If you have had fledges, please share your experience with me.
I am curious if the fledges will hang out on the porch of the house for a day or two or if they immediately jump out of the nest? Also I have read that they fledge in the morning usually. Is this true?
This is my first group of 5 babies so I have no experience with regard to this matter. I need to figure it out because I will have to curtail my dogs movements. They will fledge next week some time. They are plump and LOUD. I will not be going into the nest anymore. Am just watching all the activity.
There is a hawk that comes around a lot. I am nervous about him. Hopefully Mom and Dad will hang with the young ones until they are up and flying. I have already seen the Dad chase off the hawk a couple times.
Fledges...
-
KaraInTexas
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:29 am
- Location: North Texas
- Martin Colony History: 2020 - 10 nest sites.
2019 - 8 nest sites and 28 fledged.
2018 - Three mating pair. 12 babies, all fledged. Found one adult female dead in house. Cause of death - unable to ascertain. Very sad day.
2017 - First mating pair in Heath house. May 3-5: 5 eggs laid. June 1-3: all hatched. July 3: all 5 fledged.
Approximately 20 adult martins here for the fledge party.
July 1: Installed 4 gourds as well as the 3 houses. The Martins love them!
2016 - Many martins, no nests or eggs. Too many HOSP.
I have a 12 compartment Heath house I converted to a 4 compartment house to allow the Martins more room and hopefully evade owls. I have put in a second house, the S&K 12 compartment one which I converted to 6 compartments. My neighbor also has the same S&K house I converted to a 6 compartment house.
I have eight or more Martins that visit daily.
May the Martins be with you. 
If you have a house with a porch, yes the young birds will wander out a day or two before their first flight. They may go in and out, they may wait on the porch to be fed. On fledge day the parents might stop feeding them to let them lose some weight and encourage them to fly. Neighboring Martins sometimes show up for fledge party.
2025 - 15 pair, 56 fledged
-
KaraInTexas
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:29 am
- Location: North Texas
- Martin Colony History: 2020 - 10 nest sites.
2019 - 8 nest sites and 28 fledged.
2018 - Three mating pair. 12 babies, all fledged. Found one adult female dead in house. Cause of death - unable to ascertain. Very sad day.
2017 - First mating pair in Heath house. May 3-5: 5 eggs laid. June 1-3: all hatched. July 3: all 5 fledged.
Approximately 20 adult martins here for the fledge party.
July 1: Installed 4 gourds as well as the 3 houses. The Martins love them!
2016 - Many martins, no nests or eggs. Too many HOSP.
I have a 12 compartment Heath house I converted to a 4 compartment house to allow the Martins more room and hopefully evade owls. I have put in a second house, the S&K 12 compartment one which I converted to 6 compartments. My neighbor also has the same S&K house I converted to a 6 compartment house.
I have eight or more Martins that visit daily.
Thank you very much
It is a house with a porch.
It is a house with a porch.
May the Martins be with you.
-
C.C.Martins
- Posts: 3368
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
- Location: Corpus Christi Tx
- Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member
Ill share my experiences, BUT sounds like we are in the same boat. two are vying for control of the entrance, they should fledge this week, but Ill probably miss it 
work! I'd like to see if they come all the way out as well; most I get now is a full head. Yeah, loud! boy. they are loud. Thats good, no nest checks until they can roam around, doing the same thing.
share what you see please!
Tom
work! I'd like to see if they come all the way out as well; most I get now is a full head. Yeah, loud! boy. they are loud. Thats good, no nest checks until they can roam around, doing the same thing.share what you see please!
Tom
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
-
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.
Yes they will make their way out onto the porch. This can go one for a few plus days until they are ready to take the plunge. Parents back off feeding, often stopping altogether for a few days. This is to force them to leave the nest & take flight. I've seen parents dangle a dragonfly in front of them, but not let them have it. When they do take flight, & it can be morning or even early evening, the parents & other martins will join the fledgling & bump it higher in the air to keep it flying & off the ground. They will take it for a short flight & then back to the house. It will often crash land on the porch or do an awkward landing on the top of the house. The parents will do their best to get all fledglings into the house before dark. Kids will be kids & some will resist until the last possible moment. Some will refuse & stay in a nearby tree. They will practice flying over several days, while parents may offer a tiny meal, they must learn to catch food themselves. The last chick, often the smallest, will take longer to take flight. How long they stay after all chicks have fledged is up to the parents. Some stay for a few plus weeks, while others may leave soon after the whole clutch has fledged.
If insects are scarce in your area, due to spraying, etc, you may consider offering supplemental food (crickets or meal worms). It will help the so the parents to feed the chicks.
Toy in PA
If insects are scarce in your area, due to spraying, etc, you may consider offering supplemental food (crickets or meal worms). It will help the so the parents to feed the chicks.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
-
4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Kara,
You should have been here for the past few days. You would have observed exactly what you want to see. The young babies are coming in and out of the entrance hole, sitting on the porch and begging the parents for food.
Add to that scene, the visiting martins for the fledge party. If you have any nearby colonies, visiting martins come to encourage and protect the fledglings. It gets pretty loud and rowdy when a hawk tries to fly overhead. The visiting martins fly up to chase off the Cooper's hawk. Martins know that the Cooper's hawk is bad news.
You should have been here for the past few days. You would have observed exactly what you want to see. The young babies are coming in and out of the entrance hole, sitting on the porch and begging the parents for food.
Add to that scene, the visiting martins for the fledge party. If you have any nearby colonies, visiting martins come to encourage and protect the fledglings. It gets pretty loud and rowdy when a hawk tries to fly overhead. The visiting martins fly up to chase off the Cooper's hawk. Martins know that the Cooper's hawk is bad news.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
-
4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
My sister in Seguin, TX has a large martin colony 1/4 mile away from her 36 gourd colony. Every day is a fledge party with 20-30 visiting martins for the past several weeks.
If you have a chance to go see the Austin pre-migratory roost, then do not miss it. It is starting up now.
If you have a chance to go see the Austin pre-migratory roost, then do not miss it. It is starting up now.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
-
Martinfarmer
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 6:33 pm
- Location: Guthrie KY 42234
- Martin Colony History: 2015 put up a S-k house, visitors but no takers
2016 homemade Martin condo (40 nesting boxes) several visitors no takers
2017 changed crescent openings to Troyer Conley 2 openings and installed 4 super gourds with Conley2 adapters and 12 vertical Troyers.
Several nests and eggs. Hopefully will exceed one hundred eggs this year.
6-21-17 nest inspection 68 chicks and 26 eggs
6-30-17 inspection 90 chicks and a new nest with 4 eggs.
8-30-17 successfully fledged over 85 martins.
This is my first year to host nesting Martins. I have one nest that should fledge this week.
I did a Sunday nest check and found sixty five chicks and thirty six eggs. When I started out I was thinking " Lord I hope you will send a pair of martins to start my colony".
A whole army of them showed up!
I will let you know in a couple of days what Kentucky martins do when they are ready for their first flight.
I did a Sunday nest check and found sixty five chicks and thirty six eggs. When I started out I was thinking " Lord I hope you will send a pair of martins to start my colony".
A whole army of them showed up!
I will let you know in a couple of days what Kentucky martins do when they are ready for their first flight.
-
Martinfarmer
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 6:33 pm
- Location: Guthrie KY 42234
- Martin Colony History: 2015 put up a S-k house, visitors but no takers
2016 homemade Martin condo (40 nesting boxes) several visitors no takers
2017 changed crescent openings to Troyer Conley 2 openings and installed 4 super gourds with Conley2 adapters and 12 vertical Troyers.
Several nests and eggs. Hopefully will exceed one hundred eggs this year.
6-21-17 nest inspection 68 chicks and 26 eggs
6-30-17 inspection 90 chicks and a new nest with 4 eggs.
8-30-17 successfully fledged over 85 martins.
Mark, my daughter lives in Austin. Is the roost easy to find? Maybe I can sweet talk her into videoing it for me.4th Gen Martin Fan wrote:My sister in Seguin, TX has a large martin colony 1/4 mile away from her 36 gourd colony. Every day is a fledge party with 20-30 visiting martins for the past several weeks.
If you have a chance to go see the Austin pre-migratory roost, then do not miss it. It is starting up now.
-
4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Yes, the Purple Martin Parties by Travis Audubon in Austin, TX are easy to find and amazing to experience.
http://travisaudubon.org/purple-martin-parties
The purple martin pre-migratory roost is at the Embassy Suites Hotel parking lot at 1501 N. I-35 Frontage Road this year.
My sister says to bring lawn chairs and hats or umbrellas. Her car will get hit by poop and she can expect to get pooped on if she does not bring a hat or umbrella. It is inevitable with hundreds of thousands of purple martins flying around in giant swirls over everyone's heads. In spite of that my sister and her husband will go again.
A recording for you will be great but my sister says it is impossible to video tape the entire sky at once. That is how big the experience is.
There are several YouTube videos to watch from past years so she can be prepared and excited to go.
http://travisaudubon.org/purple-martin-parties
The purple martin pre-migratory roost is at the Embassy Suites Hotel parking lot at 1501 N. I-35 Frontage Road this year.
My sister says to bring lawn chairs and hats or umbrellas. Her car will get hit by poop and she can expect to get pooped on if she does not bring a hat or umbrella. It is inevitable with hundreds of thousands of purple martins flying around in giant swirls over everyone's heads. In spite of that my sister and her husband will go again.
A recording for you will be great but my sister says it is impossible to video tape the entire sky at once. That is how big the experience is.
There are several YouTube videos to watch from past years so she can be prepared and excited to go.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
-
KaraInTexas
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:29 am
- Location: North Texas
- Martin Colony History: 2020 - 10 nest sites.
2019 - 8 nest sites and 28 fledged.
2018 - Three mating pair. 12 babies, all fledged. Found one adult female dead in house. Cause of death - unable to ascertain. Very sad day.
2017 - First mating pair in Heath house. May 3-5: 5 eggs laid. June 1-3: all hatched. July 3: all 5 fledged.
Approximately 20 adult martins here for the fledge party.
July 1: Installed 4 gourds as well as the 3 houses. The Martins love them!
2016 - Many martins, no nests or eggs. Too many HOSP.
I have a 12 compartment Heath house I converted to a 4 compartment house to allow the Martins more room and hopefully evade owls. I have put in a second house, the S&K 12 compartment one which I converted to 6 compartments. My neighbor also has the same S&K house I converted to a 6 compartment house.
I have eight or more Martins that visit daily.
HOLY COW!!! I have little faces peeking out!!! The parents aren't going into the house to feed today, but just stopping on porch to deliver a snack. Wow!! I am super excited!!! I hope all 5 are successful.
May the Martins be with you.
-
C.C.Martins
- Posts: 3368
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
- Location: Corpus Christi Tx
- Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member
Kara,
Five faces, going to be very exciting, wow! should be quite a show when they all get going! Im sure they will be fine and youve added 5 more to the population! The ASYs here arent feeding the chicks now, female slept on the lower balcony last night was there this morning instead of in the cavity. Chicks are complaining as usual; both parents hanging around. This should be a good learning experience for us.
One PS: There is a park I go during lunch, has a few martin houses in some yards, there are lots of Martin chicks in the tall cottonwood trees on the park periphery...still loud, mom and dad in attendance feeding them. yesterday they were in the center of the park, now they have ranged out a bit more.
Five faces, going to be very exciting, wow! should be quite a show when they all get going! Im sure they will be fine and youve added 5 more to the population! The ASYs here arent feeding the chicks now, female slept on the lower balcony last night was there this morning instead of in the cavity. Chicks are complaining as usual; both parents hanging around. This should be a good learning experience for us.
One PS: There is a park I go during lunch, has a few martin houses in some yards, there are lots of Martin chicks in the tall cottonwood trees on the park periphery...still loud, mom and dad in attendance feeding them. yesterday they were in the center of the park, now they have ranged out a bit more.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
-
C.C.Martins
- Posts: 3368
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
- Location: Corpus Christi Tx
- Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member
Kara, got home today and there were Martins flying around the neighbors oaks down the street...never saw that before so checked the house; ASY male female cavity is empty! Lots of activity but not what Im used to; they are stirred up. some newbies too. 
Went to those folks home and introduced myself and asked if I could peer into their trees with binoculars. Four fledgelings sitting pretty as you please, tended by 3 other martins and my pair. Making a BIG deal of the whole affair; boy they made it! Im on cloud nine!
Neighbors know more about Martins than they probably want to now but they seemed to enjoy it all. Fledges all cooperated and came out to sit on a wire, very cool! They are in a good spot. tall trees, water near by...hope they come tonight!
Last night the female was doing her best to get one to come out on the porch, tried and tried. come nightfall she slept on the lower balcony again. was there this morning. missed it, but boy, Im happy.
Tom
Went to those folks home and introduced myself and asked if I could peer into their trees with binoculars. Four fledgelings sitting pretty as you please, tended by 3 other martins and my pair. Making a BIG deal of the whole affair; boy they made it! Im on cloud nine!
Neighbors know more about Martins than they probably want to now but they seemed to enjoy it all. Fledges all cooperated and came out to sit on a wire, very cool! They are in a good spot. tall trees, water near by...hope they come tonight!
Last night the female was doing her best to get one to come out on the porch, tried and tried. come nightfall she slept on the lower balcony again. was there this morning. missed it, but boy, Im happy.
Tom
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
-
Martinfarmer
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 6:33 pm
- Location: Guthrie KY 42234
- Martin Colony History: 2015 put up a S-k house, visitors but no takers
2016 homemade Martin condo (40 nesting boxes) several visitors no takers
2017 changed crescent openings to Troyer Conley 2 openings and installed 4 super gourds with Conley2 adapters and 12 vertical Troyers.
Several nests and eggs. Hopefully will exceed one hundred eggs this year.
6-21-17 nest inspection 68 chicks and 26 eggs
6-30-17 inspection 90 chicks and a new nest with 4 eggs.
8-30-17 successfully fledged over 85 martins.
Last night the female was doing her best to get one to come out on the porch, tried and tried. come nightfall she slept on the lower balcony again. was there this morning. missed it, but boy, Im happy.
Tom[/quote]
Tom you remind me of how I felt when they rolled my son up to the viewing window at the hospital when he was born!
I have several chicks with feathers, so it won't be long until the big party. I sure hope I don't miss it.
Tom[/quote]
Tom you remind me of how I felt when they rolled my son up to the viewing window at the hospital when he was born!
I have several chicks with feathers, so it won't be long until the big party. I sure hope I don't miss it.
-
C.C.Martins
- Posts: 3368
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
- Location: Corpus Christi Tx
- Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member
Its weird right? Just how it feels, good thing my kids don't watch this site...
You are going to do the exact same thing sir.
You are going to do the exact same thing sir.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
-
KaraInTexas
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:29 am
- Location: North Texas
- Martin Colony History: 2020 - 10 nest sites.
2019 - 8 nest sites and 28 fledged.
2018 - Three mating pair. 12 babies, all fledged. Found one adult female dead in house. Cause of death - unable to ascertain. Very sad day.
2017 - First mating pair in Heath house. May 3-5: 5 eggs laid. June 1-3: all hatched. July 3: all 5 fledged.
Approximately 20 adult martins here for the fledge party.
July 1: Installed 4 gourds as well as the 3 houses. The Martins love them!
2016 - Many martins, no nests or eggs. Too many HOSP.
I have a 12 compartment Heath house I converted to a 4 compartment house to allow the Martins more room and hopefully evade owls. I have put in a second house, the S&K 12 compartment one which I converted to 6 compartments. My neighbor also has the same S&K house I converted to a 6 compartment house.
I have eight or more Martins that visit daily.
7/3/17 all 5 babies have fledged. I am ecstatic. I miss them already, but the adults in the community keep stopping by to assure me they too will nest here next year.
I need to do some research about when to take the house down to clean it.
I also need to research when they will begin their migration south.
I need to do some research about when to take the house down to clean it.
I also need to research when they will begin their migration south.
May the Martins be with you.
-
KaraInTexas
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:29 am
- Location: North Texas
- Martin Colony History: 2020 - 10 nest sites.
2019 - 8 nest sites and 28 fledged.
2018 - Three mating pair. 12 babies, all fledged. Found one adult female dead in house. Cause of death - unable to ascertain. Very sad day.
2017 - First mating pair in Heath house. May 3-5: 5 eggs laid. June 1-3: all hatched. July 3: all 5 fledged.
Approximately 20 adult martins here for the fledge party.
July 1: Installed 4 gourds as well as the 3 houses. The Martins love them!
2016 - Many martins, no nests or eggs. Too many HOSP.
I have a 12 compartment Heath house I converted to a 4 compartment house to allow the Martins more room and hopefully evade owls. I have put in a second house, the S&K 12 compartment one which I converted to 6 compartments. My neighbor also has the same S&K house I converted to a 6 compartment house.
I have eight or more Martins that visit daily.
How many nesting cavities do you have?? That's a lot of babies!!! I will be adding nesting cavities for next year.Martinfarmer wrote:This is my first year to host nesting Martins. I have one nest that should fledge this week.
I did a Sunday nest check and found sixty five chicks and thirty six eggs. When I started out I was thinking " Lord I hope you will send a pair of martins to start my colony".
A whole army of them showed up!
I will let you know in a couple of days what Kentucky martins do when they are ready for their first flight.
Way to go!
May the Martins be with you.
-
Martinfarmer
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 6:33 pm
- Location: Guthrie KY 42234
- Martin Colony History: 2015 put up a S-k house, visitors but no takers
2016 homemade Martin condo (40 nesting boxes) several visitors no takers
2017 changed crescent openings to Troyer Conley 2 openings and installed 4 super gourds with Conley2 adapters and 12 vertical Troyers.
Several nests and eggs. Hopefully will exceed one hundred eggs this year.
6-21-17 nest inspection 68 chicks and 26 eggs
6-30-17 inspection 90 chicks and a new nest with 4 eggs.
8-30-17 successfully fledged over 85 martins.
How many nesting cavities do you have?? That's a lot of babies!!! I will be adding nesting cavities for next year.
Way to go![/quote]
Hi Karen, I have 56 cavities available. This year I he ill have around 23 nesting pairs. I'm so pleased with my setup. Even with all the wet weather, my chicks have all been dry and healthy. No mites or blow flies.
I have the cogs going already for another winter time martin house project. I am definitely hooked by the martins. (Song going in my head for the martins. Olivia NJ hopelessly devoted to you)
Way to go![/quote]
Hi Karen, I have 56 cavities available. This year I he ill have around 23 nesting pairs. I'm so pleased with my setup. Even with all the wet weather, my chicks have all been dry and healthy. No mites or blow flies.
I have the cogs going already for another winter time martin house project. I am definitely hooked by the martins. (Song going in my head for the martins. Olivia NJ hopelessly devoted to you)