Ok.... so I have had around 10 birds at my site. Only one female.
Today I got home at a decent time from work about 5:30 and sat out in 44 degree weather after filling the bed and breakfast with meal worms and crickets. The sun had decided to come out after clouds and flurries. Wondering where all the Martins are. After whistling and coaxing my first arriving male and female come out of their gourd chirping but the rest of the town is empty.
After a few minutes I hear some excitement in the sky and about 5-6 birds come in to the newly filled feeder. I happened to notice one had a lighter breast but I thought I heard a chortle. I just figured a new female came in.
Then I see this Martin among the group landed with drooping wings. It goes from the perch on the t-14 to the feeder and starts gulping worms and the others leave. Wow! another female but her back sure is purple. So is her head. Then it hit me. Holy Cow! Could this be a Subbie Male? So I went and got my binoculars, iphone and got a much closer look. Sure enough it looks like a SY male.
I took pictures and got within 6 feed of it on the bed and breakfast. It was a wing drooping, quivering SY male. I have no doubt and pictures of it too.
Now if this doesn't take the cake. A SY male arrives before the second female of the season during one of the worst cold springs on record?? Also I noticed droppings on his wings. I have seen this before. It comes as a result of communal roosting during bad weather.
By the way these guys are smart enough to bring birds in and introduce them to a meal at the feeder. How would this fellow know how to do this in his first year already? Amazing.
Doug
SY Male! I still can not believe it!
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Last edited by Doug Martin - PA on Fri Apr 13, 2018 7:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
I see there was a report in SW Ohio not so far from me 4 days ago. I am thinking this has to be the same one.
I just can't imagine 2 coming this far north so early. I may try and post this picture but it is kind of a pain from a phone as it would need resized too.
I got several pictures of it.
Doug
I just can't imagine 2 coming this far north so early. I may try and post this picture but it is kind of a pain from a phone as it would need resized too.
I got several pictures of it.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
WOW Doug!! Amazing you have an SY Male already. I bet he was starving. It's good your colony found him & brought him in or he may have perished.
My colony brings in others that are passing thru & need fed or a place to stay for the night. I'm the last colony in central PA all the way to NY, so I guess they know they need to stop & rest here.
E-mail your photo from your phone to your computer. Then you can resize it there.
Toy in PA
My colony brings in others that are passing thru & need fed or a place to stay for the night. I'm the last colony in central PA all the way to NY, so I guess they know they need to stop & rest here.
E-mail your photo from your phone to your computer. Then you can resize it there.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
Wow, that is really amazing Doug. Keep up the good work. I now have two Martins here in New York that I'm feeding every day. Hopefully this weather will break today and the rest of the week and the Martins will start returning.
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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
Doug --- Amazing to here... Subbie already this year for ya... Congrats..
BTW -- My two Tree Swallows (Male and Female) are sitting on their gourd this morning.. Looks like they are telling each other ,, Welcome home...
Dave
BTW -- My two Tree Swallows (Male and Female) are sitting on their gourd this morning.. Looks like they are telling each other ,, Welcome home...
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
I have attached 2 pictures. I also sent more in to PMCA for their opinion.It's not in very good shape.
It was still there this morning. Eating me out of house and home. Keeping a close eye on this bird to determine for certain.
Doug
It was still there this morning. Eating me out of house and home. Keeping a close eye on this bird to determine for certain.
Doug
- Attachments
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- SY MALE 1.jpg
- (315.23 KiB) Not downloaded yet
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- SY Male 4.jpg
- (268.75 KiB) Not downloaded yet
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
Doug:Doug Martin - PA wrote:I have attached 2 pictures. I also sent more in to PMCA for their opinion.It's not in very good shape.
It was still there this morning. Eating me out of house and home. Keeping a close eye on this bird to determine for certain.
Doug
He looks like a ASY Male. Any improvement?
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
I have been talking with Joe at the PMCA he is holding the report until this guy or gal improves and we can tell better.
It definitely has a lighter belly its either a beaten up older female or a SY male. Unfortunately the photos are pretty tough to determine. My binoculars were the best view.
Anyone is welcome to put in a vote.
Doug
It definitely has a lighter belly its either a beaten up older female or a SY male. Unfortunately the photos are pretty tough to determine. My binoculars were the best view.
Anyone is welcome to put in a vote.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
It's hard to tell from the photos, but if you blow them up it does look like lighter feathers around the throat & neck area. Possibly an older female? Did you see any dark spots on the abdomen/chest area with your binoculars? Some of the older females look really close to coloring like SY males & it's hard to tell until they pair up later.Doug Martin - PA wrote:I have been talking with Joe at the PMCA he is holding the report until this guy or gal improves and we can tell better.
It definitely has a lighter belly its either a beaten up older female or a SY male. Unfortunately the photos are pretty tough to determine. My binoculars were the best view.
Anyone is welcome to put in a vote.
Doug
What ever it is I hope it recovers.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3789
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Is it still around, or is it improving. If it's moving around the clicking at the end of it's song is always a dead giveaway, but an exhausted martin sitting with drooping wings won't be singing....
2026 HOSP 28
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.
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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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
It was still here in the morning but when I got home from work many new Martins were zipping around in the wind chirping away.
I did not see this particular bird this evening and it still looked pretty bad this morning.
The males were not treating it like a female this morning. You should have heard them with all the new girls this evening. There is a whole
new wild crew here now. I will still be looking for it tomorrow am. This bird needed some serious recovery.
Doug
I did not see this particular bird this evening and it still looked pretty bad this morning.
The males were not treating it like a female this morning. You should have heard them with all the new girls this evening. There is a whole
new wild crew here now. I will still be looking for it tomorrow am. This bird needed some serious recovery.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
The verdict is in. I have the darkest female Martin here I have every seen. It has recovered in the better weather and it’s behavior is evident. It is very noticeable flying around. Almost looks like an asy male. Still looks like a sy male too. The chest is more uniform now in color and almost black. She is extremely dark everywhere. Sorry for confusion but it is an very unusual female.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
I'm glad you were able to finally figure it out and that she survived......thanks to you feeding her til the weather turned nice for her (and the others). I was worried she might not make it. Must be a tough one.
Billie from southern Wisconsin
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
Glad you got a positive ID & that she has recovered. I was worried she wouldn't make it. She's on tough female.
Toy in PA
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
I get a few of those every year seems like . Very hard to tell them apart from the males at times . Does anyone have any idea how old those would be ?
2007 2 pair 8 fledged
2008 4 pair 18 fledged
2009 21 pair 87 fledged
2010 44 pair 174 fledged
2011 68 pair 244 fledged
2012 82 pair 364 fledged
2013 82 pair 359 fledged
2014 86 pair 415 fledged
2015 101 pair 427 fledged
2008 4 pair 18 fledged
2009 21 pair 87 fledged
2010 44 pair 174 fledged
2011 68 pair 244 fledged
2012 82 pair 364 fledged
2013 82 pair 359 fledged
2014 86 pair 415 fledged
2015 101 pair 427 fledged
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
lynnh wrote:I get a few of those every year seems like . Very hard to tell them apart from the males at times . Does anyone have any idea how old those would be ?
Just taking a guess but I'd say around 10 years old. As far as we know they live to be 13-15 years max.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member