Super Colonies, Pros & Cons

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Anthony Neira
Posts: 1319
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !

Like many here, I've always marveled at the sight of Big PM Super Colonies, man ! they look cool ! Like a PM Landlords Heaven !! Like the massive one made from many older satellite dishes with hundreds of gourds - Beautiful !!, like some here who have High grade Houses & Gourds laid out for the PMs , all set up for the Martins with the BEST of intentions AND Self sacrifice, of Time, Money, & Blood, Sweat, & Tears for Sure! I have 7 trios (6 Rooms each) & 16 gourds in my front/ side yard, & 5 trios (6 rooms each) & 6 gourds in my back yard, right now I have 10 pair up front & 6 pair in the back. I try to provide the best I can, with always ending up with the childhood Catholic guilt that I've haven't done that !:wink: I hope I haven't gone over my head, and I might reduce a couple of houses next season, let's see.
So what are the Pros & Cons of a BIG colony ? I could think Pro: Help more PMs by providing homes & shelter , Safety in numbers (?) , Bring the overall population of PMs UP!
Con: Need lots of human power to maintain, keep clean , lots of nest checks, Need to be on guard for predators ( of course all of this is true for even one House or one Gourd !) If one person can do all of this , great, but I'm sure most have help from Family, or other landlord/s, And of course , a big one, the way Male PMs will Gang up on females ( Described by some as Horrible ) with sometimes fatal outcomes ( yes , this happens every where, but of course in a smaller scale).
Now, I apologize in advance if anyone "Can Feel The Flames", I mainly want to bring this up for anyone else who wants/wishes to have a Bigger Colony. Those of you who do this Herculean task , I applaud you, I recently learned a lesson working on my Van , from the "Dirty Harry" movie, quote: " a man's gots to knows his limitations !" I now feel I have to Remember that with many other things, Along with my Purple Martins. Thanks for reading and for ANY input! God bless, & Good Luck to every one of You! :grin:
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
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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!

I did that with a garden Anthony. I started small and before I knew it, it grew larger and larger each year. Now I have down sized and will keep it like that. I think it's the same with martins. People get a few martins and they keep comin year after year and they keep building. Then before you know it SUPER COLONY!!!! It's super if you have the time and energy to take care of them right.

I will hate to turn them away but I will have to. My site is 34 cavities and will have to keep it manageable. Maybe I can put up some sites in town when I retire!!!! :grin:
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Siberman
Posts: 262
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:03 pm
Location: Titus County , TX

I feel ya, Anthony . I'm an aquarium nerd myself and had about 15 tanks at one time . Sometimes you just have to step back , take a breath and downscale .
2010: 5 pair - raptor attack .
2011 : nada .
2012 : 1 pair - 5 eggs / 5 fledged .
2013: zero
2014: Lots of visitors
2015 : several visitors . Seriously considering purchasing a drone to scare off raptors .
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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

All is fine with large colonies as long as you enjoy them and can take good care of them. Its best to not have any more than what you can handle well. If it becomes a drag, then you have too many.

I am still enjoying my colony, but if I ever have close neighbors, then I will need to downsize (droppings on cars, swimming pools, patios, etc). Furthermore, I enjoy shooting sparrows and starlings!
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Anthony Neira
Posts: 1319
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !

Thanks Sharon, I always wondered why this one guy near me always had one trio 8 (6"x 6") roomer up but Never put up more ? Then, one day the whole setup was Gone ! He came out & told me he could no longer keep taking the pole in & out of the ground so he gave the setup to his Daughter up north ! I asked him why couldn't he just leave it in the ground year round ? He said people all around there had anything metal stolen for scrap metal for $ for Drugs & Alcohol !!! :shock:
Hey Siberman , I'd have a whole bunch of Water Turtle Tanks if I could, but that's a lot of filtering done Right ! I think an owner of a big hardware store chain has big Beautiful Fish & Turtle ponds made around his estate, Must Be Real Nice !?! :wink:
Hey Emil, you're so right! About not having more than you can Handel & take care of ! And Shooting S&S!! :)
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
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MamaBruff
Posts: 1466
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
Location: SW Missouri
Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.

Emil could supplement his income by hiring out as S&S controller, especially if he enjoys it... :grin: I don't enjoy it but find myself fantasizing about going over to the neighbors' houses when they are gone and trap those dang HOSP! :lol: Hat's off, and keep up the good work! 8)
~Mary B~

Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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Stephen Cruse
Posts: 168
Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 12:17 pm
Location: Texas, Hitchcock and Rocksprings

It has always been a dream of mine to reach the super colony level and I am very close this year. It is a lot of work but the shear number of martins is amazing. Starting out with 4 pairs my first year and growing to 70+ ASY pairs so far is a blessing. Almost there! There are ups and downs for sure but being able to provide a superior site for the birds is well worth it. The key for me is obviously providing superior housing but eliminating s&s is the most important part of being a successful landlord. That and predator guards. Being fairly young (32) I am looking forward to growing and maintaining a super colony for a long time.
2014 - 72 pairs
2015 - 127 pairs
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Anthony Neira
Posts: 1319
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !

Stephen, that sounds great, I was 32 in '92 when I was given 2 Big Fiberglass/ plastic hex type of PM Houses! I 'm glad you have all this knowledge for you to Capitalize on ! Good luck, I have to ask, would you bunch up the housing ? Or spread it out ? After hearing how much Male PMs go mating crazy, I'm on the "Spacing them out" side of the fence ! Just my 2 pennies ! Again, Best of luck ! Keep us posted ! :grin:
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
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tonyg
Posts: 1520
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:16 pm
Location: Olpe, KS
Martin Colony History: 22 year landlord, 14 at current residence..offering 9 racks and a homemade T-8 for 166 total cavities. 160 Pair in 2018 Racks consist of a Deluxe 12, AAA 16, Starburst 16, 2 K-18 Series, Super 24, 2 Gemini, Multi-purpose/two trio’s/4gourds and a T-8..Great hobby to be involved in..

In agreement with Emil! I've enjoyed my Super Colony for the 2 years I've had it..if and when it becomes to much of a burden for my wife and I, we will downsize accordingly...but in agreement there is more responsibility that comes with it.. I do all the major leg work, but my wife helps me with nest checks, which is very time consuming.. I'm at 134 cavities right now and don't see myself adding any more in the future..it's a great hobby to have!!!
22 year landlord..9 Rack Systems for 2018 and my home built T-8 for a total of 166 cavities..160 pair in 2018 ..SUPER COLONY!!! Love You Bev... Fan of those St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!
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Anthony Neira
Posts: 1319
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !

Good to hear that Tony ! What better partner/helper to have than one 's spouse ! & always good to plan ahead ! Best of luck to you all !
P.S, Any new pics of your setup ? Any takers for the S&Ks ?
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
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Vern1
Posts: 471
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2007 2:06 pm
Location: Pettytown, Texas, US of A

I always wanted to get to 100 pair but it doesn't look like it will happen.
I have 40 cavities available and hope to fill up this season.
Cheers,
Joe
2015 - 40 cavities - 37 pair - fledged 172
2016 - 40 cavities - 38 pair - fledged 192
Hosting Purple Martins since 1976...Managing since 2006.
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tonyg
Posts: 1520
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:16 pm
Location: Olpe, KS
Martin Colony History: 22 year landlord, 14 at current residence..offering 9 racks and a homemade T-8 for 166 total cavities. 160 Pair in 2018 Racks consist of a Deluxe 12, AAA 16, Starburst 16, 2 K-18 Series, Super 24, 2 Gemini, Multi-purpose/two trio’s/4gourds and a T-8..Great hobby to be involved in..

Anthony they are still in the investigative mode now, but they are going in the Big Bo's..I have them on the new Deluxe 12 I bought this year, with the Super Gourds I put new Troyer tunnels on..I'm thinking a pair will nest in them..always have had trouble posting pics on here, that's why I post my pics on the PMCA Facebook Page...
22 year landlord..9 Rack Systems for 2018 and my home built T-8 for a total of 166 cavities..160 pair in 2018 ..SUPER COLONY!!! Love You Bev... Fan of those St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!
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Anthony Neira
Posts: 1319
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !

Very Cool! Tony, Yes ! That New Rack sounds great ! The "Stuff" that lures Martins & Man/Woman Kind Alike ! I'll check out the PMCA F.B page ! Best of Luck !!!
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
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