Our first PM arrived today, Feb 17th - my hubby's birthday. I looked out back and he was sitting in the sun on top of my Purple Martin speaker system. I'm so glad he will be warm in a gourd tonight - it's supposed to be freezing. This is the 5th year in a row that the first PM arrived on 2/17!
Susan
Same day - 5th year in a row!
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Connie
- Posts: 441
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
- Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
- Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.
That's amazing Susan! I would love that, not worrying when they were going to show up....Just go outside on the appointed day and wham! there they are! That is cool beans.
Connie
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Connie
- Posts: 441
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
- Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
- Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.
Oh, by the way, congrats on their arrival....Hope you have a great year.
Connie
Well - last year I had a big problem with wasps and none of the PMs stayed. It's no fun to lower the rig and do battle with wasps (and now I notice some honey bees). This year hubby and I scraped the insides of the tops of the gourds to make sure no wasp nest residue is in there. I have a wasp trap now, too.
Susan
"Any day can be a special day, and you just have to get outside, and see what the birds are doing..." Kenn Kaufman
"Any day can be a special day, and you just have to get outside, and see what the birds are doing..." Kenn Kaufman
These birds never cease to amaze me! Even with an extra day added for leap year they've arrived on the 17th! Have a great Year Susan.
Kevin
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
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James Strickland FL
- Posts: 2249
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
- Location: Reidsville NC
- Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair
That is great News Susan.PMCA MEMBER
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Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2442
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged
Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged
Susan --- Wonderful news (and on the same day) just unreal. Have a great year.. 
Dave
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
Susan
Congrats on your arrival. As for the wasp, I had 3 gourds with wasp nest in them last year. I'm concidering hanging a 2 leter bottle from the bottom of my gourd rack this year with about 2" of coke in it to capture the wasp, thus eliminating the problem. Just a thought.
Congrats on your arrival. As for the wasp, I had 3 gourds with wasp nest in them last year. I'm concidering hanging a 2 leter bottle from the bottom of my gourd rack this year with about 2" of coke in it to capture the wasp, thus eliminating the problem. Just a thought.
Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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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
I fight wasps every year both at home and at Bass Lake. What has helped (in plastic gourds) is rubbing unscented bar soap in the area they try to hang their nest so it won't stick, or spraying some Pam up in the top of the gourd neck and wiping it around with a paper towel to spread it a bit. if you do that just make sure it's not in an area where a martin could get it on its feathers.
I do this at the beginning of the season and that seems to work for a month or so until I find I need to reapply, or I find a spot I missed where they hung their nest. They are SO annoying!!
I do this at the beginning of the season and that seems to work for a month or so until I find I need to reapply, or I find a spot I missed where they hung their nest. They are SO annoying!!
-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
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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
I learned that tip here on this forum. I can't remember when I first saw that tip or who posted it but I have learned so much over the years from this forum. Thanks to all of you who give your patient kindly advice to folks.
-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