This may have been discussed before, but I couldn't find it in my searches...
When is the last possible date for a pair to begin nesting in southern MO? I had a group of SYs show up today (3M and 1F) and they stayed for about 10 minutes. When SHE took off, so did the rest of the gang. I know the deadline must be close, but find myself still clinging to that shred of hope that they will come back with a couple more gals.
~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.
I don't want to give false hope, but I have had martins fledge into mid August in the St. Louis colonies -- just a few pairs, but I do think you have one to two more weeks for martins to establish nests. John
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.
The pair that started it all for me in 2013 didn't lay their first egg until June 24. I have had a few new subbies show up this past week after all the rain and cool weather passed. They are busy fighting over cavities. So good luck!!
PMCA member
98 cavities offered for 2016 -- 70 are gourds and 28 are in houses.
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!
Yes Mary I would say there is time! I am going to be chewing my nails if the 2 I have doesn't get started laying eggs! The female just wants to eat and fly. He brings her in and she bounces around to different gourds and takes off. So it's like we are starting all over today. I just can't seem to figure it out! Goofy birds! I wish you the best of luck!
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.
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.
No it's not!! In my first years all nests fledged mid-August. Now re-nesters for whatever the reason seem to go into August. So I agree with everyone else it can still happen this year. Can't say it will....but it still can.
Thanks for the good news of hope! What I need is a Purple Miracle. So I'll keep "waiting expectantly", plugging away until the end of the month. Anything is possible, right?
~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.
Yes Mary anything is possible! We must keep the faith These birds are a complete mystery to me, especially the SY. They definitely march to their own drummer. Hoping your visitors will choose to stay. Good luck!
_____
Jody
I would say its not to late, I have 2 pair of SY's that have just started laying eggs, so hopefully yours will come back and start families at your place.
Thank you, this is all very encouraging. I had figured my chances for 2015 were OVER. So back to the Waiting and Watching Game...
~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.
I did not have a pair ASY-M & SY-F until June 1 last year and the first egg was laid June 12. You have a couple of weeks yet to attract a nesting pair.
Don't give up.
Agreed with everyone else Mary -2, maybe even 3 more weeks if there's a rogue SY male out there that has some really, socially-unacceptable martin behaviors that other martin villages can't tolerate.
I had a couple more SY arrivals Tuesday night, so a few are still trickling in!
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
Thank you for your encouragement; you are no stranger to waiting either. We shall see what the birds decide.
~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.
Glad to hear Kathy is still getting arrivals! SYs were back this morning! But the BBs ran them off "their" hunting perch aka Trendsetter w gourds. They should have told the PMs how good they have it at my place. Those SYs better get over being timid! At least the waiting is more entertaining now!
~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.
