Taking inventory of PMs

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
cervey1
Posts: 42
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2019 3:19 pm
Location: Louisa Virginia
Martin Colony History: 8 gourds
semi-circle openings
with patios

I have 8 gourds, some have only two but others have many PMs in different stage of development. I'd like to count them but they are so close together in some cases they are hard to count. Is it okay to move them with my hand to count them?

Dave
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

Yes, gently. I think it happens alot especially when looking for capped eggs. It doesn't take much, they move around. A flashlight often helps...tip: look for beaks and count those.
It will be fine.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
daveh
Posts: 761
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:40 am
Location: Kingsville Mo.

I use an old metal telescopic tv antenna as a probe. It has a round blunt piece on the end that doe not stick the chicks. And I can make it any length that I want.

Dave
PMCA member
Post Reply