First "squeek" of the season. He's back!! DAY 4 FI

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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

My colony founder made it back. In very poor condition. But he made it.

No first chirp....just several squeals or squeeks. He is very weak.

He ate over a dozen giant superworms and some egg I tossed to him. I am happy to report he looks so much better. Still pretty rough looking.

50 degrees partly sunny and a strong NW wind today. Between me feeding him and some bugs finally starting to fly he will be fine.

He brought a tear to my eye. Poor fellow. Here he is after a good meal. TS are also on the move.

Doug
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Last edited by Doug Martin - PA on Mon Apr 08, 2013 9:40 am, edited 2 times in total.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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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.

He looks so lonely :-( , I hope his lady shows up soon. I know he was happy for the buffet you had ready for him. You are a great landlord. Good luck!
Connie
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trisha
Posts: 427
Joined: Fri May 27, 2005 1:12 pm
Location: Texas/Burleson, south of Fort Worth

Doug, you are an excellent landlord, I bet in a couple of days he will feel much better with your loving care. Keep up the good work and great weather reports! I enjoy them!
Trisha


PMCA member
2019, 36 pair
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DornCounty
Posts: 2169
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
Location: Rural SE Kansas
Martin Colony History: .
.
Trio-Jedi

Congrats
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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Hanover Bill
Posts: 656
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 3:10 pm
Location: Pennsylvania/Hanover Township
Martin Colony History: 2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72

Great news Doug, glad he made it back, I think sometimes we forget how perilous that journey to Brazil and back must be for these wonderful birds.

He should have a fine recovery period if our weather forecasters are right with their prediction.

Best of luck.

Bill.
2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
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jeffwilliams72
Posts: 267
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:22 am
Location: Indiana/Carthage

Man that little dude does look rough, I bet the last couple miles he was like, "keep flapping,almost there,warm bed,good food".
Congrats Doug, I have yet to see my 1st one. Tree Swallows came back last week.
2008/1st pair/ 4 fledged
2009-2010 visitors only
2011/2 pr/9 eggs/8 fledged
2012/9pr/33 fledged
2013/27pr/101 fledged
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Junior07
Posts: 81
Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:37 pm
Location: Illinois/Mahomet

My first chirps were last night! Great sound!

Here's to a great season Doug!
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
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jr 2
Posts: 749
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:20 pm
Location: ohio,proctorville(just across ohio river from huntington,west virginia)

congrat doug on your first arrival;many more too come;;jr2
PMCA member; s 2011 2 pair fledged 3; 2012 3 asy pair,4 sy pair,2013 8 asy pair,6 sy pair;2014 19 asy pair,2 sy pair
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MingjoMartins
Posts: 312
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 3:28 pm
Location: Pataskala, OH

Congrats Doug on your first arrival - my founder arrived last Friday and has two lady friends as of last night.

I'm happy to report that for the first time this year I saw my first swarm of bugs flying in the yard.....they were easy to spot with the three martins making easy pickings.

The best news - I'm in Ohio....our weather is heading your way and I am certain more of your birds will be riding those warm winds!

JohnM
2013 - 37 pair-179 eggs,142 hatched,139 fledged
2012 - 32 pair-163 eggs,141 hatched,134 fledged
2011 - 19 pairs - 78 fledged successfully!
2010 3 pairs - 9 eggs - 8 fledged!
2009 - 1 Sub Adult Male (only) - LOTS visitors
2008 - 58 Visitors by year end
2007 - 13 Visitors by year end
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

Thanks all.

I got home at 6:15 PM and he was nowhere to be seen. I whistled but no luck. Then I heard that terrible noise he's making again. He flew at me like a bat out of hell.

This guy has a bad case of laryngitis. that's for sure.

I received a great shipment of adult 1" crickets this year. Great quality & big ones. He circled and ate over a dozen of these giant crickets. At this point it's windy chilly and low 40s.

We hung out for a while and chatted. I did all the talking though. He looks alot better.

For those wondering how much a Martin can consume .... This little guy ate 14 superworms almost 2" in length, & about 6 good pieces of egg this AM. He was probably able to find some food today and still ate more than a dozen adult crickets this evening. That is a lot!!!

At 7:30 he went in his same gourd of 5 years running. Tomorrow he will be looking good. But he's always been a scrawny little guy.

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Ed Pace
Posts: 680
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:31 pm
Location: NY/Jamestown

Conrgrats to you Doug ,he is a determined little bird who is getting up in age, no wonder he looks a little haggerd. I bet he is glad he was coming to your site and so am I. Good luck with the rest of your birds.

Ed
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

Cheers! to the superworm!! Mmm mmm. You were right!
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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JL Murray

Tell him we all said... HI!!!
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

By the way the first dozen superworms got their heads smashed prior to feeding..... just in case.

Hey, he actually looked really shiny before he went in for the night. I will send another pic of him tomorrow.

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Archer
Posts: 786
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
Location: Manitoba/Altona
Martin Colony History: six pair in 2014, have grown to 52 pairs in 2017.

Happy for you Doug! I am curious to know how you identify your colony founder? Is it the way he flys or sounds or some other unique characteristic?
2011- first year trying, a few visitors.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
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Matt F.
Posts: 3978
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Houston, TX

Great updates Doug!
That Martin is extremely fortunate to have you as a landlord!
Great work saving that little guy!
Image
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Congrats Doug. Glad he made it back safe & you were there to help him.

This darn NW wind has been terible here. No martins in sight yet. I expect them to be cold & hungry when they do arrive.

Toy in PA
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tonyg
Posts: 1520
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:16 pm
Location: Olpe, KS
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..

Good job Doug!! Makes a guy feel good inside knowing you helped this guy make through doesn't it? :)
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!!!!!
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DakotaLady
Posts: 654
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
Location: Bismarck, ND

Doug, I'm glad one of your birds is back. You are truly a great landlord to have trained your birds to eat flipped food. I can't wait to see the updated picture of your colony founder. Five years old...for martins that is getting up there in age. Good luck with him.

I've been out in my yard cleaning old foliage from my gardens, but I do not see any insects flying around so I hope my martins take just a wee bit of time until they have more food here. I have mealworms ready if I need to feed them.

Enjoy your birds Doug. Thanks for all the wonderful posts on the weather and martin movement.
~Tangula~

2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

Day 2 Update

Once again thanks for your kind replies. There is enough interest so I will keep you posted here for a few days.

Archer you ask how I know who he is? Well lets see...short neck and a distinct heart shape torso for one. Then he may be the smallest male in my colony as well. In this case size really does not matter. Plus he has his place he sits. Right next to his gourd.

Today he came out around 8:15 AM. Last night was 21 degrees. Brrrrr. Icy crust on everything. He just sat out there preening. (He has a lot of work to do there yet)

I went out on the deck and raised my right arm in a toss motion. He flew across the frozen pool to me. There's that screechy sound.... still no voice yet.
I went in and thawed a dozen crickets. He greeted me at the deck door. AHH geez that sound is nasty.

He ate six crickets this time. I think he over did it yesterday. He does look plumper today however. He hung around and then disapeared for a while. When I left for the office at 10:30 I saw a bird on the perch by his rack. It was a male TS. As I was leaving he showed up and chased the TS. So he is doing fine. The temperature was 39 at this time headed for a high temp of 59 today. I expect "old marblehead' today or tomorrow. He is actually the Alpha and is bigger stronger and always seems to get the girl first. Now he is a "very loud one" and pierces the house walls with his call. He was the first SY bird to join the colony in 2010 and lives in a gourd under the T-14.

Here is a pic of "Founder" on day two. Or should I say "rounder"?

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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