As I returned from my bike ride at 10:15 this AM, I glanced at my colonies. Saw three martins circling just 20' or so above the gourds. There were at least two spats between a pair of birds - exchanging unpleasantries while falling to the grass. Later a single ASY perched on one of the Troyer Horizontals and remained there until 11:10 just singing away. As he left in a start, a second bird joined him but departed from a gourd opposite the colony where he was perched. His mate? Couldn't get the binocs on the second bird to ID it as a female. Never did get a visual on the "third" martin. Perhaps the "spat" loser?
First visitors last season was 23 February. So I'm 15 days earlier this season. Whoopie!
First arrivals
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mjfog
- Posts: 446
- Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:40 pm
- Location: Palm City, FL
- Martin Colony History: 2018 will be my first try. 6 S&K B09s. 29 eggs - 8 fledged
2019 - 12 Troyer Horizontals with tunnels, 6 S&K B09s and 12 B011s all with tunnels. 43 eggs - 36 fledged
2020 - Rack 1 - 6 B011s, Rack 2 - 24 B011s, and Rack 3 - 24 Troyer Horizontals. All gourds have tunnels, porches and crescent/Conley 11 entrances; racks have predator guards. 161 eggs - 88 fledged.
2021 - 54 gourds-214 eggs, 184 hatched, 168 fledged.
2022 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 363 eggs, 294 hatched, 278 fledged.
2023 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 321 eggs, 276 hatched, 246 fledged.
2024 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 330 eggs, 283 hatched, 250 fledged.
2025 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 347 eggs, 281 hatched, 266 fledged.
Congratulations mjfog on your birds returning early , hope you have a great season this year.
Robert , South Carolina
PMCA member
40 year PM landlord
2018 season
21 pairs 107 eggs 99 fledged
2019 season
23 pairs 122 eggs 105 fledged
2020 season
23 pairs 122 eggs 72 fledged
2021
PMCA member
40 year PM landlord
2018 season
21 pairs 107 eggs 99 fledged
2019 season
23 pairs 122 eggs 105 fledged
2020 season
23 pairs 122 eggs 72 fledged
2021
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robertgracie
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2018 3:32 pm
- Location: LA
I now have a Male Adult and a Female Adult purple martin. They came in on Fe.8,2019.It was freezing cold and 30° here in St.Helena Parish in Louisiana.. I took photos of them and will post. The photos is not good because it was freezing when I was trying to take it and the camera was cold also. I took better photos this morning (Feb.9 ) will post later.. Thank you. 
- Attachments
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- 02 08 19_1630 POOR THINGS THEY ARE FREEZING AND I AM TOO TRYING TO GET THIS PHOTO PURPLE MARTINS ARRIVED.jpg
- (196.96 KiB) Not downloaded yet
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Whippy
- Posts: 1023
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:15 pm
- Location: Plano, Texas
- Martin Colony History: See Signature
Are you able to lower the house and put a hand warmer in the cavity? I did that last year and it helped them along quite well. I put it under the pine needles. I removed it the next day.
Coolwhips.
Coolwhips.
2016 - many visitors
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged