Blue martin

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daltonmissouri
Posts: 37
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2016 2:16 pm
Location: Perryville, MO

Another question for all of you veteran landlords.
Last year, we had a male martin that was bright blue. We figured that he was a juvenile and would be dark purple the next year like the other males.
He returned this year, and he is still blue----although a somewhat-darker shade of blue now, and more of a metallic sheen.
Is this rare, or is it fairly common?
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deancamp
Posts: 873
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:17 pm
Location: Raymore, MO

I wouldn't consider myself a veteran, but I've never heard of it. I would love to see a picture if you can get one.
Jeff
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Brad Biddle
Posts: 523
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 6:22 pm
Location: Marshall County AL

Does your blue "Purple Martin" have a solid white belly?
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 162 plastic gourds with tunnels, all with Conley II entrances with the Lewis modification. I have 24 Supergourds and the rest are Troyer Horizontals.
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daltonmissouri
Posts: 37
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2016 2:16 pm
Location: Perryville, MO

No, and it's not a tree swallow...we have plenty of them.
It looks like all of the other mature males, except that it has a blue sheen on its back instead of dark purple.
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daltonmissouri
Posts: 37
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2016 2:16 pm
Location: Perryville, MO

I figure it's just some kind of color mutation.
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Spiderman
Posts: 991
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:19 am
Location: Gladewater, Texas

I would like to see a picture too.

That would be cool to see in person.
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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Chris B
Posts: 379
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 4:10 pm
Location: AL/Toney

I have some deep blue birds that try to nest in 18" hiway cones on my grass, but they get in and can't get out so I find them dead when I move the cones for mowing. But those are solid blue and I have never seen them except for being dead in my cones. Beautiful bird, no idea what they are. NOT BBs.
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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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

Cap the cones? Perhaps block them. Thats too bad, they pick the strangest places. Have hanging baskets in a large bush for doves to nest yet they chose my neighbors ladder 3 feet off the ground to nest.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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Brad Biddle
Posts: 523
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 6:22 pm
Location: Marshall County AL

Chris B wrote: ↑
Sat May 18, 2019 3:08 pm
 I have some deep blue birds that try to nest in 18" hiway cones on my grass, but they get in and can't get out so I find them dead when I move the cones for mowing. But those are solid blue and I have never seen them except for being dead in my cones. Beautiful bird, no idea what they are. NOT BBs.
Either Indigo Buntings or Blue Grossbeaks. I'd guess Indigo Buntings.
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 162 plastic gourds with tunnels, all with Conley II entrances with the Lewis modification. I have 24 Supergourds and the rest are Troyer Horizontals.
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