
Fredmyyster
Posts: 280
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:30 pm
Location: Tennessee/ Nashville

Fantastic vid !
Empty POOLS are a Delight ! !
Top
Chriscreole
Posts: 781
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:31 am
Location: Texas, Hutto

Great video, has your neighbor complained about the birds in any way, like noise? My set ups full and next year i will add more but my neighbor doesnt like it. He hasnt said anything but you can tell.
Image
PMCA Member since 2010
Super System 24, All Troyer W/Conley 2 entrances.
Top
dsonyay
Posts: 1677
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
Location: Louisiana/Broussard
Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.

2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)

2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.

2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged

2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(

2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.

2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.

I worry about my neighbor too. I have only just begun so it's no problem now- but later? They are nice neighbors but I can see them complaining about it. They have a pool and are odd about anything thats disturbs it- like when my pampas grass blooms. They've asked me to remove the blooms. I've had the pampas grass before they put in the pool; they should have known. So now I can imagine them complaining about bird droppings too.

And - great video! You've got a great site.
Top
Michael Sanford ~ OK
Posts: 233
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 9:00 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Edmond

Hey Chris,

We live on half-acre lots out here so we are pretty spread out. My neighbors never have complained although my neighbor to the east set out one of those owl statues on his pool's deck railing last year. The bluebirds perch on it. I'm sure he is getting some droppings in his pool. But he hasn't ever said anything to me about it directly.
MICHAEL C. SANFORD
EDMOND, OK
Top
John Miller
Posts: 4866
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

you can hear a dove toward the end (grin)..about 2:49.

Great video..enjoyed it.

John M
Top
Michael Sanford ~ OK
Posts: 233
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 9:00 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Edmond

I'm also really proud that you don't here a single house sparrow chirp through the whole video, John. They haven't done really well around here recently. :lol:
MICHAEL C. SANFORD
EDMOND, OK
Top
Don~VA
Posts: 391
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:01 am
Location: Virginia/King George
Martin Colony History: Had a colony many years ago which dwindled over a couple of years and then did not return. Kept trying each year for almost 20 years and finally had a small success in 2011 with two pairs nesting. Colony has grown slowly each year with 22 pairs in 2015. In 2016 my gourd rack of 18 gourds filled up so I added 4 more gourds and then put up a small rack of 6 gourds. All of those were claimed within a few days so I believe I have at least 25 pairs this year.

Michael,
Loved your video. Great looking setup you have created there. Ahhh, I can only dream - maybe one day :) Have a great season.
Don~Northern Neck of Virginia-PMCA Member
Top
jeffwilliams72
Posts: 267
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:22 am
Location: Indiana/Carthage

WOW!!! You really have it going on there in Okie Land! Beautiful set-up!
2008/1st pair/ 4 fledged
2009-2010 visitors only
2011/2 pr/9 eggs/8 fledged
2012/9pr/33 fledged
2013/27pr/101 fledged
Top
Michael Sanford ~ OK
Posts: 233
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 9:00 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Edmond

Thanks Don and Jeff. They're a joy. Keep at it.
MICHAEL C. SANFORD
EDMOND, OK
Top
KathyF
Posts: 3522
Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: Missouri/Licking
Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.

Excellent video, Michael! Enjoyed it very much. Your martins are obviously very happy.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
Top
pugsleyhall
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:28 pm
Location: Alabama/Grant

Michael,

Beautiful home and beautiful martin set up. You can just tell your neighbors about all the mosquitos the martins eat! :wink: :wink: :)

Melissa
Proud member of the PMCA
2008-0
2009-0
2010-Several Lookers
2011-Quite a few visitors but none stayed
Top
Michael Sanford ~ OK
Posts: 233
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 9:00 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Edmond

Thank you, Kathy. Here's hopin' we don't have to do any more feeding.
MICHAEL C. SANFORD
EDMOND, OK
Top
Michael Sanford ~ OK
Posts: 233
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 9:00 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Edmond

That is literally my backup plan, Melissa. They wouldn't know the difference.
MICHAEL C. SANFORD
EDMOND, OK
Top
Michael Sanford ~ OK
Posts: 233
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 9:00 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Edmond

Bumping this up for any newbies and for those of us still waiting for our martins to return. I shot this last April before God turned the oven on.
MICHAEL C. SANFORD
EDMOND, OK
Top
DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

Thank you, Michael, for bumping that up! I sit here in Pratt KS and read the forum each morning with my coffee. Typically we have about a month to await our arrivals. I plan to get my housing back up today. I have been excited to read of all the arrivals happening in Texas and the southeast. Hearing that beautiful music on your video was a nice start to my day! Thank you!

Deb Anell
PMCA Member from Pratt County KS

p.s. So nice of you guys to worry about your neighbors. I'm glad that I don't have any! Country living is the best (IMO)!
Top
rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

Beautiful site. I agree, tell them they eat thousands of mosquitos a day. :)
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
Top
Jeff Robinson
Posts: 908
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 3:32 pm
Location: Rogersville, Missouri
Martin Colony History: 2008 - Current
72 Cavities - 70 Pairs in 2021
PM Mentor

And on that note, I'll have another coffee! Great setup and video!

Jeff
PMCA Member - Bedrock Colony
Top
Matt F.
Posts: 3978
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Houston, TX

Great video Michael!
You have a great looking setup.
Image
Top
NancyinEnidOK
Posts: 158
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:06 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Enid

Michael, that is a beatiful setup and video! I see from the scout report that they're coming into OKC now, so hopefully you'll be seeing yours back any day now. (Please tell them to send their friends on north and just to the west, okay? :lol: ) Best wishes for a great season!
Nancy

PMCA MEMBER
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Purple Martin Forum”