This is my first year having a martin habitat. When can I expect martins to arrive in extreme southeast Iowa? I put up my pole yesterday, and am waiting to hear that Martins are arriving in my area to put up the house.
Thanks for any help you can give!
Bubba
Iowa arrivals?
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DornCounty
- Posts: 2169
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
- Location: Rural SE Kansas
- Martin Colony History: .
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Trio-Jedi
Check here: http://www.purplemartin.org/scoutreport ... =2012&S=IA
This is the first sighting reports for IA.
This is the first sighting reports for IA.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
Bubba
Right now only the longer established colonies are getting a few of their older martins back. We will see the greatest influx of ASY martins towards the end of this month and into may. The SYs will start showing up in may through June. I would put the house up in the next few weeks and keep the starlings and sparrows from nesting in it. I hope you are using starling resistant entrances, there is no reason to use round holes and put martins lives at risk.
Read all you can about being a successful landlord and best of luck starting a colony.
James
Right now only the longer established colonies are getting a few of their older martins back. We will see the greatest influx of ASY martins towards the end of this month and into may. The SYs will start showing up in may through June. I would put the house up in the next few weeks and keep the starlings and sparrows from nesting in it. I hope you are using starling resistant entrances, there is no reason to use round holes and put martins lives at risk.
Read all you can about being a successful landlord and best of luck starting a colony.
James
2009 One ASY pair 5 eggs 5 fledged 2010 2 pair 5 fledged 2011 8 pair 27 fledged 2012 14 pair 38 fledged
2013 20 pair 64 fledged 2014 19 pair fledged 84 2015 26 pair fledged 124 2016 36 pair fledged 156 2017 40 pair fledged 156
PMCA member
2013 20 pair 64 fledged 2014 19 pair fledged 84 2015 26 pair fledged 124 2016 36 pair fledged 156 2017 40 pair fledged 156
PMCA member
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TammyBears
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:00 pm
- Location: Bridgecreek, Oklahoma (SW of OKC)
I'm a newbie too, and I have already started my colony with a pair of ASYs!
So I suggest put up your housing now, and maybe only keep one or two compartments open.That's what I did, if I had waited, this ASY pair never would have found me. And now I have 2 pairs!
Like the veterans say, keep the S&S away with SREH and/or trapping/shooting. Best of luck!
So I suggest put up your housing now, and maybe only keep one or two compartments open.That's what I did, if I had waited, this ASY pair never would have found me. And now I have 2 pairs!
Like the veterans say, keep the S&S away with SREH and/or trapping/shooting. Best of luck!
Tammy
RIP my precious Josie, 7/5/2000-11/6/2014
2015: 22 pair plus lots of bachelors
2014: 25 pair and some bachelor subbies
2013: 17 pair
2012: 7 pair (first year)
RIP my precious Josie, 7/5/2000-11/6/2014
2015: 22 pair plus lots of bachelors
2014: 25 pair and some bachelor subbies
2013: 17 pair
2012: 7 pair (first year)
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Wendell Hansen-IA
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 12:06 am
- Location: Iowa / Spirit Lake
Put it up and play the dawn song, you never can tell. There could have been a landlord in your area that passed away and no one is takeing care of the old site. Had it happen here this year, two of my landlords passed away over the winter and one moved out west. The only thing keeping all of them martins from looking for a new home is that I have taken over all 3 sites.
PM Fanatic and proud Landlord. My goal is 100 pairs and 100 landlords.