Four martins are spending the night

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I finally saw some martins again after missing them for about 4 days. Four martins came in real late, after 6 PM, nearly dark. Three went straight into the gourds, it looked like the 3 went into the same gourd. The 4th one would not enter, he flew around for a while, finally made many attempts to enter the SREH, but made it in on a different pole, so he may leave in the morning. He acted like he did not belong here. Maybe someone else will have an new male martin tomorrow morning. They look to be in fine shape, but they sure are staying late feeding, so I have been missing seeing them, I didn't think that they would come in so late.

[Kevin-GA]

Thanks for the update Emil, According to last years scout reports, things should really start to pick up in the next few days. Still nothing here yet, stayed out til dark just to make sure. I built another rack in the off season and added 54 more gourds. It's going to be interesting to see what the new year brings. Best wishes on your 2013 season!

[apundt-TX]

yes. thanks for the update. I really enjoy reading when/how people's colonies are growing on arrivals.

[Joe Levins]

Glad you saw them this afternoon Emil. this morning I still just had one male but this afternoon I saw 2 males come in. Didn't get to watch until dark.

[Dale D]

That's is great news Emil. I have 3 coming in at night now. 2 males and a female.

[~Ray~Gingerich]

I'm glad you have them Emil, hope the weather is cooperating.
We had our first snowfall last night and it's COLD! More cold weather coming right up to next monday.
Still have about 65 days to go for martin arrivals, just sitting here next to the wood stove hibernating.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

They returned tonight but it was nearly dark (6:10 PM). It took them about 3 seconds to disappear into the gourds. Its so easy to miss them coming in at night.

[klcretired]

Hi Emil,
Congrat's On Your Arrivals
Hello everyone , When i Start to see the arrivals on the Scout Report I really start getting excited and wish that i lived in Fla, La, or Down close to you Emil rather than here in North Texas, it seems like forever B-4 Martins come to My Area, However I am always Ready in Late December w/ all my Housing/ and Gourds up w/ New Nests awaiting the arrival of My Martins so it is just a waiting Game for me.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

KLC, it sounds like you are ready for them....I also was ready, and surely am enjoing their brief appearnaces.

[AnnieM]

Emil, Reading your post that the martins arrived almost at dark and went into the gourds I'm assuming that your gourds were already opened up prior to their arrival. Our martins are not due in my area until the first week of March, but I have my guords up, cleaned, nesting material inside, predator guards and all ready to go. Based on your comments, I'm wondering if I should open up a few gourds now, but worried if I will then be battling house sparrows b4 the martins arrive. I've read on the forum that the martins will sit on the housing and wait for us to open it up. Being new at this, I'm uncertain what to do. Since ours is a new colony, what would you suggest? Thanks in advance

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Annie, there are different opinions about when to open the housing, either way you do it, there will be some advantage.

I leave my housing open as I hang the gourds. I also trap and shoot the sparrows and starlings. The advantage is that I get rid of many of the trash birds before the martins arrive. The problem is that I must make sure that I keep the sparrows away, the starlings use the traps and the SREH keep them out of the gourds

If you leave your housing closed until you see the martins, one of the advantages is that the S&S will already have selected a house some other places and may not bother you immediately, but some may still show up. I doubt that the martins will not come to your site when you open the housing, as they will use somebody elses cavities until you open yours. Some disadvantages are that you may miss some martins that are looking for a home as they may choose a different site if yours is closed. The S&S will eventually bother you a whole lot because you didn't trap or shoot them early in the season. It may be harder to fill the housing because you may have missed some birds

Since your housing is closed, you maybe could open 1 or 2 cavities facing your house, you can watch to see what shows up. Of course, you will probably attract some sparrows quickly, and you could close them if the sparrows try to use the housing

So either way works to some extent. The real problem is that you must control the sparrows if you expect complete success. They always have been a problem, and they remain a problem. Traps are the easiest way to control them, or shoot them on a regular basis, but its still a continuous problem.

A good idea is to get a couple traps that the martins cannot enter (keep the hole size small), and hang them right in the middle or near the martin housing and trap the sparrows on a continuous basis. The SREH will keep out most of the starlings.

[AnnieM]

Thanks, Emil, for the recommendations. Based on what you said, I'm going to open up some of the gourds facing the house where I can watch them. Interestingly, last summer I rarely saw any HOSPs until the martins set up housekeepingin the gourds. Then they suddenly appeared. I have one "HOSP Hotel" that I like to keep open to trap sparrows. I was able to catch 8 of them last summer. What seems to work best for me is to let them start building a nest, then set the trap. I caught two at the same time once! Felt like I'd won the lottery! However, I worry about trapping a martin, which I also did last summer.

Someone mentioned reducing the size of the entry hole so the HOSP can get in, but too small for the PMs. Do you know how many inches that should be? Again, I read conflicting information that martins need an opening 2" and also 1 1/2" so not sure.

I also have a repeating trap but haven't had as good luck with it. This year I'm going to "save" some of the HOSP I trap in the gourds and relocate them to the repeating trap to help attract others. I guess I'll have to move it into the garage at night to keep the snakes, raccoons, foxes, etc., away from it if there are live birds inside.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Annie, I just recently asked the question about building a sparrow trap that will keep out the martins, its seems like about 1-3/8in may be the best size, but it may also keep out the bluebirds.

Here is the discussion: http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic ... ht=#203619

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

We have 6 martins this morning, and its supposed to be 76deg today, I cannot believe this warm weather, but glad we are missing the NE cold wave.

[AnnieM]

Emil, I checked out the link and there is good info. Thanks much. I'll let you know how it worked out over the season. Happy you have more PMs. Our weather is also unusually warm here in the Tx Hill Country, but I see a cold front on the way next Thurs/Fri and 60s/40s for us. I just have to be patient and wait for at least mid-February or later for our birdies!