Remembering Pop

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ChadP
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 3:07 pm
Location: LA/Lafayette

I have been a pm lover for years now, thanks to my late grandfather, and he always gave me tips of what to do with my inherited houses and when to prepare for their arrivals. I always used Valentines Day as a rule of thumb but for the last few years it is almost a month later to the day. Well, my birds finally showed up and cannot wait to wake up in the morning to listen them while having a fresh cup of coffee. Everyday that goes by a new bird seems to show up. Gives me more reason to always think of my Grandfather!
Good mornings to follow and more memories, whoohoo!!
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

That is very special Chad! Good luck! :grin:
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Connie
Posts: 441
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.

ChadP wrote: Gives me more reason to always think of my Grandfather!
Good mornings to follow and more memories, whoohoo!!
So happy for you Chad! My memories are of my dad who I just lost a year ago. I can definitely relate to the good memory thing! My dad always said they come in for Mardi Gras and leave for the 4th of July. My very first martin came on Valentines day and since then they have been coming around the 8th of February. I have had them stay as late as August 8th. Always makes me want to call my dad and ask if his are here yet or gone yet; we always checked with each other every season.
Enjoy the memories. The happy season is here again!!! :grin:
Connie
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JameyS
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2015 5:36 pm
Location: TX/ Dallas, Del Rio, Whitney

ChadP - It's awesome I think that you can remember your Grandfather while doing something you love. What a great way to wake up every morning!!!!

I'm jealous!! I only get to hear them on the weekends. Good luck and keep everyone posted on this year's PMs
Lake Amistad - Nine Pioneer houses / double roomed w/Two Super Gourds on each house Owl guards and pole guards. 72 total nesting cavities

Lake Whitney - Three houses all double roomed 32 nesting cavities
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ChadP
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 3:07 pm
Location: LA/Lafayette

Thanks for the comfort and stories!
Those who are waiting will not be waiting too much longer! Excited for you!!
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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.

Chad,
What kind of houses did you inherit from your Grandfather?
How big was his colony?
Did he follow the old 6 X 6"compartment size or had he changed to the enlarged compartments before he passed his houses to you?
Mark.
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.
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John Barrow
Posts: 982
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 4:12 pm
Location: Corpus Christi / Sandia , Texas

Chad, wonderful story.
There is a traditional Mexican song, La Golodrina, (the swallow), written by a composer in the late 1800's. The song has continued to be a traditional Mexican song, often played at funerals. It's about a swallow leaving the homeland and carrying their love to those far away. Google the song on YouTube. It is well worth the time.
Retrieving a geolocator from a bird last year I was with a family whose young son had been killed in an auto accident. I let them release the bird and told them about this song, and my belief, that the bird now would carry their love straight to the heart of their lost son.
Perhaps, your father's spirit soars with those martins you watch. He, no doubt, would be proud of your taking care of them, and him too.
~~TEAMED WITH A MARTIN GODDESS~~

Member/Mentor-PMCA. I do regular nestchecks and participate in PROJECT MARTINWATCH!! Coordinated 3 geolocator studies-2009, 2010 & 2013. State and Fed licensed bander (retired Jan., 2020)
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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.

John,
Your story prompted me to look up the story behind "La Golondrina".
It was written by a Mexican physician, Narciso Serradell Sevilla, in 1862.
He was exiled to France during the Maximillian Affair or Second Franco-Mexican War.

After reading the lyrics I can see why your act of kindness for the family that lost their son and why your words of encouragement for Chad towards his Grandfather are so poignant.

I especially enjoyed Nana Mouskouri's recording of "La Golondrina" available on YouTube.
Mark.
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.
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

Chad,
Just like Connie I lost my dad a year ago. Just before my birds returned last year. I lost my sweet dog last December. The martins returning is such a lift to my spirits. It is like saying life continues and it is ok and still full of beauty and joy.

My dad wasn't a martineer but the past few years I realized how much he enjoyed the native birds and so did I so we would talk birds.

Thanks for sharing your story bout G'Pa. It, I'm sure, gave him peace that you would be taking care of the martins.

Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2445
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged
2026 - 41 Pair, 182 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged
2026 - 28 Pair. 116 Fledged

ChadP --- Welcome to the Forum.... Thanks for the story about your Grandfather. It's great .... He left you with his "mark" (Love for Martins)and you are carrying it along with you.. Wonderful.

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

Here are the lyrics to Las Golondrinas - the Nat King Cole version is lovely, too.

http://lyricstranslate.com/en/la-golond ... allow.html

It is a lovely song of memories for those we've lost/places we can no longer return to.
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