But I like them and gave them alternate housing that they went right to. Lots of visitors over the next 12 years but the only nest ever constructed was done by a single SY male. My site had too many big trees and was not very attractive to martins. Last fall, I removed 2 large maple trees that were not healthy. This really opened up the front yard. We moved the 2cnd T-14 that I had built, to the front. On May 23 this year, an SY visitor. After a few days, a couple more showed. I was pretty sure they were males based on their song with the clicking at the end. Then, a female! The boys got pretty excited. About June 2, I saw nest building from the pair. They even went into the cavity together. I can’t verify if they spent any nights. as many as 9 but 5 are here consistently. I did a check 4 days ago and had a partially built nest. Today when I lowered the house, 2 eggs!! You can all imagine my excitement. I should have taken a pic, but completely slipped my mind! All my efforts have been on attracting them. Now I have to learn about mites, fleas, blow flies, supplemental feeding for next spring. Etc.. should I quit with dawn song and daytime chatter CD’s? Any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks.Cautiously optimistic
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Dan G
- Posts: 446
- Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:52 pm
- Location: PA/Bellefonte
- Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius.
Have had visitor every year 2014-24.
Two large trees removed in fall 2024 and moved T-14 to a more open location.
2025- 1 SY pair. Fledged 2.
2026- no pairs. One daily SYM here daily. Named him Riggs!
I have been trying to start a colony for 12 years. And although I have learned a great deal on this forum, I have a ways to go. In 2014, I put up a T-14. A few days later, the ‘purple martins’ that were on my house, turned out to be tree swallows. But I like them and gave them alternate housing that they went right to. Lots of visitors over the next 12 years but the only nest ever constructed was done by a single SY male. My site had too many big trees and was not very attractive to martins. Last fall, I removed 2 large maple trees that were not healthy. This really opened up the front yard. We moved the 2cnd T-14 that I had built, to the front. On May 23 this year, an SY visitor. After a few days, a couple more showed. I was pretty sure they were males based on their song with the clicking at the end. Then, a female! The boys got pretty excited. About June 2, I saw nest building from the pair. They even went into the cavity together. I can’t verify if they spent any nights. as many as 9 but 5 are here consistently. I did a check 4 days ago and had a partially built nest. Today when I lowered the house, 2 eggs!! You can all imagine my excitement. I should have taken a pic, but completely slipped my mind! All my efforts have been on attracting them. Now I have to learn about mites, fleas, blow flies, supplemental feeding for next spring. Etc.. should I quit with dawn song and daytime chatter CD’s? Any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks.
But I like them and gave them alternate housing that they went right to. Lots of visitors over the next 12 years but the only nest ever constructed was done by a single SY male. My site had too many big trees and was not very attractive to martins. Last fall, I removed 2 large maple trees that were not healthy. This really opened up the front yard. We moved the 2cnd T-14 that I had built, to the front. On May 23 this year, an SY visitor. After a few days, a couple more showed. I was pretty sure they were males based on their song with the clicking at the end. Then, a female! The boys got pretty excited. About June 2, I saw nest building from the pair. They even went into the cavity together. I can’t verify if they spent any nights. as many as 9 but 5 are here consistently. I did a check 4 days ago and had a partially built nest. Today when I lowered the house, 2 eggs!! You can all imagine my excitement. I should have taken a pic, but completely slipped my mind! All my efforts have been on attracting them. Now I have to learn about mites, fleas, blow flies, supplemental feeding for next spring. Etc.. should I quit with dawn song and daytime chatter CD’s? Any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks.Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
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Mstan
- Posts: 164
- Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2024 7:52 pm
- Location: Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2023- 2 racks. 24 gourds
2024- 2 racks.28 gourds. 100 fledged
2025- 3 racks. 24 gourds,6 chirpy nest.105 fledged.
Congratulations! I am glad for you. I hope all the eggs hatch and all your hatchlings successfully fledge.
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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
12 years!!! A testament to your patients and perseverance!
Congrats on those eggs! We can feel your excitement!
You may get some other advice, and you have eggs now...I wouldn't change a thing. Not one thing. Just me.
You are to be congratulated!
Congrats on those eggs! We can feel your excitement!
You may get some other advice, and you have eggs now...I wouldn't change a thing. Not one thing. Just me.
You are to be congratulated!
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
CONGRATS Dan 
Keep an eye on the nests with all the rain we're expected to get the next several days. If the nest gets wet you should change it out. You know how to reach me.
Toy in PA
Keep an eye on the nests with all the rain we're expected to get the next several days. If the nest gets wet you should change it out. You know how to reach me.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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Thomas Maddox
- Posts: 580
- Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 5:23 pm
- Location: Sulphur, Louisiana
Agree with keep doing what you are doing. Definitely have predator guards in place. So glad for you!
Congrats Dan, looks like you are finally off to a start. 12 years, Wow! If that nest fledges successfully, they will be back next year attracting even more martins. To make sure that single pair fledges young successfully it's very important that you are prepared to fend off predators and parasites. I would now invest in a good sparrow trap or 2, a pellet gun and a can of Carbaryl that Rob just found on Amazon. Best to be prepared ahead of time... This single pair will be the matriarch of your colony, so you need to do everything within your means to protect them. Keep those nest checks going. Enjoy your Martins! You definately earned it...
2019- 6 Pair, 30 Fledged
2020- 8 Pair, 32 Fledged
2021- 10 Pair, 39 Fledged
HOSP count 130, Starlings 2
2022- 31 Pair, 146 Fledged
HOSP count to date 17, Starlings 1
2023- 28 Pair, 124 Fledged
HOSP count 47, Starlings 1
2024- 40 Pair, 192 Fledged
HOSP count 37
2025-42 Pair, 202 Fledged
HOSP count 46
2020- 8 Pair, 32 Fledged
2021- 10 Pair, 39 Fledged
HOSP count 130, Starlings 2
2022- 31 Pair, 146 Fledged
HOSP count to date 17, Starlings 1
2023- 28 Pair, 124 Fledged
HOSP count 47, Starlings 1
2024- 40 Pair, 192 Fledged
HOSP count 37
2025-42 Pair, 202 Fledged
HOSP count 46
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Dan G
- Posts: 446
- Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:52 pm
- Location: PA/Bellefonte
- Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius.
Have had visitor every year 2014-24.
Two large trees removed in fall 2024 and moved T-14 to a more open location.
2025- 1 SY pair. Fledged 2.
2026- no pairs. One daily SYM here daily. Named him Riggs!
Thanks to all. I just ordered the carbaryl. Will install a guard. My .22 is always nearby to deal with any sparrow's. I will wait a few more days to do another nest check to see if there are more eggs, Weather permitting. I do see two other martins bringing in nesting materials to two different nests. But they always seem to be alone. This wasn’t the case with the pair. So I’m not convinced there is a second pair despite seeing them bringing in green leaves along with other material. We are heading into a rainy stretch. If the nest gets wet, Should I wait till after eggs hatch to do a nest change?
Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
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Dan G
- Posts: 446
- Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:52 pm
- Location: PA/Bellefonte
- Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius.
Have had visitor every year 2014-24.
Two large trees removed in fall 2024 and moved T-14 to a more open location.
2025- 1 SY pair. Fledged 2.
2026- no pairs. One daily SYM here daily. Named him Riggs!
Just the two eggs. Or We have TWO eggs!!!! Hope I posted the pic correctly.
- Attachments
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- IMG_5228.jpeg
- (2.83 MiB) Not downloaded yet
Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
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Jones4381
- Posts: 843
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2020 10:54 pm
- Location: Southwestern VA
- Martin Colony History: 2020- 0
2021- 1 pair-5
2022- 5 pair-20
2023 34 pair-44
2024 30 pair-122
2025 54 Pair -178
2026 65 pair- 220+/-
Man this is reason for joy and to celebrate...I hope they hatch and fledge...Good luck and keep us updated and with more photo's please!!!!!
"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." - Lao Tzu
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3795
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Back to your original question, if it were me I would stop playing the dawnsong/chatter CD. Nothing will attract martins better then martins. It has done it's job for this season. I would play it again next spring and use it until you get a colony established.
2026 HOSP 29
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.
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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Martintown33
- Posts: 1366
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
- Location: Laplace,La
- Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack
Congrats sir!! Excellent job and wishing you the best for success going forward!
Rob
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La
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Dan G
- Posts: 446
- Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:52 pm
- Location: PA/Bellefonte
- Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius.
Have had visitor every year 2014-24.
Two large trees removed in fall 2024 and moved T-14 to a more open location.
2025- 1 SY pair. Fledged 2.
2026- no pairs. One daily SYM here daily. Named him Riggs!
Our hatch date coincided with the PMCA’s web cam, which lets us see the progress of our two eggs. Early this morning, I saw one of the parents fly out with something white in its mouth! And a few hours later while mowing under the house, I saw half a white egg shell . Almost fell off the mower! But I waited till 130 to lower the house.
I’m a grandpa again!! Twice! You seasoned landlords know my excitement. Thanks for all the support and knowledge. Flyinlowe, I did stop playing the dawn song and chatter CD’s about two weeks ago as you suggested.
I’m a grandpa again!! Twice! You seasoned landlords know my excitement. Thanks for all the support and knowledge. Flyinlowe, I did stop playing the dawn song and chatter CD’s about two weeks ago as you suggested.
- Attachments
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- IMG_5268.jpeg
- (3.07 MiB) Not downloaded yet
Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.