Waiting on some Martins

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tn.golfn
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:35 am
Location: Louisville TN
Martin Colony History: first year trying to establish colony, have 12 natural gourds on rack and copied Chuck Abare's A-16.

We are new to forum and still waiting on Martins to arrive. We are in Blount Co. south of Knoxville. Gourds and house have been open for a couple of weeks and still no activity. We are playing Dawn song in morning, no luck yet. We know we may not get birds first year but still hopeful. I have attached pictures of our housing. Oops pictures won't load, will try to add later.

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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.

Hi, welcome to the forum. Migration is a long drawn out event, with the oldest birds returning first to their established colony. Typically it is second year birds (sy) that establish new colonies, and they arrive last. Keep checking the scout report and look for yellow dots. When the yellow dots arrive in your area, you have another month to attract breeding pairs. How are you doing with starling and sparrow control? Its a great idea to do as much elimination of the starling and sparrows as possible, before investigating martins arrive. If starling and sparrows are established before the martins arrive, your chances will be small that the martins will accepts the housing. I wish you all the best. https://www.purplemartin.org/research/8 ... val-study/
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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JMcM
Posts: 46
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:07 am
Location: MS/Belden

Your house and gourds look great!

Last year I had 12-15 martins for the first time at my new place. The year before I had housing up but only had a few visitors. If I remember correctly it was around March 20th, both years, when I started noticing any around my place. I think last year it was well into April before I had any to actually "move in". I had most everything documented in the note pad in my phone but I lost my phone and all my info.

Like Mr Archer said, do your best to control the starlings and sparrows and just be patient. If your housing location is good I feel like you will be rewarded with birds! Good luck!

I'm in North Ms in the Tupelo area. I had three visitors on the 4th and I have a couple that have been hanging around this morning.
Jeff, Sherman MS
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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

Welcome to the Forum... Always great to see new members coming on line.... Your set up looks really good.. Great that you have different options for the birds.. Gourds and housing... Good luck this year...

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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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

Welcome and your set-up looks great.
PMCA MEMBER
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