So as mentioned in a previous post the Martins are nesting in the wall of an old brick building. Some of the bricks have deteriorated and have fallen out. The Martins are using the cavities to nest in. I have observed them nest last year in the wall and again as of today they are back ready for another season. The picture is a bit poor but if you look close enough there are numerous cavities. Right in the middle you can see a male martin, on the right is a sparrow. Anyone else observe a similar situation?
Brad,
Martins nesting in the wall
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Anthony Neira
- Posts: 1319
- Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
- Location: San Antonio /Texas
- Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !
Brad , like Matt said, Very Cool ! I'm MORE than certain this is what's going on in an abandoned Factory Building next to the Carver Center in San Antonio Tx. I don't have a camera to catch them & the rain has kept me away, but I'll try to check them out soon! Thanks again for posting !
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! 
Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.-
John Miller
- Posts: 4867
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Fantastic. I think early in the 20th century, this was found far more often. Today any hole in the wall is taken by starlings usually.
When I was a kid in the early 1960s, martins nested in an wooden old railroad depot in my hometown, Princeton, Ky. The open rafters formed a pocket at the end of each, under the roof, and martins nested there. The structure was torn down in the mid 60s.
A few years ago here, there was a report of martins nesting somehow in a wooden railroad bridge in Louisiana, but never verified. I hope Anthony can get a photo of the ones he saw in Texas.
I am seeing a pair or a few rough wing swallows here in my urban neighborhood in St. Louis County for two years now -- I suspect they have found a hole in wall somewhere too.
John M
When I was a kid in the early 1960s, martins nested in an wooden old railroad depot in my hometown, Princeton, Ky. The open rafters formed a pocket at the end of each, under the roof, and martins nested there. The structure was torn down in the mid 60s.
A few years ago here, there was a report of martins nesting somehow in a wooden railroad bridge in Louisiana, but never verified. I hope Anthony can get a photo of the ones he saw in Texas.
I am seeing a pair or a few rough wing swallows here in my urban neighborhood in St. Louis County for two years now -- I suspect they have found a hole in wall somewhere too.
John M
John,
I have Rough Winged Swallows nesting in a old stove pipe on the side of my barn. The pipe has broken off on the outside and plugged on the inside making a shallow nest site. They have returned and fledged young for at least the past 5 years. I have seen starling investigate the stove pipe but never have attempted to nest. I think the cavity is too shallow and open for starlings.
Lewis
I have Rough Winged Swallows nesting in a old stove pipe on the side of my barn. The pipe has broken off on the outside and plugged on the inside making a shallow nest site. They have returned and fledged young for at least the past 5 years. I have seen starling investigate the stove pipe but never have attempted to nest. I think the cavity is too shallow and open for starlings.
Lewis
Spring Garden Keeper
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DornCounty
- Posts: 2169
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
- Location: Rural SE Kansas
- Martin Colony History: .
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Trio-Jedi
rough-winged swallows also really like to nest under semi-truck trailers also.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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avesrun
- Posts: 1127
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:10 pm
- Location: Iowa/West Des Moines
- Martin Colony History: Home Site: 2017- 0
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
Satellite Site: 2017 (3rd season)
34 pair
Fledged- 102
so I guess the claim that purple martins east of the Rockies in the US only live in human supplied housing remains true!
PMCA Member
Home Site: 2012-15 visitors
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
2017-18 Zero
2019- 3 Successful Pr
2020- 21pr, fledged 76
Satellite Site: 2014 - visitors
2015 - 2 pair fledged 9
2016 - 13 pair fledged 44
2017 - 31 pair fledged 118
2018 - 44 pair 163 fledged
2019- 49 pr 219 fledged
2020- 47 pr 209 fledged
Home Site: 2012-15 visitors
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
2017-18 Zero
2019- 3 Successful Pr
2020- 21pr, fledged 76
Satellite Site: 2014 - visitors
2015 - 2 pair fledged 9
2016 - 13 pair fledged 44
2017 - 31 pair fledged 118
2018 - 44 pair 163 fledged
2019- 49 pr 219 fledged
2020- 47 pr 209 fledged
I once saw a pair of martins nesting in a green traffic light that had about a six inch, probably aluminum, cone extension at the face of the light.
I have often wondered if all the doors were removed from a martin house and if there were no other options, would some martins nest there. I guess they would have to be desperate.
I have often wondered if all the doors were removed from a martin house and if there were no other options, would some martins nest there. I guess they would have to be desperate.
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DebA
- Posts: 1941
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
- Location: Pratt County/Kansas
- Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
That is my favorite line on this thread. Ha!Brad wrote:Later today I confirmed sighting of 7 martins at this site. Very cool, hopefully some more bricks fall out.
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR