SY alert in Alvin 4/19/2012

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Laverne
Posts: 2216
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
Location: TX/Alvin
Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.

Last night I was observing the PM colony at dusk. It was getting pretty dark, but the sky was still light enough on the Western horizon to silhouette the gourd racks and a bunch of birds (I'll say 30). Not our resident birds - they were already in their gourds preparing to sleep. These were something else. They flew away from the gourd racks and then back around to them and fluttered all around trying to get inside some of the gourds. There was much conversation and then the flock of birds flew away, around the field and back again. They were almost synchronized in their movements. They seemed nervous. They seemed to want to go into the gourds, but were unfamiliar with them and were being told "No!" from inside each gourd.

All the fluttering - you know, hovering and fluttering in front of the entrances; afraid to land on the porches - probably because of the warnings from inside the gourds. What happened after that -- well, I don't know. This is the part I can't stand to watch. Makes me want to add more housing and I can't do that... so, I don't watch. They will move on to your house and leave us alone...!!! :shock:

Subbies - coming to a colony near you tonight!!!

This is the first time this season I have seen a group like this. I've got my resident Subbies - but, these are the ones everybody has been waiting for.
Sincerely,
Laverne
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Chuck4
Posts: 861
Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:05 am
Location: North MS
Martin Colony History: I started trying to attract Purple Martins in 2011. I got my first breeding pair in 2013.

2013-1 pair, 2014-4 pair, 2015-8 pair, 2016-12 pair 60 babies :-).

Hi Laverne, I will gladly take a few off of your hands! Buddy can use some buddies. :lol:
PMCA Member
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

We have some subbies here but not many- John thinks there might be big wave of arrivals coming in this weekend, we'll see if they move on north or if some stay in TX. Considering how difficult last year was for martins & all birds, it stands to reason there may not be many subbies this year. The young that did fledge would not have been as well-fed as other years, then they had to migrate through more drought-stricken areas of TX to boot. Tough year, but so far this year is much better.

Egg laying still in full swing and first nests have hatched. Gourds almost 100% filled, room in the house for subbies yet.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
Posts: 6743
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas

Laverne, saw about the same thing nearly every night, then they skip a day and then again. We have been seeing about 15 or so. Then this morning about 10, there were about 50 here, there sure was a lot of chattering, but they didn't stay long. When one leaves, they all leave about the same time.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

So I could still fill up my 8 empty cavities?
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
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Rick Meyer
Posts: 71
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 4:12 pm
Location: Kansas/Spring Hill

just a little selfish there aren't we rrmartins.....
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rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

Not at all, just a second year landlord trying to figure it all out. Good luck.
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
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Chriscreole
Posts: 781
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:31 am
Location: Texas, Hutto

There were several more martins at my site yesterday when I went home for lunch, went from around 12 to 30+ by evening, there were at least 9 of the 16 gourds that were now occupied . I think they were subbies because everyone was fighting
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PMCA Member since 2010
Super System 24, All Troyer W/Conley 2 entrances.
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parkerdes
Posts: 417
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:41 pm
Location: TEXAS/Weatherford

Thanks for the heads up about this weekend, Louise!!! & for the report from you & Emil, Laverne!
I saw about 10 martins circling my housing night before last after all my current residents had come in for the night! I think I picked up another pair or 2 but will know better this weekend. I've only had 1 SY male that has been hanging around since I reported seeing him on April 8. He hasn't found a lady but I also have a couple of ASY males that don't seem to have a mate yet either! Looking for more SY females ASAP! I know I have at least one that made nests in 2 gourds & there was a lone egg in one of the nests. I went ahead & moved the egg today after checking to see if there were any additional ones in the nest...there were 5 already in the other nest. We will see if it hatches! If there was another one in the nest...I would have left it there in the case I had picked up a new pair but no such luck!
I would love to grow up to at least 20 pairs this year & yesterday's nest check confirmed 16 nests with eggs & I think I have 2 nests that are about to but again...I'll recheck it tomorrow!
PLEASE keep us posted about SY migration!!!
Take Care!!
Lila

2009--1 ASY & 1 SY Pair
2010--6 Pairs
2011--11 Successful Pairs + 1 Late Pair that lost their brood to heat!
2012--18 ASY Pairs & 1 SY Pair---104 eggs so far! 1 SY nest lost to infanticide! :o(
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jr 2
Posts: 749
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:20 pm
Location: ohio,proctorville(just across ohio river from huntington,west virginia)

how long will it take them too get too ohio;;my 2 asy male here sure need a mate;;they have been here for over a week;;i need at least 1 female so i can have at least one pair this year;;jr2
PMCA member; s 2011 2 pair fledged 3; 2012 3 asy pair,4 sy pair,2013 8 asy pair,6 sy pair;2014 19 asy pair,2 sy pair
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NancyinEnidOK
Posts: 158
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:06 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Enid

Laverne, Louise, Emil, & Chris, thanks so much for keeping us updated on the subbies!! My ASY boy is still hanging around and spending most (or all?) nights here, bringing girls over, so far they are turning up their beaks for some reason -- think I'll turn on the dawn song again while he's not around. There is some unmanaged scumbird-infested housing down the road and I'm afraid that most of the Martins I've been seeing are loyal to that site :roll: -- hopefully my new Geminini will "compete" successfully for the subbies' loyalty!
Nancy

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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

We had some new subbies arrive last night. Not a ton, but more than we did have. Don't know if they will stay here more move north.
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