Closing on the House

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James Strickland FL
Posts: 2249
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
Location: Reidsville NC
Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair

Well it looks as if I will be owner of a New Martin Site on Tuesday 2/28. I have sent the money to the closing Lawyer. I hope to have everything up in a few days for the arrival of Martins into my area. I have 10 Trees that will have to come down and I will be having the guys over next week. These trees are not a big problem, but I am making sure they do not. I have to have some work on the house, but that will done it time. I am sure that the Martins will like the place as it is 21 AC with a 2 AC lake on the property. It is mostly open to the lake. I hope that I will get some Martins this year. I been riding around and there are a lot of Gourds and a few MK12 up. It seem as if trees are not a big issue up here as the Martins are nesting in the Gourds that are up and some trees are close. I think I have seen about 400 hundred Gourds with in about 5 mile that are put up by the farmers here. They really love there Martins here.
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Archer
Posts: 786
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
Location: Manitoba/Altona
Martin Colony History: six pair in 2014, have grown to 52 pairs in 2017.

Sounds exciting James. It can be challenging starting a new colony but with your experience and persistence it should happen. After getting my own colony started, I enjoy helping others get started. Hope you have a great year. Some pictures of your new place and setup would be cool.
2011- first year trying, a few visitors.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
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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

James. ---- Good to here about your house and new martin site.. There is still plenty of time, you will be find..

Dave
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Little Hocking, Ohio
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threelilkids
Posts: 386
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:11 pm
Location: Denham Springs, La
Martin Colony History: 2014 1 pair 3 hatched 3 fledged
2015 1 pair 5 hatched 5 fledged
2016 1 pair 5 hatched 4 fledged
2017 2 pair 8 hatched 8 fledged
2018 4 pair 15 hatched

Congrats and good luck this year, I too hope to see pics this year from you and hope you get Martins. Mary
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Rodger Drye
Posts: 671
Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:07 am
Location: NC/Mt. Pleasant
Martin Colony History: Have been hosting and providing a sanactuary for Purple Martins for 30 years.

James,
Glad to hear the news about the closing. Sounds like you're gonna have an excellent Site with the Pond and all. Can't wait to come up and see you and your Site. Maybe after you get settled in a little bit. I'll be looking forward to it.!
Rodger
PMCA Member
Have been Hosting and Protecting Martin's for 30 years.
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pmartinlover2
Posts: 521
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:37 pm
Location: IL/Hillsboro
Martin Colony History: 2011 Home site--1 SY pair--2 fledged
2016 Satellite Site---4 pair--19 eggs laid--17 hatched--16 fledged
2017 Satellite Site--8 pair--37 eggs laid--34 hatched--34 fledged
2018 11 pair--fledged 60
2019 20 pair-fledged 94
2020 23pair-fledged 108

Good news James! You're making it happen! Hope you're a landlord this year!
____
Jody
Jody in Central Illinois
Landlord in 2016
2016—4 pr fledged 16
2017—8 pr fledged 34
2018—11 pr fledged 60
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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

Good luck this season James. I read your letter & your history in the magazine. Thanks for sharing that, it was interesting. So here you go again, starting from scratch. At least you have the experience on how to do it. Congratulations on the new house.
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
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James Strickland FL
Posts: 2249
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
Location: Reidsville NC
Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair

Well today it going to happen. I plan on being ready by the weekend.I will provide pics soon. Thanks for the support. Also Okie thanks for your response to the article . It was fun writing it and I thinks we should all tell the story of how they got started.
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Chris B
Posts: 379
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 4:10 pm
Location: AL/Toney

That lake will really help attract them and will be a great place to watch them as they drink and bath.
2014 8 gourds, 3 pairs nested. Ended w/ 24 total
2015 24 gourds, 22 nests. Lotsa birds!
2016 24 gourds and good activity.
2017 32 SREH gourds. Great activity.
2018 40 SREH gourds. Good finish despite big storm damage. No more dangling gourds.
2019 56+ SREH gourds, all on 3/8 rods. Birds did very well.
2020 56 SREH gourds.
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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.

Good luck James. Sounds like a perfect place.

You know I rooted for you for years on that Florida colony.

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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James Strickland FL
Posts: 2249
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
Location: Reidsville NC
Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair

Yes Doug you were always in my corner and cheering me on. The property is now mine and Tomorrow I start to do my set-up. It is about time for the Martin to show up here.
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licoop4
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2017 11:05 pm
Location: Meyersville Texas

I live in Meyersville Texas, MY husband and I have been hosting Purple Martins for 46 years with great luck. I saw 2 male PMs circling my houses so I Played the dawn song which made them curious enough to come and check out my 4 houses. This was just before nighfall and it seemed they would stay in the houses. I am so ready for them! They are so delightful. licoop
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Carlton
Posts: 1959
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.

I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.


At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.

At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.

Congrats, Jim! Looking forward to your reports about the new martin site and your new life in NC.

Carl
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James Strickland FL
Posts: 2249
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
Location: Reidsville NC
Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair

Well I put the stacks in the ground this morning and the concrete needs to set and by Friday I will have housing in the air. I put up 2 Bluebird houses up yesterday and I have Bluebird going into 2 of them this morning. I put up 2 more today. Things are looking good. :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: Now I just need Martins to come soon.
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John Evans
Posts: 323
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:56 pm
Location: Cocoa Beach Florida

Congrats James. look like it's all going to work out fine. Also did really enjoy your article as well. Sounds like you live in a martin rich area so you should do fine. Those 400 gourds produce lots of young martins looking for homes!

Best of luck
John
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MichaelH
Posts: 586
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:10 am
Location: IL/Gillespie
Martin Colony History: 2015 28 cavities 2 pairs
2016 big upgrade 56cavities 16 pairs great year
2017. 76 cavities 36 pairs
2018. 146 cavities

Sounds great James once them poles are in the ground this weekend you can breath a sigh of relief and enjoy the birds and your new home congrats and good luck
Mick
2018 146 cavities.
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James Strickland FL
Posts: 2249
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
Location: Reidsville NC
Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair

Well the first pole is up.
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madattiver
Posts: 263
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:44 pm
Location: SK/Saskatoon
Martin Colony History: 12 unit North Star + 4 gourds
2014 - 1 pair
2015 - 1 pair
2016 - 1 pair + 1 sub male (until my female died)
2017 - 6 pair

When do we get pics? lol I am so excited for your first year at the new place.
Adam
Fifth Year Landlord
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Matt F.
Posts: 3978
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Houston, TX

madattiver wrote:When do we get pics? lol I am so excited for your first year at the new place.
Me too Adam!
James, keep us posted!
You've got a lot of fans of yours watching this thread - me included!
Image
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James Strickland FL
Posts: 2249
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
Location: Reidsville NC
Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair

I hope to post some hopefully soon. I am going over today and put up the other pole. It is really cold this morning, but going to get into the 50's later.
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