Big influx expected later this week.

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
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.

Winds will turn south later this week. Sooner in the Central USA.

Once those birds recover from the cold spell in the south that they have experienced they will be packing their bags and heading further north.

I expect many landlords will see their first arrivals here in PA and in the Northeast this weekend.

Maybe me too? The first arrival here in Fombell is actually at a neighboring site.
Can't wait to see my first Martin to my site.

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.
Top
jr 2
Posts: 749
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:20 pm
Location: ohio,proctorville(just across ohio river from huntington,west virginia)

have seen martins on my housing 3 different days but they all must have moved on;;no martins spending the night yet that I know of;;hope it gets warm and stays that way;;;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
Top
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.

I'm hoping once they do arrive here in central PA....winter will let go & spring can finaly start. Still have a little snow pile in the yard slowly melting away....expecting an inch of the white stuff tonight :(.

Houses are loaded & ready, 5000 crickets in my freezer & I have a couple dozen handwarmers if needed.

Toy in PA
PMCA Member
Top
belpre gary
Posts: 43
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:11 pm
Location: OH/Belpre

I had martins for three days also but not since the cold weather returned , Hope that they will return on Thursday when the weather is warmer !
Top
TammyBears
Posts: 135
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:00 pm
Location: Bridgecreek, Oklahoma (SW of OKC)

I'm trying to be patient, but I have only 2 pair and a bachelor. I had 17 very successful pairs last year...shouldn't I have more martins by now? I'm near OKC. I can't remember when they all came last year and can't find my data sheets. :x
I've been seeing here that landlords much farther north have a bunch and I'm just anxious...ok I'm jealous :!:
Tammy
RIP my precious Josie, 7/5/2000-11/6/2014
2015: 22 pair plus lots of bachelors
2014: 25 pair and some bachelor subbies
2013: 17 pair
2012: 7 pair (first year)
Top
chickadee
Posts: 1128
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:02 pm
Location: ohio

Bring them on ! My pair are cold! And ready for more friends to arrive! After this weather they deserve first pick of a gourd. We all are looking forward to a warm up. But even in this cold people a reporting them showing up here. So I hope to see more this weekend.
2008 1 pair
2009 3 pair
2010 7 pair
2011 20 pair
2012 44 pair 280 eggs 210 fledged
2013 67 pair.
2014 67pair
2015-2022 67 pair
Top
dhjohnson
Posts: 478
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
Location: North Carolina/Clayton
Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy

Doug,
Hope your latest prediction is spot on! Our general bird count is still way down. Although I had No birds back on March 20th...today I have 14 martins (4 pair). Calling our site home at least for right now! This has been a perplexing start to our 2014 martin season!

Tammy Bears,
The weather has delayed migration in our area so it should be expected to be slower in general! They will come! Take a patience pill like I did and before you know it you will have one come home! Good luck this year!

These birds can be so humbling with their excited cries of I'm backkkkkk! Look, do you see me, I have returned to your/my place! I am home! Chin up you should be smiling soon. We have gone from scratching our heads to smiling in 5 days!!
Debbie
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Purple Martin Forum”