Hi Mary,
I did a nest check of the English Boom martin colony on the north end of Camano Island yesterday, and found eggs in about a third of the 17 cavities. This is the earliest I have ever seen martin eggs in the North Sound.
Stan
Western martin vs. Excluder Gourds
Hi Stan,
That is really exciting! Not that I know what to expect being so new to this. I did some modifications per Bruce Cousens advice and have seven excited birds (one banded, which I've turned in) at gourds and piling cavities around here. The weather turned nice about the same time. This morning I caught an ASY male in the weeping crabapple with a leaf in his mouth which to me means nesting is about to begin!
Mary
That is really exciting! Not that I know what to expect being so new to this. I did some modifications per Bruce Cousens advice and have seven excited birds (one banded, which I've turned in) at gourds and piling cavities around here. The weather turned nice about the same time. This morning I caught an ASY male in the weeping crabapple with a leaf in his mouth which to me means nesting is about to begin!
Mary
-
ken buker
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2003 9:51 pm
- Location: Washington/Silver Lake
- Martin Colony History: Started backyard colony at Silver lake in June 2004 with single pair of SY martins. Built a nest, no eggs, they left by late July. Returned 2005 and colony grew to three pair successfully raising and fledging 15 healthy young. In 2018 this colony was 110 pair strong and thriving. Managed a small colony along the lower Columbia river west of Longview, WA for a few years prior to starting my colony at Silver Lake.
Hi Mary,
Have not heard from you since an earlier post. Just wondering if you successfully attracted martins this season and if you had better luck with your new excluder gourds.
We banded 151 young martins at my Silver Lake colony July 9th and are planning another day the 21st. Should be about that many more to do. It might require another late July day but we'll see. I don't like disrupting birds older than about 24 days of age because the do spook and can fledge prematurely and I try avoiding that. There are fledglings leaving the nest as we speak and many will be following in the days to come. A sure sign that in a few short weeks the season will be coming to an end. Would enjoy hearing about your experience this season.
Ken Buker
Have not heard from you since an earlier post. Just wondering if you successfully attracted martins this season and if you had better luck with your new excluder gourds.
We banded 151 young martins at my Silver Lake colony July 9th and are planning another day the 21st. Should be about that many more to do. It might require another late July day but we'll see. I don't like disrupting birds older than about 24 days of age because the do spook and can fledge prematurely and I try avoiding that. There are fledglings leaving the nest as we speak and many will be following in the days to come. A sure sign that in a few short weeks the season will be coming to an end. Would enjoy hearing about your experience this season.
Ken Buker
Hi Ken,
Yes, I have had success, with one of my gourds and the piling cavity now holding 4 or 5 baby birds each. They are at least a week old. The other gourds and mailbox nest on the same pole get lots of activity but no eggs. I believe the neighbor's piling cavity also has babies.
I'm going to be at Elma for the Little League playoffs and may drive down your way, early next week.
Mary
PS: If the picture doesn't post on account of size - don't know how to reduce its size. -M.
Yes, I have had success, with one of my gourds and the piling cavity now holding 4 or 5 baby birds each. They are at least a week old. The other gourds and mailbox nest on the same pole get lots of activity but no eggs. I believe the neighbor's piling cavity also has babies.
I'm going to be at Elma for the Little League playoffs and may drive down your way, early next week.
Mary
PS: If the picture doesn't post on account of size - don't know how to reduce its size. -M.
-
stan kostka
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 7:59 pm
- Location: Washington, Seattle
Hi Mary,
I checked nests at English Boom on Camano Island yesterday, there are 19 pairs there this year, same as last year, one nest has a couple cold eggs, but all others contain young, ranging from a few days old to near fledging.
Looks like your photo did not post. Could you send me a copy ?
Thanks.
Stan
I checked nests at English Boom on Camano Island yesterday, there are 19 pairs there this year, same as last year, one nest has a couple cold eggs, but all others contain young, ranging from a few days old to near fledging.
Looks like your photo did not post. Could you send me a copy ?
Thanks.
Stan