New to all of this from Virginia

PaulaNK · Tue May 28, 2013 3:24 pm

Hopefully someone can help me.. I am really new at this type of thing. This is my first year putting up Purple Martin houses. My first house was put up about a month ago, 12 room condo.. This weekend I believe that the subadults may have arrived ???? twice I saw a group of 5 stop by and investigate, they looked in each of the rooms and maybe ate some egg shells I have provided for them. But they did not stay or roost there. I had already decided that maybe my original condo was too far from my house, so on Saturday I added a 6 gourd setup that I had purchased... Between my house and the original condo that I had set up.. Again, birds have stopped by, they look in and they perch for a bit, but no one stays. Sometimes, when I see them swooping around the houses, I will walk nearby and they almost swoop at me.. I live in the country, and I did notice that a neighbor (2 miles down the road) does have some houses set up.. Maybe my visitors are his overflow??? Maybe they are just looking around.. Is it to late for me?? If they do settle in is it to late to lay eggs.. If they are subadult males, will they roost at the house or just near by?? I know it could take awhile, and I am being patient.. It is nice to see them look and circle overhead. Like I said, this past weekend has had the most activity since the original house has been up. That is why I am not so sure if they are subadults or busy body birds from some other nest..

I am a Bluebirder and Monarch Butterfly nut !!!! These Martins on the fast track to becoming an obsession.. hehehe

Leandortree · Tue May 28, 2013 4:11 pm

PaulaNK,
Hello welcome to our forum, it is not too late for anything! The next time PM's come for a look see at your place, I would not go out to greet them, they are a little apprehensive at first give them a chance to look over your housing . There will be plenty of time to talk to the birds later, after they have chosen your place.

I wish you the best of luck to get Martins this year

DebA · Tue May 28, 2013 5:45 pm

Hi Paula!
Welcome to our group. I like that in your first post you used the word obsession. Just you wait! I hope they take residence and you get to enjoy them up close and personal. Having a colony nearby bodes really well for your start. Enjoy! (As if I need to tell you that.)
Deb

AidanRois · Tue May 28, 2013 7:12 pm

Welcome! They're right, it's never too late! Even if no one stays this year, fly-bys may come looking for next year's season during fall migration. It's good there's a colony nearby. Their sounds might help catch the attention of newcomers. That's how I got started! Good luck! It is an obsession!

Carlton · Tue May 28, 2013 7:39 pm

WELCOME! You are in a good area down there for martins.

I found that often the SY's will sleep in your housing one year and then nest in it the next. That has been my experience. It is still possible though to get a nesting pair especially if their first nest did not work out. I still have martins arriving here in Rehoboth Beach, DE and that is not really all that far from you - three hours by car - faster by wings. :-)

Good luck!

Carl

Don~VA · Wed May 29, 2013 6:57 am

Hi Paula and Welcome to the forum. You came to the right place to enjoy everyone's experiences with Purple Martins. If your condo has been up for the last month you probably already have the attention of a few martins. They may be just visiting but it is certainly not to late to attract a nesting pair. Playing the Dawn song might give you an added attraction method. Good Luck to you!

PaulaNK · Wed May 29, 2013 10:40 am

Thanks everyone for the information.. It was late when I got home from work Tuesday so the bird world had quieted down and I could not tell if anything is/was happening during the day.. I am encouraged by the activity over the weekend and then I did see something Tuesday morning before I left home. Darn that work!!!!! I did not get to look this morning.

I told my husband that I needed to set up a speaker system of some sort to play the Dawn song.. Needless to say my family thinks I am a nut bag.. But I see the smiles on their faces when it all works out..

Don, when do the Purple Martins leave Va???? Or your area???

I will hopefully have good news to post this year...

It has been exciting.. Hope my Bluebirds don't get jealous.. Hope my Purple Martins don't eat my Monarch Butterflies.. hehehe

Don~VA · Wed May 29, 2013 5:00 pm

My PMs left the area on Aug 20th last year but it really depends on their arrival time and fledge dates. In your area they may arrive almost two weeks before mine so they might leave earlier too.

PaulaNK · Thu May 30, 2013 3:33 pm

Whoop Whoop.. They have moved in.. As far as I can tell, maybe one couple. I say this because it appears the male is perched outside the gourd and I can see another bird inside the gourd... and they are not fighting.. On two gourds nearby the martins perched outside fight abit. One bird wants the other birds gourd.. I cant tell what is going on with the other 3 gourds, because they are not facing me, and as someone mentioned, I am TRYING to not be intrusive till they settle in. I do see activity, birds moving around on that side so hopefully they are loven their new home. I am watching from a distance with binoculars so I can see them clearly by the gourds and love to see them interacting with each other. I assume these were subadults??? I am going to mark my calendar with May 24th when the five showed up but they did not really settle until the other day..

Do the males make the nests or both?? I do see some hay dangling from most of holes so I know they are putting stuff in there. When should I do a check to see what is going on in there? If six gourds have nesting material in there does that mean that there were six martins or do just a few of them try to fill each gourd?

I am excited that they are settling in.. Maybe Babies!!!!!!

Don~VA · Thu May 30, 2013 4:33 pm

It looks like you are on your way Paula - Congratulations! I would not rush to check the nests but I would let the martins see you in the area often. You will be able to tell when they accept your presence as they will just sit and watch without flushing or strafing you. Enjoy!!

lcline85 · Thu May 30, 2013 10:11 pm

Welcome! Great to see more Martin folks in Virginia!

I am starting up a new colony too and appear to be having some luck this year! I am still getting alot of new visitors so it is not too late!

Bill Pec · Fri May 31, 2013 8:34 am

PaulaNK

Welcome to the Forum. It is encouraging to learn of another Virginian attempting to start a PM colony. You made a good choice by joining the PMCA and seeking the advice of its members. Besides seeking advice on the Forum you may benefit from the personal help of a PMCA Mentor. Particularly when it comes to answering questions about the timing of events in your area. Several of us living in Virginia participate in PMCA's Mentor Program. Our purpose is to help those like yourself hoping to attract and keep martins. If you would like to get the help of a mentor and receive some personal help go to the PMCA Home Page. Scroll down the right side of the page and click on the box titled Martin Mentor Program. Then scroll down the page and click on the map of Virginia. A list of PMCA Mentors in Virginia will be presented. You will then be provided with information as to how to enlist in the program, information about the mentor, and how to contact the selected mentor. Feel free to select anyone listed. If you would like to communicate with me by phone or email I'm the third person listed on the page (Bill Pec....... from Moneta Virginia). I would be happy to help you.
Enjoy the passion,

Bill Pec

~Ray~Gingerich · Fri May 31, 2013 9:46 pm

Paula, welcome to forum and congrats on getting some nesters, just keep those sparrows and starlings at bay