For us "Wannabe" landlords

[tlragsdale]

Day #4 of "our" ASY male occupying a gourd. Weather has warmed-up a bit, so not as concerned about feeding. Did buy/place a feeding dish, stocked it with crickets placed near the entrance. He flew back in a few moments ago….no interest in the crickets.

Now, if he can just find a PM lady friend .

Hope everyone has a safe and fun weekend.

Terry & Michelle

[tlragsdale]

Man, tonight we heard the unmistakeable chirp/tweet of a martin, and looked up to see a pair headed for the gourd rack. "At last, we thought, he's found a girl friend". Unfortunately, there was another male we didn't see tagging along. End result: Mr. Martin is bedding down solo again tonight.

So hoping he can find a female…keeping those ol' fingers crossed.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.

Terry & Michelle

[MamaBruff]

Better yet, your fellow and his buddy show up with a lady apiece! Remember the subbies are coming! Whee!

[tlragsdale]

Thanks, Mary, for the reminder. Just hoping his enthusiasm keeps him here.

On a brighter note, it's finally warming up, and the air is FILLED with insects. Put crickets out a couple of days ago, when it was cold….they are still there.

Thanks, again, for the encouraging words. Hope your season is going well.

Terry

[Ed Pace]

Hi wannabes I hope this news gives you a little bit of encouragement, first let me start at the beginning.
On 6 April a bird came in flying high overhead making a lot of noise, and I thought that he was talking to me ,happy to be home so I marked him down as my first ASY male scout .As it turned out I guess he was just talking to all the empty guards because he stayed for about a half an hour and I haven't seen him sense. That was nearly 3 weeks ago and not a bird has showed up sence.I was starting to think that I wasn't going to see any old birds this year.
About 9:30 this morning a asy female showed up looking very haggard, she hung around for about 20 minutes then flew straight into a gourd and as far as I know remain there the rest of the day. Then about 5:30 this afternoon just about the time that I was getting ready to check the gorurd to see if the female was still there ,I noticed a ASY male looking very haggard also,perched up on the antenna. He, never made a sound either but was not frightened at all by myself or the dog and acted very comfortable . He stayed for about an hour and a half then went into a gourd a couple different times coming out and then leaving ,I think for the night.
A lot of us are thinking that the ASY's have passed us by in this region and I hope this puts out a little encouragement to those who are still waiting,at any rate I should be able to know more in the morning . Hang in there. Ed.

[ShawnK]

Reading all of these replies is encouraging to all of us "wannabes". I have been trying to attract martins to my site for my third year now.
I would like to share my experience also.

I put up my first house in June of 2013 which is late for southern Indiana and one day while on my step ladder I was cleaning out HOSP nests when an ASY male cruised straight by my head. I could have reached right out and touched him he was that close.

At the end of May in 2014 he was back checking things out trying to call in a mate for a few weeks but none would stay for him.

Now fast forward to 2015 and he is back again on 4-12-15. Today has been the most promising because he stayed nearly the whole day trying to call in a mate even as late as 7:00PM. This gives me hope that he is trying to establish a colony here but has not stayed the night as far as I can tell.

Can anyone tell me what the signs are that gives us "wannabes" the clues that it is really about to happen or what stille needs to happen?

In other words does it always happen the same way? He likes her and she likes him and they start setting up house?

Maybe there are no rules but maybe some clues.

Hoping in Southern Indiana,
Shawn

[Mitch Booth]

Mama Bruff and Taxidermy Lady,

Do you guys have any good news to report? I have yet to see a martin this year!!

We have all of May so I'm not throwing the towel in yet.

Mitch

[MamaBruff]

Mitch, They are in my area, and I've seen/heard them. No SYs. Occasional swoop by visitor. I have 2 THGs and 4 compartments open. Impatiently waiting... The other native birds have been providing some good entertainment, thank goodness!!

[Chuck4]

I am keeping all of you guys in my prayers! I remember how it was when I first started. It was an eye opening experience for me in many ways. I had seen several Purple Martins flying over head and became fascinated by them. I decided I wanted to attract them, and thought it would be a cinch! I was wrong! After I had put my new housing up (6 Bo-9 gourds on a two-inch square pole with winch) in early May of 2011, I remember a pair of martins perched on a house nearby and sat there for a few minutes looking at me while I set the pole in concrete. It was an interesting experience. I thought I would have martins in no time.

I soon realized I was not the only person in my area with Purple Martins. I noticed many houses that only had one or two pairs, but I was a bit jealous. After the first year it was disappointing because I did attract many visitors, but none nested. I was frustrated.

It was the same thing for me the next year too (2011 and 2012). I was fortunate that I at least had one ASY male who had bonded to my housing. He was my ray of hope. He tried very hard that year (2012) to get a female to stay, one did for several nights, but still no eggs. He would come back and sleep alone at night too. He was determined to stay there.

In between seasons (2012-13) I ended up making some changes in my backyard that I do believe helped. One was cutting down an old diseased Mimosa tree that was making the female martins nervous. I did notice them looking at it hesitantly. I also cut back several smaller trees that seemed imposing too.

Finally in 2013 I was blessed with my first nesting pair (ASY male and female). I had sort of not been paying much attention early on, and I missed the fact that a pair of House Finches had claimed a gourd. I lowered the gourds and discovered a nest of baby house finches close to fledging. Once they fledged I cleaned out the nest, and the ASY pair actually ended up nesting in the gourd the finches used! I know this goes against conventional wisdom, but it worked for me. It was such a great blessing to have that first nesting pair! I felt a sense of accomplishment that was unique.

This is my third season with nesting martins, and that same female has chosen the gourd that was oriented in the position each year since the first clutch. I've changed my housing each year, but I have always tried to keep that gourd properly oriented for her. She has been the first egg layer too. It is all worth the effort, and I am very glad that I stuck to it. I now have the largest colony in my little neck of the burbs. It's a good feeling to know the birds like my place, and I feel honored to have them.

I hope all of you get the chance to experience it. It is special.

[Mitch Booth]

Chuck,

The frustrating part for me is having successfully fledged martins two years ago and then to get no returns the following year. Granted I only had 2 SY birds or one pair. I have to assume my site is okay or I wouldn't have had any that year.

Oh well.... I will wait and see.

Mitch

[MamaBruff]

DITTO!! Heartbreaking, isn't it? :(

[Chuck4]

Chuck,

The frustrating part for me is having successfully fledged martins two years ago and then to get no returns the following year. Granted I only had 2 SY birds or one pair. I have to assume my site is okay or I wouldn't have had any that year.

Oh well.... I will wait and see.

Mitch

Sorry to hear that Mitch and Mambruff. Yes, the next spring after I had my first nesting pair was more anxiety ridden than before. I was so worried. It's one of the challenges we newbees face. There are so many things that can happen to those birds as they migrate south and back and with weather issue and such (predation). I am hoping you will get some birds this year. If I could I would send you some of mine...

[MamaBruff]

Thanks Chuck
I feel like the infertility patient at the doctors office, in the waiting room with all the OB patients and new Mamas. Got my Kleenex and my calendar... Seeing a window of opportunity still open for about another month. Taking a deep breath, resolving to myself "it is what it is"... And "All shall be well, all in good time."

[Chuck4]

Thanks Chuck
I feel like the infertility patient at the doctors office, in the waiting room with all the OB patients and new Mamas. Got my Kleenex and my calendar... Seeing a window of opportunity still open for about another month. Taking a deep breath, resolving to myself "it is what it is"... And "All shall be well, all in good time."

I hear you! My third year (first one with martins that nested), I had quit "wanting" the birds, and taken my mind off of them from the frustration of the previous years with no eggs. I didn't give them much of a thought until I heard them chorteling in a gourd in late April of that year. That sound was magical! It was before I realized the finches were even nesting. I guess I had sort of lost hope at that point. It was about a week before the finches fledged, and then they moved in. It's kind of like the finches inspired them to nest there. Nature does what it wants and sometimes we just have to go with it.

[taxidermy lady]

Well I have to say from my heart I would want Mitch and Mary to get birds first before me if I got a pair this year and nothing next year! I am having a hard enough time with my situation! I would be devastated if they would not return. I know it happens but whewwww it would be tuff! I am trying to just let it go! I look out there at those empty houses and gourds way to many times a day! It would be good if I did not work right by them!
I do have a pair of tree swallows looking at my boxes! I know they like gourds! But they have to nest in that box! Hope I don't have trouble with them! The bluebirds have been abiding by the rules so I hope they do!
I go to bed each evening and say maybe tomorrow!!!! Good luck to all and I pray for us all! Mitch and Mary your first!!! Let's get'm!!

[avesrun]

I don't know TL that situation with Fred is almost the same crazy deal to me! But you're right, having nesters one season and not the next would be more agonizing. My wish/hopes/prayers same; go Mitch and MBruff!

[taxidermy lady]

Yeah I guess he came but nothing ever happened! No female, no eggs! What the he!!. They are goofy birds like John said! Why don't they spread out a little. I think we all have a good amount of time yet! A lot of birds not here. I have had ASY male come in Monday never did land. Seen him 2 times. Then this morning at 6:40a.m. A ASY female came in. I still had the dawn song on, she landed but I'm sure was headed to the river to feed or take a bath!
I thought for sure when the neighbor up the road connected his 3 flat top houses to a shed they would be like what the heck. But did not seem to bother them at all! He has a whole group over there and no one lives there! Just a old farm house that was controlled burnt and several sheds, and barn. Maybe when they start nesting they will spread out a little!

Oh well maybe tomorrow!!! Good luck to all my wannabe friends!!!

[tlragsdale]

Not getting too excited yet (OK, that's a fib). The ASY male that arrived 11 days ago returned mid morning with a companion!!! Took her a few false starts before she would follow the male into the gourd, but she finally entered.

Everyone please keep your fingers crossed for him/us.

Hope everyone has a safe weekend.

Terry & Michelle

[madattiver]

That's great news Terry & Michelle! I hope they decide to stay.

[tlragsdale]

OK, so far I'm in the running for the next Wide World of Sports opening commercial….yeah, the one with the from "Agony to Ecstasy" theme. Had a sleek, dark ASY living here in one of the gourds (alone) for about 12 days. Day before yesterday, he flew in mid-morning, and low-and-behold, he has a female companion. After several "false starts" she finally entered his gourd and stayed for a while. We had to leave for work (work evenings)……that was the last time I've laid eyes on either one of them. Two days passed….not sign of either of them.

I'm wondering if I might have to find another "hobby/passion". This roller-coaster ride from "sweet" to "why bother" is tough.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Terry