Scully,
I may have solved your problem concerning the lack of interest in your new Gemini gourd system.
After zooming in on it and looking closely, I discovered that that particular model was manufactured exclusively for South Georgia and will not even work in Texas... Soooooo, if you will pack it up and ship it to me, I will see that it has a nice home..
Just kidding Scully (like I had to say that) but I did want you to know that I look forward to your post and like keeping up with your school projects.
Keep up the good works,
James
I have solved the problem; turns out I put the Gemini rack up backwards, and have since rotated it 180 degrees, I expect martins shortly
Perhaps the same problem prevails at one of the elementary schools. Here's their new Gemini....
...quiet as a tomb, of course
And here's the leaning martin house of Pisa (6 pairs of martins in residence) just about 60 feet away....
..and another 30 feet beyond that, a house for martins afraid of hieghts; 8 ft off of the ground atop a wooden post. Turns out even it has two pairs of ASY martins now too....
John thanks for the reports that you do except the pair that showed up moved on. I have not seen or heard any martins in the afternoon. I had to go back to work and I am not at home duing the morning. It seem as if I may not have them again this year.
This is a favorite post that I again bump to the top of the forum, as the timing seems appropriate.
Along the South Texas coast we have not witnessed major SY influx. I have a couple of SY males and a few females hanging around my systems, but the big numbers are yet to come. That should occur any time now.
May this serve as a reminder that there is still half, or more, of martins still to arrive on our continent. There is still lots of time for anyone to get martins they long for.
I will report the first massive SY arrival, if and when I observe one. I expect that to occur within the next ten days.
Best wishes to all, and congratulations again to James Strickland (hoping I don't jinx your present status).
~~TEAMED WITH A MARTIN GODDESS~~
Member/Mentor-PMCA. I do regular nestchecks and participate in PROJECT MARTINWATCH!! Coordinated 3 geolocator studies-2009, 2010 & 2013. State and Fed licensed bander (retired Jan., 2020)
Thanks for the encouragement! Reading everyone posts and seeing the large numbers of martins at colonies around my area makes me discouraged. I keep telling myself there is plenty of time still and the subbies have yet to even arrive in this state, but it is so hard when I have put some much time, energy and FUNDING into trying to attract these beautiful birds and not even had any curious lookers come by to check out the dawnsong.
lcline85 wrote:Thanks for the encouragement! Reading everyone posts and seeing the large numbers of martins at colonies around my area makes me discouraged. I keep telling myself there is plenty of time still and the subbies have yet to even arrive in this state, but it is so hard when I have put some much time, energy and FUNDING into trying to attract these beautiful birds and not even had any curious lookers come by to check out the dawnsong.
I will keep my chin up, and my stereo playing!
I sure hope you get some subbies this year lcline. People that take excellent care of their sites should have them. Please keep me posted so we can celebrate with you.
I think having active colonies so close by yours "increases" your chances of getting Martins with The Dawn Song as icing on the cake. Good Luck.
2008~(1st yr) 4 pairs, 11 to 12 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
John Barrow wrote:This is a favorite post that I again bump to the top of the forum, as the timing seems appropriate.
Along the South Texas coast we have not witnessed major SY influx. I have a couple of SY males and a few females hanging around my systems, but the big numbers are yet to come. That should occur any time now.
May this serve as a reminder that there is still half, or more, of martins still to arrive on our continent. There is still lots of time for anyone to get martins they long for.
I will report the first massive SY arrival, if and when I observe one. I expect that to occur within the next ten days.
Best wishes to all, and congratulations again to James Strickland (hoping I don't jinx your present status).
Thank you for this update Mr. Barrow. Good news
2008~(1st yr) 4 pairs, 11 to 12 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
Thanks! Trust me the whole world will know if we are successful in getting a few martins this year. I have researched, placed everything needed and now I am just waiting. I keep thinking of new things every week to add. I just added 2 gourds this week, and have porches coming this week!
John Barrow wrote:This is a favorite post that I again bump to the top of the forum, as the timing seems appropriate.
Along the South Texas coast we have not witnessed major SY influx. I have a couple of SY males and a few females hanging around my systems, but the big numbers are yet to come. That should occur any time now.
May this serve as a reminder that there is still half, or more, of martins still to arrive on our continent. There is still lots of time for anyone to get martins they long for.
I will report the first massive SY arrival, if and when I observe one. I expect that to occur within the next ten days.
Best wishes to all, and congratulations again to James Strickland (hoping I don't jinx your present status).
Great update John!
Looks like the big influx of teenagers is getting close....
Bump: Halftime in Texas-2013 begins today-April 3!!!
~~TEAMED WITH A MARTIN GODDESS~~
Member/Mentor-PMCA. I do regular nestchecks and participate in PROJECT MARTINWATCH!! Coordinated 3 geolocator studies-2009, 2010 & 2013. State and Fed licensed bander (retired Jan., 2020)
I am bumping this thread--one of my favorites. We are seeing very first SY arrivals along the S. Texas coast--very limited numbers. Migration is running 2-3 weeks later than normal at this point.
I believe we will see significant SY arrivals beginning within the next two weeks. Although I bump this Halftime In Texas post on this date, I do not feel we have yet reached the halfway point of migration into USA. We are still in the latter stages of the first half and seeing increasing arrivals in good numbers as weather allows.
Still lots of time for anyone within the country to see their first arrivals and to fill their systems. I wish all landlords the best of success, and safety in the intermittent storms passing through out country, which storms also signify the spring weather which accompany spring migration.
~~TEAMED WITH A MARTIN GODDESS~~
Member/Mentor-PMCA. I do regular nestchecks and participate in PROJECT MARTINWATCH!! Coordinated 3 geolocator studies-2009, 2010 & 2013. State and Fed licensed bander (retired Jan., 2020)
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony. I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas. When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle. When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming. Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs. Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
John,
Your bump of this topic is perfect timing.
My sister in Seguin, TX put up a new 18 K-series gourd rack with THGs in the back of her office. Her location is about 1/4 mile from Tony Frederickson's super colony. As you can imagine, site fidelity to Tony's place is pretty solid. He is such an awesome landlord.
She was asking me about SY martin arrival about 30 minutes ago. She has decoys up, playing the Dawn Song from a Songbird Magnet and diligently working on sparrow control. Luckily so far, no starlings have tried to enter the Conley II entrances in the Troyer Horizontal Gourds.
I will have to text her back that Louise and you are just beginning to see influx of SY martins at your locations.
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
John,
Thanks for posting this! As a matter of fact just about 10 minutes ago a huge swarm of Martins came over our lake and they were flying in circles above the lake and some even skimmed the water. I couldn't believe what I was seeing must have been at least easily a hundred or more. I was hoping they would land but they stayed around for a few minutes and then were gone. Then they were back and left again. Although my site is pretty much full, my neighbor up the road as yet to getting, so I was hoping they would stay.
Still hopeful she will get some and your post has given me some hope!
Mike
Fifth season of being a landlord! and a PMCA member!
Give or take a couple of days, I would report that we are half way through migration for this season. I have thought we were running 8-10 days behind this year; however, looking at earlier posts, this year seems to be catching up nicely.
We are filling up at my colonies--seeing more and more arrivals of young birds each day. A lot of two year old birds are now arriving, and we are seeing a few SY birds--primarily females. These two age classes represent the majority of the martin population by thousands in number. They represent an opportunity for anyone, anywhere within their range, to fill their systems. The arrival of the young birds will be much more accelerated than older arrivals are, and the peak of migration will be felt across the continent in the next two months. Along the coast we will witness arrivals under certain weather conditions that will be in the hundreds in the evening; with most leaving at dawn to venture north.
If you are losing patience and awaiting arrivals, the next few weeks could relieve your anxiety.
Best wishes to all who watch and wait. They are still coming--most of the population arriving in the month ahead.
~~TEAMED WITH A MARTIN GODDESS~~
Member/Mentor-PMCA. I do regular nestchecks and participate in PROJECT MARTINWATCH!! Coordinated 3 geolocator studies-2009, 2010 & 2013. State and Fed licensed bander (retired Jan., 2020)
Martin Colony History: 22 year landlord, 14 at current residence..offering 9 racks and a homemade T-8 for 166 total cavities. 160 Pair in 2018 Racks consist of a Deluxe 12, AAA 16, Starburst 16, 2 K-18 Series, Super 24, 2 Gemini, Multi-purpose/two trio’s/4gourds and a T-8..Great hobby to be involved in..
Thanks John for your report! I for one am waiting on that rush to get here at my colony..lagging behind in numbers from last year...my wife tells me all the time I'm not a patient man!! But I gotsta have my Martins here NOW!!!!!
22 year landlord..9 Rack Systems for 2018 and my home built T-8 for a total of 166 cavities..160 pair in 2018 ..SUPER COLONY!!! Love You Bev... Fan of those St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!
It has been a crazy year so far - and like John said: it's only half-time!
Our first Martins arrived on February 9th.
By the 15th, we had 12-16 Martins hanging around.
Then the weather hit, and hit and hit AGAIN...flipped crickets until my fingers were raw and sore but kept flipping 'em!
Luckily, the bad weather had cycles of 2-3 bad days and 1-2 decent (birds were able to feed) days so my fingers got a break!
Today, April 8th, we have 35 pair, only two less than last season and the subbies haven't hit yet.
I have been monitoring the colony closely this week with IP cameras, my rifle scope (while also harvesting EHS) and binoculars looking for subbies but haven't seen anything close to a SY male yet.
Historically, they usually arrive here about the time the ASY pairs are starting to lay eggs.
Since most of my gourds had green leaves in them yesterday when I checked, they should be here shortly stirring things up!
On a side note, the large Pin Oak in the front yard seems to be the #1 leaf chosen by the ladies and they have plucked the very tip-top ot it almost bare!
Cheers,
Joe
2015 - 40 cavities - 37 pair - fledged 172
2016 - 40 cavities - 38 pair - fledged 192
Hosting Purple Martins since 1976...Managing since 2006.
Soooooo, if you will pack it up and ship it to me, I will see that it has a nice home.. 
Perhaps I should have put those Geminis up at an angle, and maybe only halfway up the pole 
John thanks for the reports that you do except the pair that showed up moved on. I have not seen or heard any martins in the afternoon. I had to go back to work and I am not at home duing the morning. It seem as if I may not have them again this year.
Thanks John and I am hoping for a big influx of SY's. My friend here at school had a bunch come to his place this past weekend.
and a PMCA member!