Got Martins - KS

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Rockchalk
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 3:39 pm
Location: LaCygne, Kansas
Martin Colony History: Following my mom's footsteps. Old 12 compartment 'Grandpa' at our weekend lake retreat. Reestablished site 2015.

I rebuilt our lake house Martin house two winters ago.... eastern Kansas. House is old and was in bad shape and had been left unattended for longer than I care to admit. Despite less than ideal conditions (trees to close to house) I managed to attract one nesting couple last year. Our lake house is a weekend spot so It's hard to take great care of the Martins but we were thrilled to have them once again. They fledged four and moved on.

Got back to the house last Friday late in the day and was very excited to see Martins flying around. They were a little skittish with me and my big yellow lab galloping around the yard. I lowered the house. One side had a door ajar and the starting of a sparrow nest... cleaned it out. Turned house around. Same compartment as last year, lakeside lower corner, had a nice start to a Martin nest... big smile.

I raised the house back up and went about my chores.... mainly trimming the braches nearest the M House. Wasn't long and I had three adult Martins landing on the house and checking out the compartments... big dark healthy birds... more big smiles. At dusk they went in and spent the night. Next am I left early but there appeared to be half a dozen or so Martins milling around.... flying and cackling. I didn't have much time to spend with them but great to see!

Will post more updates when I get back to the house in a weekend or two.
2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 1 pair - 5 fledged
2018 - 3 pair - 11 fledged
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Kuemic
Posts: 176
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: Topeka, KS
Martin Colony History: 2015 1 pair, 2 eggs destroyed by HOSP
2016 1 pair, 2 fledged, HOSP 46
2017 1 pair, 5 fledged, HOSP 14
2018 daily visitors, HOSP 12
2019 1 pair, 2 fledged, HOSP 14
2020 1pair, 5 fledged, HOSP 17
2021 2 pair, 7 fledged, HOSP 21
2022 3 pair, 12 fledged, HOSP 18
2023 8 pair, 35 fledged, HOSP 16
2024 13 pair, 55 fledged, HOSP 11

Happy for you Rockchalk! Great for NE Kansas!

Michelle
Michelle in Topeka
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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.

Oh Ya! Martins at the lake house, what could be better! Congrats.
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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Rockchalk
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 3:39 pm
Location: LaCygne, Kansas
Martin Colony History: Following my mom's footsteps. Old 12 compartment 'Grandpa' at our weekend lake retreat. Reestablished site 2015.

I got to spend the long weekend with my martins. Looks like I only have one pair. There are others around that visit but they must be nesting in one of the other nearby houses. I was able to eliminate the male sparrow that had taken residence. Lucky and loooong shot with my pellet gun. Sure was nice and quiet for the martins once he was gone. Maybe now he's out of the picture some other will join my pair. They have 5 eggs and look like diligent parents to me.
2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 1 pair - 5 fledged
2018 - 3 pair - 11 fledged
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

NICE! I bet their noise does make your stay better. I just love mine. Good shot on that sparrow too! Good luck with them!
Deb
Pratt KS
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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handyman315
Posts: 300
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 11:03 am
Location: SW Ohio
Martin Colony History: Colony established May 20, 2017 after three unsuccessful years. Persistent and aggressive Tree Swallows plagued the site, but beyond learning - and practicing - to control them, was the return in 2017 of a 2016-SY-M previously unable to find a mate. As a handsome ASY-M, he brought along two females and a swagger that soon put the Tree Swallow issue to rest. As the anchor pair, he and his mate hatched all six of their eggs into fat and healthy babies into what settled in to be a three-pair, flourishing new colony with up to 11 birds total, including 3 SY-M trouble makers.

Really great news! The HOSP move will help all the way 'round.
2023-42 Nests, 197 Eggs/Babies
2022-48 Nests Fledged 203
2021-43 Nests Fledged 185
2020-31 Nests Fledged 133, three early deaths due to cold & rain
2019-19 Nests Fledged 84
2018-11 Nests Fledged 48, ASY-M Arrived April 6, Despite Snow & Cold, Joined Soon by Mate & Two Adult Pairs
2017-3 Nests Fledged 13, FIRST-YEAR LANDLORD! Resident SY-M from 2016 Returned (as ASY-M) on May 20. At Least 11 Adult Residents
2016 Late-Arriving SYs, Resident Lone SY-M
2015-14 Many Visits
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Rockchalk
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 3:39 pm
Location: LaCygne, Kansas
Martin Colony History: Following my mom's footsteps. Old 12 compartment 'Grandpa' at our weekend lake retreat. Reestablished site 2015.

All five of my eggs hatched. Tiny things... couldn't be more then a few days old when I was able to check on them over the weeekdend. Still having some other martins around visiting but no nests for them. Happy to have my one pair :grin:
2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 1 pair - 5 fledged
2018 - 3 pair - 11 fledged
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BillieJR
Posts: 766
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:39 am
Location: Monroe, WI

Congrats on your 5 babies, Rockchalk! What I wouldn't give for that. lol!
Billie from southern Wisconsin
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Rockchalk
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 3:39 pm
Location: LaCygne, Kansas
Martin Colony History: Following my mom's footsteps. Old 12 compartment 'Grandpa' at our weekend lake retreat. Reestablished site 2015.

I had another fun weekend with my martins. My single adult pair is doing great. Five babies are growing fast but packed in my standard size room. definitely need to go with the double room size renovation for next year. I was to chicken to do a nest change so I let them be. Nest looks good and babies are big and no signs of parasites that I could see.

I also have four SA's milling around a lot. Flying with my pair and landing on the house off and on. My one pair from last year fledged four so I'm guessing this is them or at least some of them and their friends. Not sure where they are nesting but very nice to have them around. Martin party!
2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 1 pair - 5 fledged
2018 - 3 pair - 11 fledged
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DornCounty
Posts: 2169
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
Location: Rural SE Kansas
Martin Colony History: .
.
Trio-Jedi

you are on your way!
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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jpp77
Posts: 175
Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:21 pm
Location: Lawrence, KS area
Martin Colony History: 2015 - 1 pair, not successful (Sparrows)
2016 - 1 pair, 4 young
2017 - 5 pair, 23 young
2018 - 8 pair, 40 young, two deaths most likely due to heat.
2019 - 18 pair, 74 eggs, 1 nest abandoned, all the rest successful.
2020 - 32 nests, unknown exact egg numbers, 1 death.

NE Kansas here as well. Just south of Lawrence. Rockchalk. We should have a Purple Martin get together. Hahahaha
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Rockchalk
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 3:39 pm
Location: LaCygne, Kansas
Martin Colony History: Following my mom's footsteps. Old 12 compartment 'Grandpa' at our weekend lake retreat. Reestablished site 2015.

jpp77 wrote:NE Kansas here as well. Just south of Lawrence. Rockchalk. We should have a Purple Martin get together. Hahahaha
I'm a KU guy... hence the 'Rockchalk'. My martin house is in LaCygne KS. South of the JOCO area about an hour.
2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 1 pair - 5 fledged
2018 - 3 pair - 11 fledged
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DornCounty
Posts: 2169
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
Location: Rural SE Kansas
Martin Colony History: .
.
Trio-Jedi

Rockchalk wrote:
jpp77 wrote:NE Kansas here as well. Just south of Lawrence. Rockchalk. We should have a Purple Martin get together. Hahahaha
I'm a KU guy... hence the 'Rockchalk'. My martin house is in LaCygne KS. South of the JOCO area about an hour.

I'm only an hour from your martins!
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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Rockchalk
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 3:39 pm
Location: LaCygne, Kansas
Martin Colony History: Following my mom's footsteps. Old 12 compartment 'Grandpa' at our weekend lake retreat. Reestablished site 2015.

I thought my one pairs babies would fledge around 7/10. Well, I was about a week off. I got down to my lake house last Friday. Martin house was quiet so I decided to trim another branch from the tree near it. Give the babies more room to get back to the house when its time. I decided not to lower the house as I didn't want to risk any jumpers. Not long after doing that my martins showed up. Only thing is, there were too many of them? Martins everywhere, all over the house. I'm thinking... fledging party??? My daughter said... maybe it's the babies dad. And she was right. I had an adult pair nesting and four regular visiting sub adults and five babies. Coincidently I had 11 martins in and out all weekend. We spent hours watching them... binoculars confirmed they were the hatchlings... or sure looked like them (I'm still new to this). Absolutely amazing they can fly as well as they do so young. And not at all deterred from my nearby trees. Still not convinced those were MY babies I decided to lower the house... mind you this was after watching them for three days. Empty house... until they later returned.

Really a successful year for us despite there was only one nesting pair. We had a big group at the lake house including my three siblings. Martins were the hit of the party. Brought back a lot of old memories of my mom tending her martin house. Thank you martins... hope to see you next year.
2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 1 pair - 5 fledged
2018 - 3 pair - 11 fledged
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Rockchalk
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 3:39 pm
Location: LaCygne, Kansas
Martin Colony History: Following my mom's footsteps. Old 12 compartment 'Grandpa' at our weekend lake retreat. Reestablished site 2015.

DornCounty wrote:
Rockchalk wrote:
jpp77 wrote:NE Kansas here as well. Just south of Lawrence. Rockchalk. We should have a Purple Martin get together. Hahahaha
I'm a KU guy... hence the 'Rockchalk'. My martin house is in LaCygne KS. South of the JOCO area about an hour.

I'm only an hour from your martins!
I know DC... next season I'll plan a trip to see your colony. Can't imagine what it's like for you at fledging time. Good luck with it!!!!!
2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 1 pair - 5 fledged
2018 - 3 pair - 11 fledged
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