Excuse me for being a little excited! I know you long timers, ho hum, but this is my first year. Just one pair of SY's.
I checked on Wednesday still all eggs. I calculated July 14th hatch day.
My wife had some work friends over for a BBQ. A couple were single Moms with little kids. We spent the day setting everything up. I even hung a swing back in the Ol' Poplar. (A huge hit)
Anyway when all were present. I lowered the House and pulled out the nest Box and there they were. Everyone loved it. The cell phones were on overdrive. I'll try to get some pix up later.
THEY ALL HATCHED!(Update)
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taxidermy lady
- Posts: 2988
- Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
- Location: IL/Ellis Grove
- 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!
Awesome! My dream for next year! Now get those babies in the air!!! Good luck!!! 
Sharon from southern Illinois
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tlragsdale
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:22 pm
- Location: Wisconsin/New Richmond
CONGRATS!! How exciting it must have been not only to see the hatchlings, but to be able to share with family and friends.
Keeping our fingers crossed for you for them to all fledge, and many of 'em to return next year (and bring along a friend, or two).
Terry
Keeping our fingers crossed for you for them to all fledge, and many of 'em to return next year (and bring along a friend, or two).
Terry
Terry & Michelle
New Richmond, WI
2005 - 2014 Hard luck stories
2015 - 2 pair, 12 eggs/12 fledglings
2016 - 6 pair, 35 eggs/35 fledged
2017 - 18 pair, 88 eggs / 85 fledged.
2018 - 23 pair, 119 eggs/115 fledged.
2019 - 31 pair, 137 eggs/133 fledged
New Richmond, WI
2005 - 2014 Hard luck stories
2015 - 2 pair, 12 eggs/12 fledglings
2016 - 6 pair, 35 eggs/35 fledged
2017 - 18 pair, 88 eggs / 85 fledged.
2018 - 23 pair, 119 eggs/115 fledged.
2019 - 31 pair, 137 eggs/133 fledged
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Dan G
- Posts: 446
- Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:52 pm
- Location: PA/Bellefonte
- Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius.
Have had visitor every year 2014-24.
Two large trees removed in fall 2024 and moved T-14 to a more open location.
2025- 1 SY pair. Fledged 2.
2026- no pairs. One daily SYM here daily. Named him Riggs!
Ho hum? Are you kidding. We wannabes get fired up just seeing them. You have babies!! Congrats an many returns next year.
Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
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avesrun
- Posts: 1127
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:10 pm
- Location: Iowa/West Des Moines
- Martin Colony History: Home Site: 2017- 0
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
Satellite Site: 2017 (3rd season)
34 pair
Fledged- 102
Great report Gunner! Hoping it's the start of many successful seasons to enjoy purple martins!
PMCA Member
Home Site: 2012-15 visitors
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
2017-18 Zero
2019- 3 Successful Pr
2020- 21pr, fledged 76
Satellite Site: 2014 - visitors
2015 - 2 pair fledged 9
2016 - 13 pair fledged 44
2017 - 31 pair fledged 118
2018 - 44 pair 163 fledged
2019- 49 pr 219 fledged
2020- 47 pr 209 fledged
Home Site: 2012-15 visitors
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
2017-18 Zero
2019- 3 Successful Pr
2020- 21pr, fledged 76
Satellite Site: 2014 - visitors
2015 - 2 pair fledged 9
2016 - 13 pair fledged 44
2017 - 31 pair fledged 118
2018 - 44 pair 163 fledged
2019- 49 pr 219 fledged
2020- 47 pr 209 fledged
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Kyler
- Posts: 899
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 10:15 pm
- Location: Colby, Kansas
- Martin Colony History: PMCA Member - Project MartinWatch - Enlarged Compartments - SREH - S&S Control - Mite Control - Predator Guards - Heat Control ( Vents and Insulation ) - Supplemental Feeding -
Manage 7 different colonies in Colby Kansas.
Congrats! That exactly how I was when I had my very first pair! I saw all four eggs they laid but I was leaving to go visit my dad so I didn't get to see the babies hatch or fledge. Cant wait to hear that they all fledge successfully!
Kyler,
Kyler,
Purple Martin Landlords of Northwest KS
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC9HDLGlbCmSYcSExIySwUQA
2013 - 0 Pair -
2014 - 1 Pair -
2015 - 0 Pair -
2016 - 5 Pair -
2017 - 18 Pair -
2018 - 22 Pair -
2019 - 28 Pair -
2020 - 40 Pair -
2021 - 40 Pair -
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC9HDLGlbCmSYcSExIySwUQA
2013 - 0 Pair -
2014 - 1 Pair -
2015 - 0 Pair -
2016 - 5 Pair -
2017 - 18 Pair -
2018 - 22 Pair -
2019 - 28 Pair -
2020 - 40 Pair -
2021 - 40 Pair -
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Okie
- Posts: 541
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 3:26 pm
- Location: Claremore, OK
- Martin Colony History: 2016 Informed landlord now Have 2 pair returning from 2015 That is a miracle. Hoping for a very successful year, sparrow population on decline.
First house was plastic with crescent holes Had martins within a few days. Ignorant landlord gradually lost them
Then got Trio House and still lost most of them. Lots of sparrows
Congratulations And I absolutely understand your excitement bc I experienced it this year. It is a thrill to look at those ugly pink bodies with the huge dark eyeballs.... They are sooo cute. Keep up with your nest checks & records & don't forget to do a nest change.
That is so awesome you were able to teach those little ones about martins & egg hatching. Way to go. Bet they will never forget that experience.
May your martins have a successful season & return next year.
That is so awesome you were able to teach those little ones about martins & egg hatching. Way to go. Bet they will never forget that experience.
May your martins have a successful season & return next year.
Okie
PMCA member
2016 Started with 2 pair, 1 pair abandoned after HOSP destroyed eggs
1 pair= 6 eggs, 6 fledged
2017 1 pair so far, But they abandoned before nest complete for ?reason? Now Bridless and joined the Wannabes
2018 One pair ASY male SY female 5 eggs, 5 fledged
PMCA member
2016 Started with 2 pair, 1 pair abandoned after HOSP destroyed eggs
1 pair= 6 eggs, 6 fledged
2017 1 pair so far, But they abandoned before nest complete for ?reason? Now Bridless and joined the Wannabes
2018 One pair ASY male SY female 5 eggs, 5 fledged
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Gun
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2016 11:26 pm
- Location: Foothills, AB
- Martin Colony History: 2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 4 pair - 16 fledged
2018 - 7 pair - 24 fledged
Moved and starting over in 2019
I think the neighbors(Martins) came to visit today. There were 7 in the sky for a while. Looked like an Adult pair with 3 younguns.
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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.
Gun:
AWWWW I just love "pinkies". I hope they all make it & fledge for you. Do at least 1 daily nest check...noon if possible, or late afternoon. Keep records, check for mites & blowfly larva on each chick. Pick off any blowfly lrave (they look like a tiny spot/bump at first & get bigger as they suck blood from the chicks) Change the nest out if you see any parasites on the chicks. They hide under the nesting materials. Keep doing nest checks right up to fledge time. Supplement feed if necessary & also offer crushed egg shells. The parents will also feed the egg shells to the chicks.
IF during a nest check any chicks have wrinkled bellys they are getting or are dehydrated. Supplement feeding via meal worms (crush heads first) or crickets will help the parents to feed them. Don't know how your weather is there, but here in many parts of the USA it's been brutal hot/too wet/or too dry, which makes it hard for parents to find enough food.
Us long timers get excited.... every year they return, build a nest, lay eggs, hatch & fledge too, so not ho humm to us.
Good luck with your little pinkies.
Toy in PA
AWWWW I just love "pinkies"
. I hope they all make it & fledge for you. Do at least 1 daily nest check...noon if possible, or late afternoon. Keep records, check for mites & blowfly larva on each chick. Pick off any blowfly lrave (they look like a tiny spot/bump at first & get bigger as they suck blood from the chicks) Change the nest out if you see any parasites on the chicks. They hide under the nesting materials. Keep doing nest checks right up to fledge time. Supplement feed if necessary & also offer crushed egg shells. The parents will also feed the egg shells to the chicks.IF during a nest check any chicks have wrinkled bellys they are getting or are dehydrated. Supplement feeding via meal worms (crush heads first) or crickets will help the parents to feed them. Don't know how your weather is there, but here in many parts of the USA it's been brutal hot/too wet/or too dry, which makes it hard for parents to find enough food.
Us long timers get excited.... every year they return, build a nest, lay eggs, hatch & fledge too, so not ho humm to us.
Good luck with your little pinkies
.Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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Gun
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2016 11:26 pm
- Location: Foothills, AB
- Martin Colony History: 2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 4 pair - 16 fledged
2018 - 7 pair - 24 fledged
Moved and starting over in 2019
Well I just went and checked them. Parents no where in sight. I couldn't believe what I saw when I pulled out the nest box. Those little rascals were easily twice the size of three days ago. They look great. No sign of parasites. No wrinkles on bellies. Actually they look fat. I should have taken a pix. Tomorrow. I didn't make it to the house and the parents were on the porches.
Thanks all, for the advice!
Thanks all, for the advice!
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Gun
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2016 11:26 pm
- Location: Foothills, AB
- Martin Colony History: 2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 4 pair - 16 fledged
2018 - 7 pair - 24 fledged
Moved and starting over in 2019
Well they all fledged too. I wondered for a bit as there was one small runt. But I think the few times I placed him closer to the hole payed off.
Last friday (8-12) I got to see the first two jump. They were about 45 mins apart. There were 8 others (neighbour colony?) to help chase once they were airborne. Pretty exciting! The next day I saw two more go about mid morning. By the end of the day the whole family was up in the sky.
Lots of visitors since last week too. Tonight I counted 16 PMs overhead at once. I hope they stick around for a while but it is getting cooler.
Last friday (8-12) I got to see the first two jump. They were about 45 mins apart. There were 8 others (neighbour colony?) to help chase once they were airborne. Pretty exciting! The next day I saw two more go about mid morning. By the end of the day the whole family was up in the sky.
Lots of visitors since last week too. Tonight I counted 16 PMs overhead at once. I hope they stick around for a while but it is getting cooler.