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sugarcreek
Posts: 252
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 10:43 am
Location: Sugarcreek, Ohio
Martin Colony History: 2016 First Yr.

Mitch Booth wrote:Sharon that is absolutely awesome!!!! Wow!!! How many ASY birds do you have?

I had the one pair last year and so far I have 3 pair sitting on 15 eggs (5 each) and a fourth pair getting ready to lay eggs in a leaf filled nest with one additional SY male that has his gourd picked out trying to attract a female.

I'm assuming I'll end up with 4 or 5 pair and with my tract record I'm very pleased with my season. I just hope I can quadruple my colony next year!!

Mitch
Mitch where you located in Akron Ohio....Your an Hr up the road from me ?
16 - 14 Cavities 4 Act. Ne 9 fledged, 2.25 Fl. per Act. Ne
17 - 36 Cavities 18 Act. Ne 65 Fledged, 3.61 Fl. per Act. Ne
18 - 54 Cavities 43 Act. Ne 169 Fledged, 3.93 Fl. per Act. Ne
19 - 108 Cavities 67 Act. Ne 209 Fledged, 3.12 Fl. per Act. Ne
20 - 108 Cavities 72 Act. Ne 243 Fledged, 3.38 Fl. per Act. Ne
21 - 112 Cavities 91 Act. Ne 313 Fledged, 3.44 Fl. per Act. Ne
22 - 114 Cavities 101 Act Ne 355 Fledged, 3.51 Fl. per Act. Ne
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John Miller
Posts: 4866
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

Sharon

That's amazing. Sometimes I worry. It's so very hard "sometimes" to establish new sites. But can be done!

John Miller
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BillieJR
Posts: 766
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:39 am
Location: Monroe, WI

I am green with envy for what you have - I hope I get lucky one of these years, too. Congrats and enjoy - you have earned it!
Billie from southern Wisconsin
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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!

Tengai wrote:Wonderful!
Thank you Phil! Good luck with you fledgling! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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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!

Mitch Booth wrote:Sharon that is absolutely awesome!!!! Wow!!! How many ASY birds do you have?

I had the one pair last year and so far I have 3 pair sitting on 15 eggs (5 each) and a fourth pair getting ready to lay eggs in a leaf filled nest with one additional SY male that has his gourd picked out trying to attract a female.

I'm assuming I'll end up with 4 or 5 pair and with my tract record I'm very pleased with my season. I just hope I can quadruple my colony next year!!

Mitch
Mitch I know your just having the time of your life! I feel this is better than being a millionaire! I love my birdies! :) good luck my friend!
Sharon from southern Illinois
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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!

John Miller wrote:Sharon

That's amazing. Sometimes I worry. It's so very hard "sometimes" to establish new sites. But can be done!

John Miller
John I thank you! It’s been a struggle but when the farmer opened me up that’s all it took! Trees are a precious part of nature but they sure don’t mix with martins! People who try to get a colony started with trees close by will fight hawks and owls to no end! Being open the martins will be bothered by some but chances for escape are much greater!!! good luck! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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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!

BillieJR wrote:I am green with envy for what you have - I hope I get lucky one of these years, too. Congrats and enjoy - you have earned it!
Thank you! Keep at it and don’t give up! Keep making it better! The struggle is well worth it! I’m having the time of my life! I’m on vacation everyday with my martins! Good luck! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Spiderman
Posts: 991
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:19 am
Location: Gladewater, Texas

You definately deserve the success you are seeing in your colony. I'm glad the landscape change made such a difference in your numbers.

You have worked at this for many years to attract Martins.
Colony started in 2002

Offering 82 Troyer Horizontal Gourds

2018 - 45 PAIR - FLEDGED 203 MARTINS
2019 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 268 MARTINS
2020 - 82 PAIR - FLEDGED 392 MARTINS
2021 - 78 PAIR - FLEDGED 349 MARTINS
2022 - 76 PAIR - FLEDGED 373 MARTINS
2023 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 355 MARTINS

*2023 Added 2”X4” wire cages to all three Troyer Gemini Gourd Racks to deal with Great Horned Owl predation on Colony.
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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!

Spiderman wrote:You definately deserve the success you are seeing in your colony. I'm glad the landscape change made such a difference in your numbers.

You have worked at this for many years to attract Martins.
Thank you veryMuch! I’m having a wonderful year! They all look healthy and I have a lot of bugs here for them! Good luck with your colony this year! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Chris B
Posts: 379
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 4:10 pm
Location: AL/Toney

Is there a pond nearby with a good clear flyway? They love those, especially when it gets hot like it is now.
2014 8 gourds, 3 pairs nested. Ended w/ 24 total
2015 24 gourds, 22 nests. Lotsa birds!
2016 24 gourds and good activity.
2017 32 SREH gourds. Great activity.
2018 40 SREH gourds. Good finish despite big storm damage. No more dangling gourds.
2019 56+ SREH gourds, all on 3/8 rods. Birds did very well.
2020 56 SREH gourds.
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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!

Chris B wrote: ↑
Sat Jun 16, 2018 4:51 pm
 Is there a pond nearby with a good clear flyway? They love those, especially when it gets hot like it is now.
Hi Chris! It is a swamp! They drink and bath in it! Lots of ducks and geese this spring!
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Sharon from southern Illinois
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sugarcreek
Posts: 252
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 10:43 am
Location: Sugarcreek, Ohio
Martin Colony History: 2016 First Yr.

taxidermy lady wrote: ↑
Sat Jun 16, 2018 9:06 pm
Chris B wrote: ↑
Sat Jun 16, 2018 4:51 pm
 Is there a pond nearby with a good clear flyway? They love those, especially when it gets hot like it is now.
Hi Chris! It is a swamp! They drink and bath in it! Lots of ducks and geese this spring!
Lots of bugs in that swamp!!!
16 - 14 Cavities 4 Act. Ne 9 fledged, 2.25 Fl. per Act. Ne
17 - 36 Cavities 18 Act. Ne 65 Fledged, 3.61 Fl. per Act. Ne
18 - 54 Cavities 43 Act. Ne 169 Fledged, 3.93 Fl. per Act. Ne
19 - 108 Cavities 67 Act. Ne 209 Fledged, 3.12 Fl. per Act. Ne
20 - 108 Cavities 72 Act. Ne 243 Fledged, 3.38 Fl. per Act. Ne
21 - 112 Cavities 91 Act. Ne 313 Fledged, 3.44 Fl. per Act. Ne
22 - 114 Cavities 101 Act Ne 355 Fledged, 3.51 Fl. per Act. Ne
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terrapincove
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:06 pm
Location: Maurice River, Southern NJ
Martin Colony History: Well established 90 cavity colony. Mostly plastic gourds with some custom cedar houses atop pilings out over the river. We live stream the activity on our website https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXKqSW ... Ph2tywu4eg

We are on the Maurice River. The Maurice is brackish and tidal. It meets the Delaware bay about three miles down at East Point, NJ. The area is remote and consists of dense marshland and swamp. Dragonflies abound.

Swallows arrive in mid August and finish nesting mid July. There is a large annual roost in mid August upriver a few miles at Mauricetown.

Thanks for the great news. Your success and enthusiasm is awesome.
Good luck Purple Martin Landlords.

Terrapin Cove

Always Live https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXKqSW ... Ph2tywu4eg
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