Moved and left behind an active colony
Last summer, we sold our house of 30 years, leaving behind an established Martin Colony (22-25 years old). The martins were fledging just as we moved away but we left the house and gourds. We reserved the right to go back and get them. Nobody is currently living in our old house and I'm looking for advice on what's best for this year's birds who will not have anyone there to protect them from sparrows and starlings or to monitor the nests. Two solutions I've thought about are to leave some of the gourds but only those with crescent openings or to remove all the martin housing from the property forcing them to go elsewhere. Every year, we have had to shoot numerous house sparrows and starlings so the martins will be vulnerable. Thanks for your thoughts on this.
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tonyg
- Posts: 1520
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:16 pm
- Location: Olpe, KS
- Martin Colony History: 22 year landlord, 14 at current residence..offering 9 racks and a homemade T-8 for 166 total cavities. 160 Pair in 2018 Racks consist of a Deluxe 12, AAA 16, Starburst 16, 2 K-18 Series, Super 24, 2 Gemini, Multi-purpose/two trio’s/4gourds and a T-8..Great hobby to be involved in..
I would personally pull up stakes and hope they find another place to go...I wouldn't want to subject them to having to battle starlings for their home, they would lose the fight at every turn..if there were maybe a nearby colony in the area they could migrate to, that would be beneficial..so sorry you had to move... I hope I don't have to to that as I have a good size colony I would have to leave behind, and would feel terrible..
22 year landlord..9 Rack Systems for 2018 and my home built T-8 for a total of 166 cavities..160 pair in 2018 ..SUPER COLONY!!! Love You Bev... Fan of those St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!
Thanks for your suggestion. I think I will take everything down. I am giving a former neighbor a nice gourd setup. He has a great location so I'm hoping some of my birds go there or at least that others find and start a colony there. I will put some of the old gourds up at my new house but it is not as open there as the martins prefer. We saw martins flying over last summer so we may have some luck starting a new colony there too. I appreciate your feedback.
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GeneP
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:35 am
- Location: Kansas, Lawrence
- Martin Colony History: 1 gourd rack with 24 gourd capacity. 2018, my 11th year hosting martins.
18 pair in 2017.
I agree with Tony, take it all down. Your neighbor should get some of your former martins.
I would suggest in your new location to use the Dawn Song CD. You already know about taking care of starlings and house sparrows. That's more than most people who put up housing.
I wish you the best of luck in your new home.
I would suggest in your new location to use the Dawn Song CD. You already know about taking care of starlings and house sparrows. That's more than most people who put up housing.
I wish you the best of luck in your new home.
PMCA Member, Single Gourd Rack, 2019 marks 12 years hosting martins.
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Mark Peters
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 8:39 pm
- Location: Texas/Houston
- Martin Colony History: I only have one 16 compartment house. I only have a small backyard so I have to be happy with what I got.
No problems having several pairs for the past 5 years. Never quite have a full house.
I agree. Take the houses down. They will find a new home. They are smart birds. 
Mark
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3795
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
How far away are you moving?
I moved and left an active colony behind. The first year after I moved out I left the housing up as I knew I would be searching for a house pretty close by, so I wanted to give my returning martins a chance to nest and fledge. I did stop in about once a month and do nest checks etc. That fall I found a new house about 7 miles away. The following spring I did not put any of the housing up at my old house (the new owner had no interest). I put the housing up at my new place in hopes of attracting some of the returning displaced martins and or some of the SY's that fledged from my site. So far it has been hit and miss at my new location.
I moved and left an active colony behind. The first year after I moved out I left the housing up as I knew I would be searching for a house pretty close by, so I wanted to give my returning martins a chance to nest and fledge. I did stop in about once a month and do nest checks etc. That fall I found a new house about 7 miles away. The following spring I did not put any of the housing up at my old house (the new owner had no interest). I put the housing up at my new place in hopes of attracting some of the returning displaced martins and or some of the SY's that fledged from my site. So far it has been hit and miss at my new location.
2026 HOSP 29
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
We moved about 10 miles. But the neighbor I am setting up with gourds is only 3 miles from the old house. My new house is in a small development surrounded by mature woods. I have measured it out and there is one location in the yard that meets all the criteria so wish me luck. Thanks for posting and good luck to you too!