HOUSE ADVANTAGE OVER GOURDS DURING FLEDGING PHASE
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Carrera Mike
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:23 am
- Location: Eastern TN, Claiborne County
- Martin Colony History: Pls see signature
I learn something everyday.. I guess one big advantage of houses with porches is during fledging phase. I noticed that all four chicks are outside hanging out as they all learn to fly, while the ones ion the gourds, only 1 chick at a time could hang out :(
Mike
2020: 11pairs, 51 eggs, 45 fledged
2014: 8 pairs, 43 eggs, 39 fledged
2013: 3 pairs, 8 fledged
2012: 3 pairs, 7 fledged
2020: 11pairs, 51 eggs, 45 fledged
2014: 8 pairs, 43 eggs, 39 fledged
2013: 3 pairs, 8 fledged
2012: 3 pairs, 7 fledged
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
However, a disadvantage is that a hawk can very easily catch them when they are sitting on the porches, they are sitting ducks for a hawk.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Carrera Mike
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:23 am
- Location: Eastern TN, Claiborne County
- Martin Colony History: Pls see signature
I guess there will always be a disadvantage to an advantage.Emil Pampell-Tx wrote:However, a disadvantage is that a hawk can very easily catch them when they are sitting on the porches, they are sitting ducks for a hawk.
so far no raptors around my area.
Mike
2020: 11pairs, 51 eggs, 45 fledged
2014: 8 pairs, 43 eggs, 39 fledged
2013: 3 pairs, 8 fledged
2012: 3 pairs, 7 fledged
2020: 11pairs, 51 eggs, 45 fledged
2014: 8 pairs, 43 eggs, 39 fledged
2013: 3 pairs, 8 fledged
2012: 3 pairs, 7 fledged
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Emil,
One of my protege has the same house and his wife is so happy to witness the babies doing this exact behavior.
I am happy that it has given the wife lots of entertainment and attachment to the birds.
But I am concerned about the susceptibility of the babies on the porches.
I am going to take a chance on hawk predation because it has hooked the wife on the joys of purple martin sponsorship. Until this point, she has been uninterested in the purple martins.
However, I cringe at the possibility that the wife will witness hawk predation of any of the babies.
Mike,
There has been a pair of Cooper's Hawks cruising the area and I get an impression that they are very aware of the house at this landlord's location.
So, in this circumstance there is a distinct possibility.
As a minimum, I am going to put up 2 x 4 welded fence guard on this house as a consequence of this discussion.
On second thought, I will wait until these babies fledge. I don't want them to jump prematurely.
Mark.
One of my protege has the same house and his wife is so happy to witness the babies doing this exact behavior.
I am happy that it has given the wife lots of entertainment and attachment to the birds.
But I am concerned about the susceptibility of the babies on the porches.
I am going to take a chance on hawk predation because it has hooked the wife on the joys of purple martin sponsorship. Until this point, she has been uninterested in the purple martins.
However, I cringe at the possibility that the wife will witness hawk predation of any of the babies.
Mike,
There has been a pair of Cooper's Hawks cruising the area and I get an impression that they are very aware of the house at this landlord's location.
So, in this circumstance there is a distinct possibility.
As a minimum, I am going to put up 2 x 4 welded fence guard on this house as a consequence of this discussion.
On second thought, I will wait until these babies fledge. I don't want them to jump prematurely.
Mark.
Last edited by 4th Gen Martin Fan on Thu Jul 03, 2014 10:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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Carrera Mike
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:23 am
- Location: Eastern TN, Claiborne County
- Martin Colony History: Pls see signature
I never saw these chicks come out till just these last two days learning to fly...
Mike
2020: 11pairs, 51 eggs, 45 fledged
2014: 8 pairs, 43 eggs, 39 fledged
2013: 3 pairs, 8 fledged
2012: 3 pairs, 7 fledged
2020: 11pairs, 51 eggs, 45 fledged
2014: 8 pairs, 43 eggs, 39 fledged
2013: 3 pairs, 8 fledged
2012: 3 pairs, 7 fledged