When to put my house up
Just wondering if anyone had some suggestions on when I should open my house I live in northern il and have not had any stay lots of visitors last year I know the map says march-April just don't want to put it up to early and have a s&s problem if I don't have to also don't want to be late any suggestions are much appreciated
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Just an estimate, but I'd say about mid April. You might be able to attract an ASY from then to mid May, and of course the sub adults should be arriving there all through May. If it were an established site, I'd say "now" for first arrivals.
John M
John M
Last edited by John Miller on Mon Mar 31, 2014 8:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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DELTETE IL
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:56 am
- Location: IL/Spring Grove
We are right on IL/WI border....last year April 8 was our first sighting. VERY IMPORTANT...keep compartments free from sparrows and starlings or they will drive PMs off! We block all openings until we see first PMs.
There have been two scout reports filed so far along the IL-WI state line: one in Lake County and one in Boone County, both at established colony sites. It is a good idea to keep your housing entrances closed until your first martin(s) appear or you will be faced with nest competitors such as S&S, tree swallows and bluebirds. In my case I opened a few gourds two days ago after Larry Walsh reported his first scout a few miles east of here. Perhaps you might open a few entrances too because scouts have been reported near you along the Illinois River. Good luck in 2014!
PMCA member
2011 - 1 SY pair w/ 2 HY fledged
2012 - 5 breeding pairs
2013 - 14 nesting pairs and several singles
2014 - 8 nesting pairs
2015 - 5 nesting prs w/mostly ASY parents
2011 - 1 SY pair w/ 2 HY fledged
2012 - 5 breeding pairs
2013 - 14 nesting pairs and several singles
2014 - 8 nesting pairs
2015 - 5 nesting prs w/mostly ASY parents
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Greg
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 3:15 pm
- Location: Fuquay-Varina, NC
- Martin Colony History: As a child I managed a purple martin colony consisting of 3 houses on a tidal tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. I started my own colony at my house in Holly Springs, NC as an adult that grew to 27 pairs one year. In 2016 I moved and started a new colony in the spring of 2017 at my new home, which is about 7 miles south of my old colony. I successfully attracted my first ASY male in April of 2017. He quickly attracted a mate, followed by 7 more pairs. Grateful to have been able to start a new colony so quickly!
I would DEFINITELY open my housing for ASY bird arrivals, and I would fight off competitors each day.
I have started two PM colonies in my life and BOTH were started by ASY male purple martins. In fact, my current colony was started by 2 ASY males and one ASY female.
My father-in-law started his first colony with multiple ASY birds.
Each year, many existing colonies disappear due to age, landlords moving, or dying, etc. Also, many colonies get overtaken by sparrows and starlings because of inattentive landlords. Also, if you manage to lure in an ASY male, he will likely have a better chance of attracting a mate and luring other birds to your first year colony than an SY male martin.
Additionally, many SY birds do not successfully mate and fledge young their first year. Therefore, I believe that there are always 2nd year ASY birds out there that could be more easily convinced to make your place their home.
In my opinion, all martin housing should have starling resistant entrances. This will only make starlings a minor nuisance. For sparrows, trap, shoot, or pull their nests out every single day if they try to build. Eventually, sparrows will give up. I have never had to trap or shoot sparrows, but I have pulled a nest out each day for a week until they eventually decided they would have to find a new place if they were going to be able to lay eggs!
Good luck and open up that martin housing whenever you see a good number of martin sightings in your area which I would think will be mid to late April. And play the dawn song if you can! The more visitors, the more of a chance they will stay.
I have started two PM colonies in my life and BOTH were started by ASY male purple martins. In fact, my current colony was started by 2 ASY males and one ASY female.
My father-in-law started his first colony with multiple ASY birds.
Each year, many existing colonies disappear due to age, landlords moving, or dying, etc. Also, many colonies get overtaken by sparrows and starlings because of inattentive landlords. Also, if you manage to lure in an ASY male, he will likely have a better chance of attracting a mate and luring other birds to your first year colony than an SY male martin.
Additionally, many SY birds do not successfully mate and fledge young their first year. Therefore, I believe that there are always 2nd year ASY birds out there that could be more easily convinced to make your place their home.
In my opinion, all martin housing should have starling resistant entrances. This will only make starlings a minor nuisance. For sparrows, trap, shoot, or pull their nests out every single day if they try to build. Eventually, sparrows will give up. I have never had to trap or shoot sparrows, but I have pulled a nest out each day for a week until they eventually decided they would have to find a new place if they were going to be able to lay eggs!
Good luck and open up that martin housing whenever you see a good number of martin sightings in your area which I would think will be mid to late April. And play the dawn song if you can! The more visitors, the more of a chance they will stay.
Greg H.
Holly Springs, NC
2011 - 2 pairs, 7 eggs, 7 hatch, 7 fledge
2012 - 13 pairs, 63 eggs, 52 hatched, 50 fledged
2013 - 21 pairs
2014 - 25 pairs
2015 - 27 pairs
2016 - 23 pairs removed 4 gourds this year.
2017 - moved and started a new colony which attracted 8 Pairs
2018 - first arrivals have come back....anticipating!
Holly Springs, NC
2011 - 2 pairs, 7 eggs, 7 hatch, 7 fledge
2012 - 13 pairs, 63 eggs, 52 hatched, 50 fledged
2013 - 21 pairs
2014 - 25 pairs
2015 - 27 pairs
2016 - 23 pairs removed 4 gourds this year.
2017 - moved and started a new colony which attracted 8 Pairs
2018 - first arrivals have come back....anticipating!