Hopefully my season is starting.

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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,
You broke your streak! I think you are in there sir.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3789
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

I just lowered my gourd rack and T14 and have a total of 9 pair with nests. So far I have 15 eggs. Two nests have 5 each, one has 4 and one has 1. I have some others still sleeping in compartments that don't have nests yet so hopefully I can add to that figure. Needless to say with only 3 SY pair last year I am more then pleased with this year. I just haven't been able to spend and evening and watch to confirm how many are ASY V SY. I'm not getting greedy but would love to pick up some more SY pair. I think 6 of the pair I have are ASY.
2026 HOSP 27
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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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

Tom,

I'm certainly hoping so!!

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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tor
Posts: 279
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:35 pm
Location: Marlboro County, SC
Martin Colony History: 2025 Capacity: 96
72 Hor / Vert Troyers on 3 X Super-24's.
24 Hor Troyers on Gemini-24.

2026: We'll see.
2025: 92 pair - Fledge: 405
2024: 72 pair - Fledge: 356
2023: 72 pair - Fledge: 342
2022: 72 pair - Fledge: 322
2021: 71 pair - Fledge: 325
2020: 72 pair - Fledge: 336
2019: 70 pair - Fledge: 320
2018: 60 pair - Fledge: 297
2017: 36 pair - Fledge: 189
2016: 16 pair - Fledge: 79
2015: 4 pair - Fledge: 21

I heart birds wrote:Mitch,
You broke your streak! I think you are in there sir.
Yep, I think so too. I'd like for him to see at least 2-3-4 more pair this season, so he'll have a better base for returns. Once he get the returns, he has a better chance of start building.

It is amazing how 3-4 pair can pull in new birds when these first guys arrive in the spring.
Tor
Marlboro County
South Carolina

Purple Martins Of South Carolina
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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

Yes, I’m guessing I’ll have some increased activity inth the next two weeks!!! I’d love to have 4-6 pair. I’ll keep post some updates in the next two weeks!!

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!

Way to go Mitch! I’m glad you have 2 pair now! You should have a chance at sy’s For a few more weeks! I can’t believe what my colony has done! I HAVE 10 PAIR WITH 36 EGGS!! Totally crazy! But I’m loving every minute of it!!! Good luck my friend!
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

taxidermy lady wrote:Way to go Mitch! I’m glad you have 2 pair now! You should have a chance at sy’s For a few more weeks! I can’t believe what my colony has done! I HAVE 10 PAIR WITH 36 EGGS!! Totally crazy! But I’m loving every minute of it!!! Good luck my friend!
Sharon,

That is fabulous!!! I had at least 8-10 birds here this morning which was a dramatic increase from the past three weeks. I'm hoping I can get 4-6 pair before it's all said and done!!

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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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3789
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

Mitch, how about an update?? Curious how things have progressed this year. My season has far exceeded my expectations. After 3 SY pair last year plus a couple stragglers that never nested I have 14 nesting pair right now. 11 of the nest either have eggs or babies and the 3 remaining nest had green leaves as of yesterday. It feels great to have numbers that I know will be able to sustain after having to start over a few years ago.
2026 HOSP 27
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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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

Update:

Well as of today I have 3 pair for sure on 10 eggs and 5 nestlings. I have two other completed nests with leaves and 2 single sy males hanging around guarding the same cavities. I'm more than thrilled with (for the first time ever) having more than one pair for a change. Having 10-12 birds there all the time is a real treat for me. No ASY females though. My three nests with nestlings and eggs all had 5 each and there all ASY males with SY females.

At least I've quit doubting the compatibility of my site to purple martins. My site is completely surrounded by trees on the outer edges of the 11 acre parcel with a 1.25 acre pond in the front yard which probably helps.

I can't wait for next year as I'm much more confident I'll have some returning birds next year.

I wouldn't be surprised if I end up with 4-6 pair.

Thanks for everyone's support!!

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!

Way to go Mitch! Your well on your way! Good luck getting them in the air! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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