Discouraged...:( No arrivals as of yet???

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Ken&Sheryle - TX
Posts: 649
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 2:21 pm
Location: Helotes/Texas

Hi everyone,

I have been waiting anxiously for my first arrival but NOTHING yet...I just always wonder how the Martins I had last year did going to and from Brazil and this weather in Texas for awhile was quite cold.....such a worrywart..I sure hope none was impacted...hopefully soon I will be posting my first arrival...I hate the waiting....LOL...

:)Sheryle
Martin's Rule!!!!!!!!!
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Linda Reynolds
Posts: 1308
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:33 pm
Location: Adamsville, TN

Sheryle, I tried to look up your arrival report history, but could not find it.

Relax! Like I like to tell many of my mentees, this is NOT a Disney production, and the martins will arrive, when they arrive.

If you look at our history of reporting scouts, you can see last year's arrival date was much later than most in our history, and a lot later than the arrival of our little female yesterday.

If you hosted a healthy colony last season, and they did not suffer predation, your martins will return. It might just be a matter of hours or days, so be patient.
Ever-Grateful,
Linda
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Ken&Sheryle - TX
Posts: 649
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 2:21 pm
Location: Helotes/Texas

LOL you are so right Linda however I just get anxious; it is that motherly feeling for my Martins.

I did look @ last year report; what date we got our first one and that was on Feb 21st...so needless to say I am anxious and just can't wait. I am like a kid @ Christmas.

We did put up our houses and guess who came /coming to visit; those HORRIBLE Sparrows...as soon as you put up the houses it is as if they know..time to TRY to get into them...we have already put out the traps and doing what we can to catch those darn rascals...

Thanks and Happy Purple Martin Season 2011:)
Sheryle
Martin's Rule!!!!!!!!!
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3795
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

I am not sure when you updated your profile but it shows you had 8 nesting pair. So odds are way in your favor that they will be returning, barring any problems with your site last year. If you only had one pair I would say it's a toss up but with 8 pair some, if not all, will return.
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.
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apundt-TX
Posts: 986
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 7:34 pm
Location: Pflugerville, Texas
Martin Colony History: :
2022-1 pair
1 pair 2021
2020- Didn't get setup fast enough in Pflugerville
2019- Apartment
2018 Divorce lost Colony in Dripping Springs
19 pair 2017
17 pair 2015
12 pair 2014
8 pair 2013
5 pair 2012
2 pair 2011

Adult Scout Reports
CITY DATE NAME
Helotes, TX 21 February 2010 Sheryle Burton
Helotes, TX 10 February 2009 SHERYLE BURTON
Helotes, TX 14 February 2008 Sheryle
HELOTES, TX 01 February 2008 SHERYLE BURTON
Helotes, TX 21 February 2007 Sheryle Burton
Helotes, TX 12 February 2006 Sheryle Burton
Helotes, TX 13 February 2005 Ken & Sheryle
Helotes, TX 31 January 2004 Sheryle Burton
Helotes, TX 14 February 2003 Sheryle Burton

Subadult Male Reports
CITY DATE NAME
Helotes, TX 10 April 2010 Kenneth Burton
Helotes, TX 04 April 2009 Ken Burton
HELOTES, TX 16 March 2008 SHERYLE BURTON
Helotes, TX 27 February 2005 Sheryle Burton
Helotes, TX 25 March 2004 Sheryle Burton



They will be here before this Saturday. You can count on that....
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

Sheryle,

I was looking at radar in the Panama area and I saw a group heading your way. It looked like a few of yours in there. :)

I think they will be up with this BIG Purple wave by Friday. So get those sparrows out of their house!

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Fredmyyster
Posts: 280
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:30 pm
Location: Tennessee/ Nashville

Housing ready for PM wave. Locked and loaded for sparrows ;)
Empty POOLS are a Delight ! !
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Ken&Sheryle - TX
Posts: 649
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 2:21 pm
Location: Helotes/Texas

Hi EVERYONE:)

Yes, we do have an establish Purple Martin colony; going on 9 years now. So, I am so excited; I think ya'll are right; I should be seeing one within the next couple of days. We are fighting those darn sparrows; believe me they will not be nesting in any of the rooms. I hate it early in the morning; we have this bush right outside our bedroom window and I can hear those darn sparrows; their horrible chirping noise; the MALE sparrow..I just can't stand the noise it makes. We will be eliminating lots of sparrow; we NEVER have any sparrows nesting but it is a battle for sure...they give it their all; the sparrows...I can't wait until we have enough Martins to where the Martins overtake any sparrows coming up to the houses; that normally happens within a month 1/2 or so of the first arrival. We had a GREAT last year so looking forward to coming back and posting that we have an arrival.

:) Sheryle

P.S. Thanks Doug...looking forward to their arrival this week:)))
Martin's Rule!!!!!!!!!
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Donna - TX
Posts: 889
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 6:44 pm
Location: Texas/Pearland

Sheryle,

I reported my first martins today and that is 2 weeks later than any of my dates I have reported. So they are definitely on their way. I am glad they were not here during the cold spell.
Donna Gillbee
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Ken&Sheryle - TX
Posts: 649
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 2:21 pm
Location: Helotes/Texas

Hi Donna,

I am also thankful they didn't come earlier cuz of the cold spell in Texas. I remember last year we had a 'late' cold spell in Texas and we had about 20 or more Purple Martins; we ended up ordering crickets and feed them; praying they would take the crickets..and sure enough one Purple Martin took one and then all of sudden all of them were catching the crickets we were throwing up in the air...made you feel good knowing they were not as hungry. So, looking upwards..and hopefully no more cold fronts but you never know with Texas..

Congrats...

:)Sheryle
Martin's Rule!!!!!!!!!
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Scully
Posts: 2009
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2004 5:35 pm
Location: Texas/San Antonio

Sheryle...

At least twelve at our site already, but we always seem to get them earlier than Helotes, just about 10 miles away as the martin flies.

Mike Scully
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Ken&Sheryle - TX
Posts: 649
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 2:21 pm
Location: Helotes/Texas

Wow Mike; you have 12..send some our way. I am hoping we should get ours in the next day or so..at least one.


I am going to go outside and look right now..LOL..

:)Sheryle
Martin's Rule!!!!!!!!!
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Fredmyyster
Posts: 280
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:30 pm
Location: Tennessee/ Nashville

The ainticipation is so exciting !
Empty POOLS are a Delight ! !
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James Strickland FL
Posts: 2249
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
Location: Reidsville NC
Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair

:-( I know how you feel. I have not even seen a Martin as of yet and the whole state of Fl Purple.
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JHeap
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 4:29 pm
Location: Texas/Waller

I stayed home from work on Tuesday and was blessed with one male. I was so excited but quickly fell into depression because I have not seen him since. My husband is a bit worried -- he finds me staring out the window at all hours of the day! How did these little birds get so under my skin?
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DakotaLady
Posts: 654
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
Location: Bismarck, ND

Sheryle,

I completely understand your excitement. I've been quietly reading through all the posts and going into the scout report about 4 or 5 times a day. I have to wait until APRIL to see any birds around this area.

None the less, I'm pacing the floors looking out my windows and hoping this year I will have martins again. Keep looking up...I hope you see your martins soon.
~Tangula~

2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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Ken&Sheryle - TX
Posts: 649
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 2:21 pm
Location: Helotes/Texas

Guess what ya'll, YEP we got our first Purple Martin yesterday evening. Now we were not for sure so today we lowered the house just a little bit and out he came...so I am sooo happy and hopefully more and more will come. Ya'll will get yours...I was definitely looking outside staring @ the houses; I wonder what my neighbors in back of us must think..is she losing it..LOL.

Happy Martin Season:)
Sheryle
Martin's Rule!!!!!!!!!
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Ken&Sheryle - TX
Posts: 649
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 2:21 pm
Location: Helotes/Texas

Hi Flyin-lowe;

Hey I just wanted to let you know that last year we had 30 pairs and it was
8 years for the established colony.

:)Sheryle
Martin's Rule!!!!!!!!!
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