Highlight of your 2014 season?

Louise Chambers · Fri Nov 21, 2014 10:16 am

Fledging healthy martins is always high on the list. Despite the drought, which we're just now saying goodbye to, we had a pretty good martin season. Probably the best part was retrieving 13 geolocators, out of 25 put on the year before. We also were able to find 3 martins that had lost their geos, so that accounts for 16 of the 25; that's a pretty good return rate. More data for the pool of martin migration routes and timing.

What was your season highlight - attracting your first pair, fledging more young martins than the year before...?

KathyF · Fri Nov 21, 2014 10:42 am

Ooooh, good topic! I had a few:
This season, 6 of the people I mentor finally got their first pair. I was ducking & dodging them the last 2 years because they just weren't getting martins and there's only so many times you can tell people, "you have a good site, be patient!". My sister, after waiting 2 years...this being her third, finally got 2 pair! It's hard enough working with friends, but it's really tough to avoid family!

I received several, hand-written letters from a new mentee - a 16-year old boy in the northern half of Missouri. He had found out about me by reading the Update and managed to find my address. We spoke several times, and it was a true delight to talk with someone of his age - he went from 24 pairs to 36 pairs this year. And he builds his own T-14s.

Lastly, my other highlight was learning about my Great Horned Owl problem, of course and discovering that 1) follow your instincts - when you feel something is wrong, it usually is; and 2) you only really know you have a problem and what's going on by monitoring. You can't just guess.

Chuck4 · Fri Nov 21, 2014 11:33 am

2014 had many highlights for me! That realization of the Martins actually returning to my housing to nest was rewarding. Seeing the two partners from last season bring in new mates was neat. Then realizing that I had at least four pairs was a thrill.

I think the highest point was near the end of my season when I had so many visitors come by as the last babies fledged! I counted ten pairs at one point. They would fly overhead in a circle and come down trying to get the nestlings to fledge, but seeing the babies fledge was the best part. It was a new experience for me since it was my second season hosting martins.

I have some photos of the moments:

Visitors (16 Martins! Yay!

)

Fledglings returning after first day out:

I am very hopeful for next season.

Mhoover · Fri Nov 21, 2014 1:29 pm

I hosted my first martins this year. They were late nesters. (June 1 and 3) After an overly possessive SY female ran off two more SY pairs I finally ended up with two pairs. The second pair were both adult birds. Fledged 7.

Anthony Neira · Fri Nov 21, 2014 6:27 pm

Mocking Bird RODE on the back of a big Red Tail Hawk and ACTUALLY had time to tuck it wings in as the hawk flew level and kept crying!

as the Martins, Blue Jays and Grackles flew in crazy circles! I don't think I'll EVER see that again !

..WOW! Again, Great Pic.s! Chuck

Hanover Bill · Sat Nov 22, 2014 8:39 am

As a new Landlord 2014 was a small step forward for my Colony, from 2 pair and 9 fledged in 2013, to 3 pair and 13 fledged in 2014. I had hoped for a larger expansion but I am certainly thankful for the success I had, and I am looking forward to the 2015 season.

While discussing highlights of the season, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Bob Allnocks annual "Purple Martin Get Together" for Western Pa. Landlords. This event has become a special highlight of every Purple Martin season in Western Pa. At his own expense, Bob hosts this event at his beautiful home, which brings Western Pa. Landlords together to discuss all things Purple Martin. I know it is a season highlight for every Western Pa. Landlord. Thanks Bob.

Hanover Bill.

~Ray~Gingerich · Sat Nov 22, 2014 11:31 am

My highlight was when my Grand-son had his first experience with a purple martin.

Second highlight was finding a late nest and having martins here into the first week of September.

Mhoover · Sat Nov 22, 2014 2:11 pm

I second that thought. Ray, that is a wonderful photo.

Anthony Neira · Sat Nov 22, 2014 2:52 pm

Ray! You the GRAND MAN !!!

John Miller · Sat Nov 22, 2014 3:33 pm

My highlight would be end of season in mid July in Forest Park, St. Louis, when the skies in late evening above the golf course and the St. Louis Art Museum seemed to be filled with fledglings, soaring and enjoying the last light before settling into housing for the night.

it was a worrisome season because the annual Fair St. Louis -- 100,00, 200,000 (I forget) people poured into the park over the Fourth of July -- for concerts, and of course, fireworks. It's traditionally held under the Arch, but the grounds there are being renovated. Fortunately for the park and the martins, everything worked out fine -- the martin housing was just outside of fair activity areas, and the martins I think all just went to bed before the 10 p.m. fireworks and stayed put. So was such a relief later into July to see all the fledglings.

taxidermy lady · Sat Nov 22, 2014 8:24 pm

I had no nesters but my spring was so full of excitement, some days I couldn't sit down. I had a lot of ups and downs with Fred at times bringing in 6-7 females a day. But my biggest thrill was when the trio house had about 8 fledglings on it when I put it up. How awesome! I am so ready to see what happens in 2015.

JamesinIA · Sun Nov 23, 2014 9:07 am

My highlight was getting my martins to accept flipped crickets. The weather had been cold for several days and I had ordered crickets just in case I might need them. My site is on the other side of the driveway from the house so I went out to see if they would take any. I had tried before with no takers but this time on the third flip one got it and the race was on. The really neat part was when I came home the next day and got buzzed by a few hungry martins letting me know they wanted more crickets. I told them that I needed to go into the house and thaw some out and I would be back soon. When I went out my front door with the crickets, to my surprise there were a dozen martins lined up on the power line right outside of the house waiting for their supper. I also was able to get them to take scrambled eggs too. What a great feeling it is to know that I was able to feed the martins and keep them alive through a bad stretch of weather.

pmartinlover2 · Sun Nov 23, 2014 4:17 pm

Although I did not have any martins that stayed to nest in 2014 I did have 3 that came to my site and stayed for 2 days. I found 1 white egg in a gourd with no nest and it looked just like all the pictures of martin eggs I see on the forum. I have no idea why it was there? They returned a week later briefly and then they were gone. I can't tell you how excited I was when they appeared---my brain played out the whole scene of multiple pairs nesting and all the eggs and babies and especially hearing that beautiful chatter day in and day out. But that didn't happen. Instead thanks to John Miller I learned I had multiple chimney swifts buzzing around like crazy and they are interesting to watch also. I trapped 21 HOSP and now know thanks to the forum to start trapping before the martins arrive. I have seen 5 martin houses within 3-4 miles of my house (all in the country) so I will be checking to see how successful they have been. I continue to learn more each year thanks to this forum. So although I don't actually have an established colony I still feel like 2014 has been a successful year.
______
Jody

Tim Mangan-Kansas · Mon Nov 24, 2014 6:09 am

Martin highlight for me in 2014 was twofold. First and most important was, after four years trying to re-establish a martin colony, I was finally successful. I was also able to get my seven pair trained to accept flipped crickets and take crickets from feeding tray to feed both themselves and their nestlings.

phldave · Mon Nov 24, 2014 3:11 pm

My highlight for 2014 was when my site was used as a motel by a very majestic ASY male and his mate. This occured on April 28th. I observed them enter one of the horizontal gourds I have attached to the bottom edge of my cedar house. They entered about an hour before sunset and didn't exit until after 6 the next morning. The rest of the year was pretty uneventful, but at least I had my heart in my throat for this one occurence. I did capture a good photo of him on the porch of the gourd they occupied. This photo is now my desktop background on my PC.

DornCounty · Mon Nov 24, 2014 3:59 pm

highlight for me was seeing the once great Parsons, KS public martin colony reverse it's downward trend and see a population increase for the first time since 2000.

It went up 23 pairs. to a total of 63.. Hoping to see it hit 100 next year.

Especially inspiring was seeing a pair in a previously deserted colony section.

Al Denton · Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:41 pm

Two pair in 2014, plus the dozens of martins that were hanging around at fledgling time.

Chuck4 · Mon Nov 24, 2014 9:28 pm

Al Denton wrote:Two pair in 2014, plus the dozens of martins that were hanging around at fledgling time.

Hi Al,

Yes, seeing all of the visitors come in at fledging time is so cool!

Gene Scherrer · Wed Nov 26, 2014 1:06 pm

After disposing of 60+ house sparrows during the summer, I had three immature martins land on my T-14 on Aug. 24th. They stayed for about 30 minutes then left . I assume they were in their migratory route. Hopefully one of them makes it back next year and I get my first pair. I wonder if anyone else can relate to this.

Al Denton · Thu Nov 27, 2014 8:12 am

Chuck4 wrote:
Al Denton wrote:Two pair in 2014, plus the dozens of martins that were hanging around at fledgling time.
Hi Al,

Yes, seeing all of the visitors come in at fledging time is so cool!

Yes it is Chuck. It seems so promising to have so many martins at a site at one time. Will next season be my breakout year? I guess time will tell. I can hardly wait to find out.