Question for the pros

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omyakinback
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:59 pm
Location: NC/Catawba

Last year was my 1st year to host martins. Three pair that fledged 12. Now in my second year I have 3 males that are claiming gourds staying all day. Only one lone female has come by sporadically and is going in gourd with male. Now for my question, is this usually what happens with returning pair or do you think these are new martins? (All martins are ASY). Should I play the dawn song? Maybe I'm just too impatient? Thanks for anyone and all help.
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

I'm no pro but I would say at least some are from last year! If they succeed and live through the migration they'll be back! Good luck! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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omyakinback
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:59 pm
Location: NC/Catawba

Do males usually precede the females in returning? For a little information they have been here for a week now. Once again thanks for the help.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
Posts: 6743
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas

The martins can come back in any order. There can be one or two females first, or one or more males first, it really can be that you are just impatient as you said. Most often, early in the season, the males outnumber the females.

There is no reason for you to play the dawn song, you have been very successful so congrats on your success. Martins are much better at attracting other martins than the dawn song, so why confuse the martins?
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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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.

In my experience early in building my colony the males had a harder time attracting older females to the small site early on.

They did however have success eventually attracting SY females that came along a bit later. Look for a very light color under the tail to identify a SY female. ASY female have grey feathers under the tail.

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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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 !

Doug Martin - PA wrote:In my experience early in building my colony the males had a harder time attracting older females to the small site early on.

They did however have success eventually attracting SY females that came along a bit later. Look for a very light color under the tail to identify a SY female. ASY female have grey feathers under the tail.

Doug
VERY COOL ! Doug ! That's something that I do not read enough of ! & Thanks for Hanging in there for so long ! :grin:
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 !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
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Patrick W. Dusek
Posts: 167
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 9:35 pm
Location: Sugar Land, Texas

Give them time they will come.
Spring time yet???
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