Every night I take my dog for a walk between 4 and 7 pm. I always walk over to the other side of my development where there is a colony of PMs so I can watch them as we walk. I had been seeing about 50-75 purple martins either flying in the sky or hanging out at their site. The past 3 or 4 nights when I took our walk I didn't see a single PM. Could they all be inside the gourds? It is just odd to not see any, when I always do see them out during our walks. I would ask the landlord of this colony, but I never see anyone outside the house.
I'm just curious where they all could go. There is a lot of construction going on around this colony. There are three new homes being built.
Where do they go?
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itroyer
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2015 2:07 pm
- Location: OH/Alliance
- Martin Colony History: 2016- 3 pair 13 fledged
2017- 18 pair 61 fledged
2018- 40 pair 162 fledged
2019- 41 pair 155 fledged
2020- added 48 gourds for a total 90 cavities, and got 53 pair fledged 208. We lost 30+ due cold in early may
If it's cold they go in early
First year 2012 got housing up may 25th
2013 sy visitors
2014 one sy pair
2015 1 pair asy male sy female fledged 5
2016 3 pair 13 fledged
2013 sy visitors
2014 one sy pair
2015 1 pair asy male sy female fledged 5
2016 3 pair 13 fledged
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MSchmohl
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2014 1:58 pm
- Location: MO/Kearney
- Martin Colony History: 2015: 5 pairs, 16 babies fledged
It has been in the 60s in the evening all week.
Tonight at around 8pm I watched five PMs circle around high above my house and back lots. At 8:30 I went to lower my barn and gourds down half way because we are expecting storms with high winds in early morning hours. I did not realize the ASY male that has been hanging around was inside one of the gourds. I scared him out and he flew off. I didn't see him come back tonight. Hopefully I didn't scare him too much and he will be back.
Tonight at around 8pm I watched five PMs circle around high above my house and back lots. At 8:30 I went to lower my barn and gourds down half way because we are expecting storms with high winds in early morning hours. I did not realize the ASY male that has been hanging around was inside one of the gourds. I scared him out and he flew off. I didn't see him come back tonight. Hopefully I didn't scare him too much and he will be back.
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
They are often out feeding before dark.
If it's cold they could be inside the housing.
Other option would be many were migrating on north & had just stopped over for a few days.
Toy in PA
If it's cold they could be inside the housing.
Other option would be many were migrating on north & had just stopped over for a few days.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member