WHAT NOW?
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phldave
- Posts: 528
- Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:44 pm
- Location: Iowa/Pleasant Hill
- Martin Colony History: Started trying in 2012 and still trying
Now that June is drawing to an end and there are no inhabitants, what are prospective landlords to do at their sites. Do we close up shop, reduce the amount of open compartments and keep vigil on S&S control, what is the best strategy, stop playing dawnsong every morning, what?
2012 late start
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
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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
New fledges from other colonies may fly over and see your colony, and birds migrating south may see it, so I would keep it up for now, that is what I do.
Last year I had lots of fun playing the dawnsong in the mornings through July and watching the HY birds come visit. Their landings were sometimes comical. The more exposure your site gets, the better. Don't give up yet, keep the S&S out, and leave it up till all the martins have migrated out of your area. Some of us have waited several years (like me, at my home site anyway) and still don't have a colony, and sometimes you can have a perfect site and not get any martins nesting, if there are no martins available looking for a new site. Hang in there.
Last year I had lots of fun playing the dawnsong in the mornings through July and watching the HY birds come visit. Their landings were sometimes comical. The more exposure your site gets, the better. Don't give up yet, keep the S&S out, and leave it up till all the martins have migrated out of your area. Some of us have waited several years (like me, at my home site anyway) and still don't have a colony, and sometimes you can have a perfect site and not get any martins nesting, if there are no martins available looking for a new site. Hang in there.
-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
Yes, Dave. You should leave them up. My friend put a house up last spring and he has a lot of Ma and Pa martins sitting on the wires checking out his housing. His house is a heavy wooden, I guess like a treo. We got him 2 large aluminum castles that we really want to get up before they leave. And We really hope he gets his colony started next spring.
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
So sorry for the disappointing year. 
Bummer.
But keeping your housing up and open is a big shining billboard to all the area purple martins and all that pass by on fall migration. If you had lookers this year, they will probably return with mates and be "stayers" in 2014!
Bummer.But keeping your housing up and open is a big shining billboard to all the area purple martins and all that pass by on fall migration. If you had lookers this year, they will probably return with mates and be "stayers" in 2014!
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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phldave
- Posts: 528
- Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:44 pm
- Location: Iowa/Pleasant Hill
- Martin Colony History: Started trying in 2012 and still trying
While I was out for lunch this noon, I stopped into Menard's and bought 8' of 3/8" aluminum rod. I have 2 - 4' long perches on the roof of the house plus a porch on every compartment but I thought I would add 2 more 4' perches running perpendicular to the others on the roof just incase some visitors may want more choices where to sit.
2012 late start
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
They will be full of purple martins next year! 
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.