No Eggs
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Mark/OH
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:49 am
- Location: OH/Waynesville
- Martin Colony History: 2011 1 Pair, 2012 5 Pair, 2013 11 Pair, 2014 12 Pair, 2015 17 Pair. 2016 15 Pair DYI Gourd rack with 16 plastic gourds, Plastic 4 room house with 6 plastic gourds underneath.
I live in Ohio and every spring seems to get worse then the one before. Rain and cold. Is anyone else having this problem. Last year on May 14th I had 52 eggs in 16 nests. I did my third nest check today and I have one egg, been there since May 13th, in 14 nests. The martins have been here since April 18 and adding leaves for a month. Not complaining mind you, I would rather not have eggs in this weather, just wondering if this is happening elsewhere and if they know to wait?
Mark Waynesville, OH
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PMCA MEMBER
2017 22 Pair
2016 15 Pair 84 eggs
2015 17 Pair 108 eggs 78 young 55 fledged
2014 13 Pair 70 eggs 51 young 50 fledged
2013 10 Pair 51 eggs 39 young 39 fledged
2012 5 Pair
2011 1 Pair
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PMCA MEMBER
2017 22 Pair
2016 15 Pair 84 eggs
2015 17 Pair 108 eggs 78 young 55 fledged
2014 13 Pair 70 eggs 51 young 50 fledged
2013 10 Pair 51 eggs 39 young 39 fledged
2012 5 Pair
2011 1 Pair
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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.
Mark:
Same here. No eggs yet. I had 23 eggs as of May 19th last year.
My colony started to arrive on March 31st this year. Snow/cold/wind/rain followed. It finally warmed up a little. Nest building started April 25th, then the weather turned cold again & we've had a lot of rainy days, which has delayed egg laying. I'd rather they wait until things warm up a bit. I lost 37 out of 65 eggs to cold weather last year.
We've been battling Starlings the last few days. Have a neighbor who feeds the birds several LOAVES of bread. One starling is thin shaped & can get in any opening. He scared my Alfa Female twice yesterday & she waited until dark to come in & go in her nest again. The darn starlings are avoiding the traps & they watch the doors & windows & take off as soon as they see us. We'll get him eventually. I just hope its before he does any damage.
Toy in PA
Same here. No eggs yet. I had 23 eggs as of May 19th last year.
My colony started to arrive on March 31st this year. Snow/cold/wind/rain followed. It finally warmed up a little. Nest building started April 25th, then the weather turned cold again & we've had a lot of rainy days, which has delayed egg laying. I'd rather they wait until things warm up a bit. I lost 37 out of 65 eggs to cold weather last year.
We've been battling Starlings the last few days. Have a neighbor who feeds the birds several LOAVES of bread. One starling is thin shaped & can get in any opening. He scared my Alfa Female twice yesterday & she waited until dark to come in & go in her nest again. The darn starlings are avoiding the traps & they watch the doors & windows & take off as soon as they see us. We'll get him eventually. I just hope its before he does any damage.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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Mark/OH
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:49 am
- Location: OH/Waynesville
- Martin Colony History: 2011 1 Pair, 2012 5 Pair, 2013 11 Pair, 2014 12 Pair, 2015 17 Pair. 2016 15 Pair DYI Gourd rack with 16 plastic gourds, Plastic 4 room house with 6 plastic gourds underneath.
Toy,
I meant mine arrived March 18. I have been battling a couple sparrows in my house. They keep moving from one compartment to another when I try to trap them. I ordered a one fits all trap today to get these pesky critters. Last year I lost a lot of eggs also and then young ones as they started to hatch from the weather. Just hope when the weather does warm up they still lay eggs. With the late start they will be here longer for us to enjoy.
Good luck with your season!
I meant mine arrived March 18. I have been battling a couple sparrows in my house. They keep moving from one compartment to another when I try to trap them. I ordered a one fits all trap today to get these pesky critters. Last year I lost a lot of eggs also and then young ones as they started to hatch from the weather. Just hope when the weather does warm up they still lay eggs. With the late start they will be here longer for us to enjoy.
Good luck with your season!Mark Waynesville, OH
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PMCA MEMBER
2017 22 Pair
2016 15 Pair 84 eggs
2015 17 Pair 108 eggs 78 young 55 fledged
2014 13 Pair 70 eggs 51 young 50 fledged
2013 10 Pair 51 eggs 39 young 39 fledged
2012 5 Pair
2011 1 Pair
__________
PMCA MEMBER
2017 22 Pair
2016 15 Pair 84 eggs
2015 17 Pair 108 eggs 78 young 55 fledged
2014 13 Pair 70 eggs 51 young 50 fledged
2013 10 Pair 51 eggs 39 young 39 fledged
2012 5 Pair
2011 1 Pair
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Nesting is somewhat behind schedule this year due to the cool wet weather. I did a nest check yesterday. 42 eggs from a total of about 45 nests.
Most of these were from a few complete early clutches. The rest have held off due to the cooler weather. I would expect over 200 eggs this year so we are just getting started. Some sites here don't have eggs yet.
This is good as its better not for them to hatch in cooler weather. Temps here will improve after a day today of steady rain and 50s. They ate me out of house and home today.
Doug
Most of these were from a few complete early clutches. The rest have held off due to the cooler weather. I would expect over 200 eggs this year so we are just getting started. Some sites here don't have eggs yet.
This is good as its better not for them to hatch in cooler weather. Temps here will improve after a day today of steady rain and 50s. They ate me out of house and home today.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Mark/OH
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:49 am
- Location: OH/Waynesville
- Martin Colony History: 2011 1 Pair, 2012 5 Pair, 2013 11 Pair, 2014 12 Pair, 2015 17 Pair. 2016 15 Pair DYI Gourd rack with 16 plastic gourds, Plastic 4 room house with 6 plastic gourds underneath.
Hi Doug,
What a difference a day makes. Finally a day of Sunshine and warmer weather. The Martin's are working full force today gathering straw and leaves beefing up there nests. I have never watched so many going back and forth so frantickly to fill their nests. I'm glad they waited also.
What a difference a day makes. Finally a day of Sunshine and warmer weather. The Martin's are working full force today gathering straw and leaves beefing up there nests. I have never watched so many going back and forth so frantickly to fill their nests. I'm glad they waited also.
Mark Waynesville, OH
__________
PMCA MEMBER
2017 22 Pair
2016 15 Pair 84 eggs
2015 17 Pair 108 eggs 78 young 55 fledged
2014 13 Pair 70 eggs 51 young 50 fledged
2013 10 Pair 51 eggs 39 young 39 fledged
2012 5 Pair
2011 1 Pair
__________
PMCA MEMBER
2017 22 Pair
2016 15 Pair 84 eggs
2015 17 Pair 108 eggs 78 young 55 fledged
2014 13 Pair 70 eggs 51 young 50 fledged
2013 10 Pair 51 eggs 39 young 39 fledged
2012 5 Pair
2011 1 Pair
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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.
My colony was full steam ahead nest building 2 days ago. Rain yesterday & again today :(. It barely made it to 57 today. UGHHH will this weather ever end. News just said it's only be normal temps 5 days this month. Next week looks better temp wise, but again more rain. It's been a very wet spring. Farmers don't even have fields plowed or planted yet.
I filled crickets yesterday & today again. My colony doesn't have any rain slickers, so didn't have a change at finding food, LOL. Guess I need to make them some & also start a cricket farm.
I think I got a new SY Male in today. That makes 2. I seem to have quite a few SY Females tho. At best I counted 26 or 27 Martins. They've been moving about so much I haven't been able to get an accurate count yet.
Toy in a very wet PA
I filled crickets yesterday & today again. My colony doesn't have any rain slickers, so didn't have a change at finding food, LOL. Guess I need to make them some & also start a cricket farm.
I think I got a new SY Male in today. That makes 2. I seem to have quite a few SY Females tho. At best I counted 26 or 27 Martins. They've been moving about so much I haven't been able to get an accurate count yet.
Toy in a very wet PA
PMCA Member
May 14th last year I had my first egg. As of May 20th no eggs yet, plenty of nests. Right now I have 22 of 24 gourds with nests. The other two had starlings which I destroyed both eggs and nests. The one has been empty and no martins are using as of yet. Hope that some SY's will use it.
I only have a few SY's and the first one I saw was May 11th, the same as last year.
I would rather see them build their nests as having eggs to worry about in this weather. I see in the upcoming weather predictions that it is supposed to be in the low 80's Wednesday on. They stay very secluded in this cooler weather and I don't like to bother them by lowering the racks to look.
I only have a few SY's and the first one I saw was May 11th, the same as last year.
I would rather see them build their nests as having eggs to worry about in this weather. I see in the upcoming weather predictions that it is supposed to be in the low 80's Wednesday on. They stay very secluded in this cooler weather and I don't like to bother them by lowering the racks to look.
2013-4 gourds 4 pair
2014-12 gourds 7 nesting pair, 32 fledged
2015-24 gourds 21 nesting pair 79 fledged
2016-24 gourds 21 nesting pair 89 fledged
2014-12 gourds 7 nesting pair, 32 fledged
2015-24 gourds 21 nesting pair 79 fledged
2016-24 gourds 21 nesting pair 89 fledged
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John Evans
- Posts: 323
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:56 pm
- Location: Cocoa Beach Florida
Southern Ohio here. As of May 16 nest check 10 eggs total out of 36 gourds. Seeing more leaves being brought in this weekend. Our martins have held of laying due to the bad weather as well. Starting to get hot, and green leaves being brought in to nests so I expect lots of eggs shortly.
I actually don't mind the delay as it keeps them here longer.
John
I actually don't mind the delay as it keeps them here longer.
John
PMCA Member
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Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2445
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged
2026 - 41 Pair, 182 Fledged
Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged
2026 - 28 Pair. 116 Fledged
Your right ... This has not been the best spring for the Martins.. I just got my first Subbie today. Don't know where he has been but, he is two to threes late I think. But really only 8 weeks after the scouts started arriving. So he could be on time.. I'm still fighting Starlings too. They are persistent little buggers..
Dave
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio