Just had success flipping crickets

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Mark/OH
Posts: 47
Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:49 am
Location: OH/Waynesville
Martin Colony History: 2011 1 Pair, 2012 5 Pair, 2013 11 Pair, 2014 12 Pair, 2015 17 Pair. 2016 15 Pair DYI Gourd rack with 16 plastic gourds, Plastic 4 room house with 6 plastic gourds underneath.

I tried to flip crickets last year with no success. I would flip and they just sat and looked. This year I had a ASY female show up Monday. I tried to flip crickets but when I got close she took off. Tried twice and the second time I never saw her come back. I didn't see her all week after work. One gourd does have a bowl in the pine straw though so I think she has been around. Today 30 degrees still and I saw her. I got crickets went out but she was gone. Saw her sitting on her purch again back out in the cold and wind to flip again. This time she took the second one and everyone after that. Feed her a couple dozen till the last few she just let fly by, guess she got full. I'll be back out for supper. Great to know you can get them through the hump till better days come.
Mark Waynesville, OH
__________
PMCA MEMBER
2017 22 Pair
2016 15 Pair 84 eggs
2015 17 Pair 108 eggs 78 young 55 fledged
2014 13 Pair 70 eggs 51 young 50 fledged
2013 10 Pair 51 eggs 39 young 39 fledged
2012 5 Pair
2011 1 Pair
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BillieJR
Posts: 766
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:39 am
Location: Monroe, WI

That must be an awesome feeling - I bet you'll be smiling all day. And now that she's figured it out - she'll teach others. Congrats on success!
Billie from southern Wisconsin
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birdbrat
Posts: 261
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:20 pm
Location: Ohio/SouthSalem

Great news Mark. I'm so glad you didn't give up. Once they learn they never forget and the others coming in will learn from watching this one. I think you will find that this will come in handy during long stretches of rain and or hot dry weather when the parent birds are finding it hard to catch enough to feed their young. Best of luck for a wonderful year. Brenda
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paule
Posts: 135
Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2015 2:06 pm
Location: Central Iowa
Martin Colony History: 5 Modified Trios 10 Gourds and 1 B&B
2025 33 Pair 83 Fledged
2024 39 Pair 75 Fledged
2023 33 Pair 114 Fledged
2022 27 Pair 113 Fledged
2021 31 Pair 115 Fledged
2020 29 Pair 109 Fledged
2019 24 Pair 83 Fledged
2018 23 Pair 92 Fledged
2017 26 Pair 105 Fledged
2016 21 Pair 99 Fledged
2015 15 Pair 59 Fledged
2014 18 Pair 40 Fledged
2013 16 Pair 30 Fledged
2012 10 Pair 30 Fledged
Started in late 1980's

Congrats Mark! I worked at this for three years. The first 2 years was not the worst weather and they would not take food. The third year we had 3 days of snow and cold. I still remember that ASY male and all the wonderful feelings I got when he took the first cricket. Enjoy my friend for your future looks so bright you might need shades. 8)
Paul & Martha
Project MartinWatch participants and supplemental feeding is provided. I also add heat to housing when needed.
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Mark/OH
Posts: 47
Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:49 am
Location: OH/Waynesville
Martin Colony History: 2011 1 Pair, 2012 5 Pair, 2013 11 Pair, 2014 12 Pair, 2015 17 Pair. 2016 15 Pair DYI Gourd rack with 16 plastic gourds, Plastic 4 room house with 6 plastic gourds underneath.

Thanks for the replies. I went out every hour or so and she would eat about a dozen. I even had my 11 year old granddaughter flipping crickets and now her Martin she named Zoey caught almost all of them. Now Zoey is tucked in her gourd with a hand warmer for a cunfi nights rest. Great to know I can now help the martins even more. :grin: :grin:
Mark Waynesville, OH
__________
PMCA MEMBER
2017 22 Pair
2016 15 Pair 84 eggs
2015 17 Pair 108 eggs 78 young 55 fledged
2014 13 Pair 70 eggs 51 young 50 fledged
2013 10 Pair 51 eggs 39 young 39 fledged
2012 5 Pair
2011 1 Pair
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2442
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged

Mark ——. Great job ,,,, So glad you stayed at it... Good to hear she figured it out for ya...

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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Dave Duit
Posts: 2145
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
Location: Iowa / Nevada
Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to daveduit@yahoo.com. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.

Awesome work and congrats of the flipping. Now that you have them accepting through flipping, others will catch on quick while watching those martins that figured out how it works.
ImageMite control, heat venting, predator protection and additional feeding during bad weather add up to success.
ImageIPMO LOGO1.jpg
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mwren
Posts: 174
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:43 pm
Location: OH/Athens
Martin Colony History: I have had my martin colony on the dam of one of my ponds for nine years. The colony has grown each year, but I am now concentrating on helping friends and acquaintances who have shown interests in martins. My colony consists of three T-14's with 8 Troyer gourds attatched to each T-14, a Troyer gourd rack with 12 gourds, and another gourd rack with 18 Troyer gourds for a total of 96 nest cavities. I am having serious predation issues with hawks and owls and am experimenting with various hawk guards and "screens". Established successful supplemental feeding the last few seasons and have had a blast flipping mostly meal worms and some crickets. Faculty from Ohio University are using my colony as a research site to study parasites that target cavity nesting birds. In exchange for access to my bird trail nest boxes and martin housing, they are banding all birds involved in their study.

Ohio weather is not good start to the season. Temp down in the low 20's last night, currently only 33. My early arrivals last week have dissapeared. I can only hope that they have found another colony that is having luck flipping. I have crickets and meal worms ready, but no birds to try to "train". I have tried flipping the past couple of seasons, but not any great success. Not the way I was hoping 2018 would start out.
Mike "Bird" Wren
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SMJohnson
Posts: 150
Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2014 11:06 am
Location: IA/Ottumwa

mwren:
I noticed in your profile that you've been experiencing
predation problems with owls. Two years ago I had a
similar problem. Last year a had Troyer Tunnels on
all of my housing and it seemed to make all the
difference. Not aware that the Owl had any success.
2012-13 pair..........2019-102 pair
2013-52 pair..........2020-109 pair
2014-65 pair..........2021-144 pair
2015-85 pair..........2022-156 pair
2016-80 pair..........2023-174 pair
2017-93 pair..........2024- 193 pair
2018- 87 pair..........2025- ? pair

2021 Offering 180 Nesting Cavities
64 Troyer Horizontal Gourds
64 Troyer Vertical Gourds
2 T14'S - 28 Compartments
3 SMJ8'S - 24 Compartments
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mwren
Posts: 174
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:43 pm
Location: OH/Athens
Martin Colony History: I have had my martin colony on the dam of one of my ponds for nine years. The colony has grown each year, but I am now concentrating on helping friends and acquaintances who have shown interests in martins. My colony consists of three T-14's with 8 Troyer gourds attatched to each T-14, a Troyer gourd rack with 12 gourds, and another gourd rack with 18 Troyer gourds for a total of 96 nest cavities. I am having serious predation issues with hawks and owls and am experimenting with various hawk guards and "screens". Established successful supplemental feeding the last few seasons and have had a blast flipping mostly meal worms and some crickets. Faculty from Ohio University are using my colony as a research site to study parasites that target cavity nesting birds. In exchange for access to my bird trail nest boxes and martin housing, they are banding all birds involved in their study.

SMJohnson, I am beginning to worry that the owl and hawk problem that I have had is going to have an effect on my colony this year. Right now I am placing the blame on the terrible weather we have been experiencing. I have 28 Troyer tunnels, both styles. I also have hawk/owl guards on my two T-14's. Weather is a bit wormer today, should be up to low 40's today. Will keep an eye on things and see if any birds show up!
Mike "Bird" Wren
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2442
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged

mwren wrote:Ohio weather is not good start to the season. Temp down in the low 20's last night, currently only 33. My early arrivals last week have dissapeared. I can only hope that they have found another colony that is having luck flipping. I have crickets and meal worms ready, but no birds to try to "train". I have tried flipping the past couple of seasons, but not any great success. Not the way I was hoping 2018 would start out.
Mike ... Hang in there.. buddy... They will be back in a few days when the weather breaks.. I had an ASY Male sitting on my Outdoor speaker playing the Dawn Song the other morning (March 23) .. Man did he look cold.. He stayed about an hour then off he went.. Hope he comes back in a few days...

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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