I am in western NC, right on the TN border west from asheville. I put up a house this winter. I have been playing the dawn song 24hrs/day.
Is there a down side to leaving it on?
1st birds showed today. 1 male and at least 3 others. I haven't gotten any great looks at the non-adult-males to be sure what category they are. The 1st sighting was a male on the house with 2 other birds. Then later 3 birds that weren't adult males cruised by. Again, not sure what they were, I need practice with the categories and they just swooped by a couple times.
Naturally I am pretty excited. Hoping to get some more activity in coming days. I read others in NC are getting some action as well. Good luck to all!!!
Pete
1st year wannabe in NC
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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
lThere may be your chance coming up soon. They seldom stay the first time that they stop at your housing. It takes a while, sometimes several days before they build up the courage to spend the night and stay.
Martins also are very sociable, they visit many surrounding colonies, so you may only have visitors that never did intend to look for new housing. If you have a good wide open site, you surely will get some to stay that are looking for a nice site with nice equipment. Best of luck to you
Martins also are very sociable, they visit many surrounding colonies, so you may only have visitors that never did intend to look for new housing. If you have a good wide open site, you surely will get some to stay that are looking for a nice site with nice equipment. Best of luck to you
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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pugsleyhall
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:28 pm
- Location: Alabama/Grant
Best of luck to you Pete! I am a want to be landlord like you and we all have to pull for each other.
Melissa
Melissa
Proud member of the PMCA
2008-0
2009-0
2010-Several Lookers
2011-Quite a few visitors but none stayed
2008-0
2009-0
2010-Several Lookers
2011-Quite a few visitors but none stayed
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dhjohnson
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
- Location: North Carolina/Clayton
- Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy
Hey Pete,
I'm very new to this myself. I have been blessed with 6 pair our first year. I can identify with the excitement then disappointment when they fly off. My first bird was an ASY male we call Buddy. He visited for two weeks before deciding to spend the night. Three days later he brought home his mate Darlin. They have continued to bring in a new pair a week since the first of April.
Good luck to you in your efforts to snag that first pair.
Debbie
I'm very new to this myself. I have been blessed with 6 pair our first year. I can identify with the excitement then disappointment when they fly off. My first bird was an ASY male we call Buddy. He visited for two weeks before deciding to spend the night. Three days later he brought home his mate Darlin. They have continued to bring in a new pair a week since the first of April.
Good luck to you in your efforts to snag that first pair.
Debbie
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
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Courtney-NC
- Posts: 592
- Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:28 pm
- Location: Holly Springs, NC
- Martin Colony History: 2009-2015-Helped to manage Raleigh site, 36 cavities
2016- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 1 pair at home site.
2017- 34 pairs at Raleigh site, 3 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2018- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 5 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2019 - 32 pairs at Raleigh site, 7 pairs at home site, 2 pairs at new Holly Springs park site
Good luck, Pete! Keep us posted.
-Courtney
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NC Purple Martin Society (PMCA affiliate)
http://www.ncpurplemartin.org
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NC Purple Martin Society (PMCA affiliate)
http://www.ncpurplemartin.org
Just came up from bush hogging and there was a martin on the roof checking it out. From the very brown back I conclude it was a young female. She check an entrance twice then made a few loops around the area and disappeared into the sky. I have the carefully cut semi circle openings. She did not enter but she perched at the entrance. Man I am crossing my fingers she will be back after a while. Thanks for the kind words everyone. And best wishes to all you other hopeful martin watchers.
Speaking of bush hogging, I get so much joy from the swallows while I work in the fields. Yesterday I had barn, tree, cliff and rough wing swallows all come by while I mowed. The barn and tree swallows were constantly present. It just about brought me to tears, they are so beautiful. Once three swallows formed a sort of a small ring in the air and and just slowly circled together at a very mellow pace, barely flapping and slightly rising on what must have been a little thermal. I can't imagine animals appearing happier.
Pete
Speaking of bush hogging, I get so much joy from the swallows while I work in the fields. Yesterday I had barn, tree, cliff and rough wing swallows all come by while I mowed. The barn and tree swallows were constantly present. It just about brought me to tears, they are so beautiful. Once three swallows formed a sort of a small ring in the air and and just slowly circled together at a very mellow pace, barely flapping and slightly rising on what must have been a little thermal. I can't imagine animals appearing happier.
Pete