Will all the new landlords please standup!

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
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csmibert
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2017 4:41 pm
Location: AB, Canada
Martin Colony History: 2017 1 pair. 5 fledged
2018 2 pair 6 fledged
2019 5 pair 17 fledged

Attach are two photos of my house
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Henry Limpet
Posts: 122
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:48 pm
Location: IN./Howe, via the s/w side of Chicago
Martin Colony History: Trendsetter-8. Set up in 2014 at my summer cottage, a beautiful natural inland lake in N.E. Indiana's Amish Country. T-8 is on cleared land behind my pole barn and adjacent to a farmer's field

2015: Had several flyovers in early June with 1 dedicated SYM visitor who visited each day for well over a month. He brought by a few PM "parades", with 8-12 PM's who would visit all at once, but soon leave. (Added 2 gourds to bottom of the T-8). We discovered a large (Amish) colony apx. 3/4 mile South of our T-8. We think this will eventually be our "feeder" colony.

2016: Put up a Trio G'Pa lakeside. Overall, not as much interest as 2015, likely because of our vacation to Gulf Shores, AL. in early June.

2017: Finally switched over to wheat straw. Success!! One nesting pair. Fledged 4!
2018: Zilch.
2019: Slow start, nothing observed by mid June. Wet, cold Spring a factor??
2020: Barely any sightings.
2021: Several observed high in the sky, eating. No interest so far!

N.E. Indiana

I finally had a nesting pair this year (2017). This was my fourth summer. Although I wasn't at the cottage to witness it, I fledged 4. They did come back to say hello for several nights afterwards.

I did one nest change at 10 days in. Repeated Sevin dust during the nest change. Nesting martins chose a bottom compartment of my T-8 instead of the gourds. Lots of additional visitors since the fledge date, which was weird, so I have high hopes for 2018.

One day in mid July (prior to fledging), I had a swarm of 25-30 visitors. Now THAT was cool!!!!!
Be careful how you wish . . for wishes can come true . . be sure that every wish you make is one that's right for you!
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

I'm so happy for you Henry! It's finally happened for you! Yeah!!!!!! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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cabin man
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:55 am
Location: New Jersey / Tinton Falls
Martin Colony History: Got my first SY pair in 2017. Fledged 1, but died due to wing entrapment. 2018- changed all entrances and got one ASY pair. Fledged 3. 2019- Male returned. Disappeared after 12 days. Suspect hawk. No nesting pairs. 2020- 1 pair. Fledged 3. 2021- 12 pairs fledged 43.. 2022- 22pairs. 100 eggs .fledged74 2024–. 42 pairs, fledged186– 2025- 56 pairs, fledged 233

That's awesome, Henry. Must have been real exciting to see all those martins flying around. Mine are due to fledge today. It's raining, though. I'm not sure if it will happen in the rain. Am watching, just in case! Congratulations again. Rob
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

I think most fledge at 29 days Rob! Give or take a day! Mine zipped out before the sun came above the eastern tree line! All within an hour they were out! Good luck! It's so much fun to watch them fly for their first time! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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csmibert
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2017 4:41 pm
Location: AB, Canada
Martin Colony History: 2017 1 pair. 5 fledged
2018 2 pair 6 fledged
2019 5 pair 17 fledged

flyin-lowe wrote:CS
Take some pictures of the house, is it home made or a commercial made house? Many of them can be expanded so you have half as many rooms but they will be 12 inches deep. It would be a good idea, especially if you are going to add more housing, to expand the cavities in the house you have then add more modern housing.
Attachments
DC16E14F-B580-4279-9297-E81861041143.JPG
DC16E14F-B580-4279-9297-E81861041143.JPG (37.89 KiB) Viewed 8481 times
290AB5AE-237D-4368-87B2-0087FD66EE25.JPG
290AB5AE-237D-4368-87B2-0087FD66EE25.JPG (39.26 KiB) Viewed 8481 times
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

That is so cool! Love it! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Mitch Booth
Posts: 480
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
Location: Akron, OH
Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair

Well I finally had a nesting pair and they successfully fledged 4 young. I did have 3 additional SY males that hung around mid May through the first week of July. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they don't come back next year as adults!! Moving the three gourd racks into one location was the trick I believe. If history repeats itself I will not be hosting martins next year but let's hope I've finally broken through...

Cheers,

Mitch
2020 - 17 pair 77 eggs 69 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
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pmartinlover2
Posts: 521
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:37 pm
Location: IL/Hillsboro
Martin Colony History: 2011 Home site--1 SY pair--2 fledged
2016 Satellite Site---4 pair--19 eggs laid--17 hatched--16 fledged
2017 Satellite Site--8 pair--37 eggs laid--34 hatched--34 fledged
2018 11 pair--fledged 60
2019 20 pair-fledged 94
2020 23pair-fledged 108

Congrats to all of you new landlords! There's nothing better than seeing them choose your site, nest, then fledge their babies. Of course when they come back to you next year is pretty awesome too! You're gonna love it!!!
_____
Jody
Jody in Central Illinois
Landlord in 2016
2016—4 pr fledged 16
2017—8 pr fledged 34
2018—11 pr fledged 60
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Mitch Booth
Posts: 480
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
Location: Akron, OH
Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair

I had 50-75 birds siting on the gourd racks every night and every morning for the last couple of weeks. This is only because I'm about a mile away from a roost. Hopefully some will come back next year and break my string of bad luck!!

Mitch
2020 - 17 pair 77 eggs 69 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

That's awesome! I sure hope they come back for you! Let's break this bad hex! Lol Good luck! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Russel Loire
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 1:21 pm
Location: SK/Regina

I missed this post. Made my first year as a landlord this year. I learned many things this year. Most importantly that climbing a ladder to do nest checks is a PITA. I will be replacing the housing at the Satellite site with a pole and winch. I started with an ASY male who attracted a SY female. 2 Subsequent SY pairs joined my founding pair. 1st and 2nd nests ended up with 5 eggs and 3rd pair laid 4 eggs. All eggs hatched, but Nests in #1 and #2 1 chick went missing in each. The Female from Nest #2 went missing around day 14 into the chicks lives. The Male did his best to keep up and managed to raise 2 of his 4 little ones. All in all it was an exciting season. I'm thinking I'll utilize the North Star house as designed by Bob Buskas. It's biggest plus to me is that it allows individual nest checks.
I cannot wait another 7 months!
Bring on 2018!
PMCA Member
2013 - 1 SY Male Looker. Couple of Fly-bys.
2014 - Observed no Lookers :(
2015 - Bird-X Songbird Magnet, Sym and 2 others with him visited 4 days in a row.
2016 - Few Fly-bys at home. Started Public Site, a few vistors
2017 - Home, Visitors, Satellite Site, 3 Pairs, 14 eggs, 10 Fledged!
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Mitch Booth
Posts: 480
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
Location: Akron, OH
Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair

Well if history repeats itself I will be martinless again this coming season. It won't be long!!! I do believe with the small modifications, pole placement and removal of trees that were close to house this is the best setup I've ever had. I'm finally at peace with what I have as I can't really improve or do anything else at this stage of the game but wait.

Mitch
2020 - 17 pair 77 eggs 69 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
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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.

Have followed your efforts (posts) . . . puzzling results. What do you think? Is the close proximity of the PM roost actually hampering your colony, i.e., harassing your birds? Did not try to search every past post or response; what do others say?

Best of luck for 2018!
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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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

Mitch,
I hope this is the consistent return year, your set up and location has none better, (looked at earlier posts-saw the address). You have room and water. I wonder if Handyman315 has a point, I mean what else can it be? large numbers of visitors...is there anyone else near you that hosts Martins?
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

They will be back this year! You have moved your setup where they like it and all fledged! Your happy, their happy! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Mitch Booth
Posts: 480
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
Location: Akron, OH
Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair

handyman315 wrote:Have followed your efforts (posts) . . . puzzling results. What do you think? Is the close proximity of the PM roost actually hampering your colony, i.e., harassing your birds? Did not try to search every past post or response; what do others say?

Best of luck for 2018!

Handyman,

No I do not believe being so close to the roost is hampering my efforts. I did remove a few trees that were close to the house and put up all three gourd racks within 20 feet of each other. I've had numerous people tell me "If you can't get martins here, nobody will get them" I'm completely surrounded by trees but they are pretty far away on 3 of four sides. I sit in the middle of 11 acres and have approximately a 1-1/2 acre surface area pond. My biggest struggle right now are the tree swallows and bluebirds but I will keep ALL cavities closed this year until I see the first martins.

Mitch
2020 - 17 pair 77 eggs 69 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
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Mitch Booth
Posts: 480
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
Location: Akron, OH
Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair

I heart birds wrote:Mitch,
I hope this is the consistent return year, your set up and location has none better, (looked at earlier posts-saw the address). You have room and water. I wonder if Handyman315 has a point, I mean what else can it be? large numbers of visitors...is there anyone else near you that hosts Martins?
Tom,

Yes I'm actually in a martin rich area. Our area which is known as the Portage Lakes was recently named the Purple Martin Capital of Ohio. I have probably 40 colonies within a 5 mile radius with one being a super colony with over 100 cavities. I truly feel this year will be my year and I'll be okay if it doesn't happen as there is really nothing else I can do at this stage of time. In the past I had to severally fight the tree swallows and bluebirds but I'm not opening any of their housing until after I have a few martins spending the night.

Mitch
2020 - 17 pair 77 eggs 69 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
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Mitch Booth
Posts: 480
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
Location: Akron, OH
Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair

Sharon,

Best of luck to you this year as well!! Keep me in the loop!!!

Mitch -
2020 - 17 pair 77 eggs 69 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
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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.

Yes I'm actually in a martin rich area. Our area which is known as the Portage Lakes was recently named the Purple Martin Capital of Ohio. I have probably 40 colonies within a 5 mile radius with one being a super colony with over 100 cavities. I truly feel this year will be my year and I'll be okay if it doesn't happen as there is really nothing else I can do at this stage of time. In the past I had to severally fight the tree swallows and bluebirds but I'm not opening any of their housing until after I have a few martins spending the night.

Mitch
Whole-heartedly agree about keeping those cavities closed as long as possible; in my case it was to discourage Tree Swallows and House Sparrows, and last year it was one of the factors that seemed to get my first-year nesting going. My colony is also in Ohio, and I had been guilty of opening my housing too soon the prior three years, which only made the already-bad Tree Swallow situation worse. I also have a couple super colonies (at least) within three miles. Although I was (finally) elated with last season's results after four years, your story makes me wonder about next year. Was this just a flash in the pan? Obviously a colony is not truly "started" after just one year. Maybe I'm just having off-season frets. :shock:
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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