Advise for terrible dilemma

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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.

I have yellow mouths starting to poke out of the gourds.How many more days until they take flight? My wife has had our ten year wedding anniversary planned for some time now and says that if I think she is changing it for a martin, well then I have just lost my mind.
Help me guys and girls, what am I going to do? I worked all year for this and it looks as if I won't be here to see them leave their nests.
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Ed Svetich-WI
Posts: 815
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.

Answer depends on how old the nestlings are. When did they hatch? Add anywhere from 25 to 32 days from that date to calculate fledgling. Some go earlier and some in the same nest are less adventuresome.

Happy wife, happy life!

Ed
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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.

Tom,
1) You do have a terrible dilemma
2) You are not crazy for pondering this dilemma
3) Your wife and 10th wedding anniversary take top priority

What are you going to do each year when your wedding anniversary falls on fledging time? I thought I was the only one who gets in trouble with the boss about purple martin stuff!
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.
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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.

Ed Svetich-WI wrote:Answer depends on how old the nestlings are. When did they hatch? Add anywhere from 25 to 32 days from that date to calculate fledgling. Some go earlier and some in the same nest are less adventuresome.

Happy wife, happy life!

Ed
The age of the chicks is spread out a lot. I have a couple of clutches that are old enough, but the rest are ranging all the way back to eggs. So if I miss the first ones, I'm sure I can catch the younger chicks when they take their first flight.
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phldave
Posts: 528
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:44 pm
Location: Iowa/Pleasant Hill
Martin Colony History: Started trying in 2012 and still trying

MF, Mine happens in June also, but last year we reached our 40th, and she pretty much acted like it was just another day, So if I ever get a colony started, I'm not too concerned. Anyway, what I'm trying to say, as time goes on maybe this will become less of an issue. Maybe after you get many of these wonderful creatures around, she may even fall in love with them.
2012 late start
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
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Courtney-NC
Posts: 592
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:28 pm
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Martin Colony History: 2009-2015-Helped to manage Raleigh site, 36 cavities
2016- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 1 pair at home site.
2017- 34 pairs at Raleigh site, 3 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2018- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 5 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2019 - 32 pairs at Raleigh site, 7 pairs at home site, 2 pairs at new Holly Springs park site

If you don't see them fledge on that day, you can always watch them return around sundown for roosting. If you're lucky, they'll come back every night for several days. It's quite a sight! Watching all those fledglings trying to figure out which gourd or compartment is theirs, bad landings, hanging upside down off porches, scuffles, multiple birds trying to get into their gourds at the same time, and all the adults trying to round them up and get them into the right place - it's quite a circus! I watched mine try to get settled in for almost an hour last night! :lol:

So, don't worry, there's more to the show! :wink:
-Courtney
-------------------
NC Purple Martin Society (PMCA affiliate)
http://www.ncpurplemartin.org
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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.

phldave wrote:MF, Mine happens in June also, but last year we reached our 40th, and she pretty much acted like it was just another day, So if I ever get a colony started, I'm not too concerned. Anyway, what I'm trying to say, as time goes on maybe this will become less of an issue. Maybe after you get many of these wonderful creatures around, she may even fall in love with them.
My wife actually brought out a couple chairs and she enjoys watching them, but not as much as me. Lol
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Bcorbs1217
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:22 am
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
Martin Colony History: Active colony since 2005.

Not to get too far off topic but would it be a good idea to block unused entrances at fledge time Or do they like to spread out?
Becky Corbett. PM landlord since 2005; 12 supergourds.
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3789
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

Are you just talking one night out or like a week long trip? If you are just talking one night don't sweat it. You won't miss much action (if any) in a single evening, with things spread out. If you are talking about a longer trip that is a different story. My first three years I had martins I missed them fledging. Always falls around vacation time. Where I am at it is later in the season and they usually don't stick around long after their first flight. It was not uncommon to have them all gone in a few days time, never to be seen again until the next year.
2026 HOSP 27
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.
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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

Stay out of trouble; youll live longer to enjoy the Martins. Family first, Martins a VERY close second :) Ours have been coming back for 6 days now. I missed ours too but like Courtney says they will come back, and what fun that is! They get up to some antics, two trying to get in the cavity at once, going in the wrong cavity, realizing the mistake coming out only to face a SY male who gently pushed him off the porch, never ends. Hey, buy her a brand spanking new Trio house complete with crescent openings, reinforced pole, ventilation and enlarged compartments. even offer to put it up. :mrgreen:
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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