Congratulations, Tax and good job! I love hearing all my birds all singing, but I can detect that "insufferable" sound the moment he arrives. I learned a long time ago, be relentless in your pursuit and never, ever let up on them.
"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
GOT HER!! LOL - I too have been pestered by a very persistent sparrow problem, interestingly I think it is one male and two females in different nests, well tonight the little threesome came to an end!
I continue to pull nests to keep them occupied, and watched as more martins arrived and the sparrows had to fight just to sit on the house since the martins now outnumber them more than 8:1, but I knew sooner or later that the ole .410 was going to have to solve my problem.
Well tonight, one of the females hesitated just long enough to get lead poison from my .410.
Now I will sleep better tonight - knowing that there is now one more hole for a subbie!
JohnM
2013 - 37 pair-179 eggs,142 hatched,139 fledged
2012 - 32 pair-163 eggs,141 hatched,134 fledged
2011 - 19 pairs - 78 fledged successfully!
2010 3 pairs - 9 eggs - 8 fledged!
2009 - 1 Sub Adult Male (only) - LOTS visitors
2008 - 58 Visitors by year end
2007 - 13 Visitors by year end
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
I just got 4 of them and once again i am hearing a "cheep cheep" from across the road.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
Gobbler T wrote:It amazes me how many times I hear a sparrow in the background of movies and news reports.
...even in video games. In the big online game "World of Warcraft", they added sparrow chirping in the background sound at one of the main cities (Stormwind). Bugs me whenever I hear it.
My husband watches golf and there is never a time that I don't hear some sparrow in the background. Every place I go I hear that grating cheep of the male "come hither, darlin'". I swear, I hear it in my dreams sometimes. In the morning the first sounds are the mockingbirds, then the whitewings, then the martins, then usually those dang sparrows.
It was a wonderful morning as no sparrow song made me get out of bed, today. Additionally, no sparrow songs or flyby's today...I know it won't last long, but I'm really enjoying it for as long as it lasts!