March 20, 2013 crazy busy day for my martins in Louisiana

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ROBINMOULIERE
Posts: 42
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:00 pm
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana

Before March 20, have 12 pair adult martins and many singles not paired and no subadults. March 20 morning I get up to see martins flying and nest building!! This is crazy early. Last year twigs in few cavities April 10!! I saved twigs and pin oak leaves from winter in a huge tub in the attic. I spread material under their favorite oak tree and they used it like crazy. March 20, same day, late afternoon, my first subadult male. March 21, have 12 cavites with nests underway!!! WOW !! I have 2 Trendsetter 28 units and I have over 40 martins at dark March 22. How are you all doing ??
Robin's Nest for purple martins in memory of Mr. Bands. (Mr. Bands came 2010 from New Jersey as a 2 year old. 2011, he CAME BACK TO US, but found dead inside a cavity at start of 2011 season.) 2010- 53 fledged, 2011- 75 fledged, 2012- 109 fledged. Using 2 28 Trendsetter units.
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DornCounty
Posts: 2169
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
Location: Rural SE Kansas
Martin Colony History: .
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Trio-Jedi

congrats..

i'm not doing well... 46 trios and no martins yet to spend the night.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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ROBINMOULIERE
Posts: 42
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:00 pm
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana

I will talk to them tomorrow and send you a pair, lol....
From the scout report map they are on the move up your way...get ready !!
Wish you a great season!! I know it is hard to wait...
I sit on pins and needles all January and February waiting on that wonderful sound in the skies. Take care :)
Robin's Nest for purple martins in memory of Mr. Bands. (Mr. Bands came 2010 from New Jersey as a 2 year old. 2011, he CAME BACK TO US, but found dead inside a cavity at start of 2011 season.) 2010- 53 fledged, 2011- 75 fledged, 2012- 109 fledged. Using 2 28 Trendsetter units.
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AidanRois
Posts: 182
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:19 am
Location: Mississippi/Horn Lake
Martin Colony History: Since 2012

Dorn... I don't have a single one yet either... I'll be miserable with ya. :???:

Robin... Did yours show up on time or early? It's kinda weird this year with some parts being really early, and then like me.. 1 pair came through, stayed in the neighbor's house, and I haven't seen/heard them in a few days, but none for me yet. If they're coming, I wish they'd hurry it up; weather will be bearable again next week, and if they dilly-dally too long, we'll be fighting heat again this year. ugh.

So very glad to hear of success though! Hope it's a great season for ya. :)
Tiffeny N. - Horn Lake, MS - PMCA member
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Since 2012
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Waydog
Posts: 188
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:08 pm
Location: Alexandria, La.

Very busy here today with nestbuilding. Have had birds here for a little over a month.just 4 pair, but great for me! Just have 4 gourd rack and 1 sk house with expanded rooms.
2012 -first year landlord.... 2 pair, 9 fledged.... 2013- 5 pair 20 fledged..
2014- 8 pair 32 fledged
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ROBINMOULIERE
Posts: 42
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:00 pm
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana

Waydog, since you are near me...have a scope?? can you see if females have a part running down their chest, like their feathers are parted like a hairline part?? My martins arrived Feb 2 and females have this weird line where the feathers part. what is up with that?? Today, 3/23 they do look a little less, I wonder if they were underweight and made illusion of the part down the chest.
Glad you have martins and they are nest building. great to get underway so hopefully we won't have nestlings in dead heat July. Do you have water misters on yours??
Today we cleaned porches again, and put in the nest cam. I chose one with a few twigs so I could watch nest building, but no one stayed in that cavity tonight:(.......
aidanRois, Yes martins 2 weeks early. Nest building last year began April 10 !! crazy early this year. Mine have not ever started before the subbies arrive. Subbies are coming in each day. I have about 40 martins at this time. It will be good for us to start asap so we don't have babies in the July heat...it can be terribly terribly hot hot hot here with no breeze. I have misters on mine.
I put out ton of pin oak leaves and small willow twigs that I cut into pieces and they used it all day long. So glad I could make it easier for them. Wishing you all a great season........:)
Robin's Nest for purple martins in memory of Mr. Bands. (Mr. Bands came 2010 from New Jersey as a 2 year old. 2011, he CAME BACK TO US, but found dead inside a cavity at start of 2011 season.) 2010- 53 fledged, 2011- 75 fledged, 2012- 109 fledged. Using 2 28 Trendsetter units.
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Waydog
Posts: 188
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:08 pm
Location: Alexandria, La.

Have been scoping with binocs, but havent noticed the part on chest...will look though now that you mentioned it. Watched the nest building today for a bit. The male and female were getting small sprigs from budding trees on edge of property line...neat to watch. And agree with the early building...hopefully the heat wont be as bad on them this year with the early start. No misters here
2012 -first year landlord.... 2 pair, 9 fledged.... 2013- 5 pair 20 fledged..
2014- 8 pair 32 fledged
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