Near super colony status, Silver lake WA

[ken buker]

Hello all,

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted to the forum. Check in periodically and see what’s new, but decided I would write a short piece from the Pacific Northwest. Some forum regulars might recall my excitement, when after many years of trying I finally attracted martins to my Silver Lake back yard in 2004. It was a single pair of SY birds that arrived in mid June. They built a nest in a super gourd I had mounted on a pole primarily for tree swallows, but at the time was not occupied. The female built a nest, and there were a few green leaves but she didn’t lay a clutch of eggs. Between June and July they stayed in the area sometimes bring a half dozen other martins into visit. That summer I was ecstatic, and was on top of the word simply because I had martins in my yard. All was quiet by the end of July and I doubted they would be back the following spring. I was wrong, in 2005 I had three pair of martins fledge 15 young.

It's been my dream and mission to attract and care for 100 pair of martins. After plateauing between 81 – 86 pair, (actually declined to 81 pair in 2016) Fast forward to 2017. My Silver Lake colony is 99 pair strong this 2017 season. I put out 110 cavities, and 99 were occupied and contained nest with egg clutches and hatched over 400 young martins. A late female started incubating a four egg clutch on July 5th. If successful she should fledge young the third week of August. I have had martins fledge as late as September 9th, but it’s pretty quit by that time of year.

We banded 356 martin chicks this season during two banding sessions July10th, and July 24th and there were at least 50 additional young martins that were not banded. All and all a good season.

Must admit that there has been a fair amount of ariel predation this season. Even though I maintain a vigilant hawk patrol during fledging there is a constant threat and I’m often too late to intervene. If anyone has suggestions for hawk interference, I’m open to anything. Sometimes my site is hit two or more times a day. It use to be worse between 7:30 – 9:00 pm when birds are returning for the night, or early morning, but now it’s unpredictable. Needless to say a larger colony certainly gets chaotic and noisy during fledging periods. A certain attraction for ariel attacks.

My site consist of 7 commercial racks and a T14. Some thought I'd never get west coast martins in the T14 when I put it up six years years ago, but this season it and the 4 gourds attached below it are at 100% occupancy.

When I get a chance I will send a couple of photo's of my site.

Ken Buker - Silver Lake, Washington

2017 - 99 pair
2016 - 81 pair
2012 - 65 pair
2006 - 13 pair (lost all but four pair to owl predation and feared site abandonment. Now all racks protected with owl guards)
2005 - 3 pair
2004 - one SY pair. built nest, but no eggs

[marcus]

Very interesting to hear news from the martins on the west coast! Thanks for sharing, and congrats on the GREAT season!

[C.C.Martins]

I wonder about those in Arizona and to the western portion of the country, now i believe they are going strong. Those are impressive numbers and you really skyrocketed 2012-17. with a site that big even putting out decoys you will still lose some, may not hurt though.

[GeneP]

Congratulations Ken! Would love to see the photos of your site. Hawks, this was my first season where they were an issue. No answers.

[Rodger Drye]

Wow, Ken - You're the Man.!
What an impressive read. You've come a long way since 2004 - Good For You.! Also impressed to read from anyone hosting Martin's out in the West. I heard there were pockets of Martin's up and down the West Coast but never heard of anyone talking about them until now. Do you know of any other folks out there keeping Martin's.?
As far as Hawks and Predators go we have our fair share here in North Carolina too.! I think anytime you have a large Colony with all that extra noice and activity you're going to attract more Predators.

I would think 100 Pair is getting close to having a Super Colony. That is a lot of Bird's.! What kind of Gourd's or Housing do you use.?
Right now I have all Gourd's (144). All my Gourd's are manufactured and a few I designed myself.
Keep in touch and let us see some of those Pics.
Oh, how far is Seattle from Silver Lake.?
Rodger

[j6745l@gmail.com]

Wow,
Congratulations, that really some accomplishment. Here I thought most Purple Martins were on the East Coast.

Keep up the good work.

John

[taxidermy lady]

That is the best! Congratulations on your almost super colony! I would have a lot of dove decoys up next year and move them around! Scarecrow and also move him around! Air horn if you can strap it on your side and scare the bajiggers out of him a few times! Kathy Freeze has random human activity noises on a cd. Maybe you can set it up with a few saw bucks and the scarecrow can be building and working up a storm! Use your imagination! Good luck next year!

[ken buker]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

I'm trying to attach a couple of photos of my site:

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Congratulations Ken. I remember when nobody had ever had martins in that area of the United States, so now you proved very well that its possible.

[DornCounty]

I've never heard of a colony approaching this size in the west. Great work!

[ken buker]

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Pardon my limited ability while Trying to insert a couple of photos. but haven't got it figured out yet;