A sight to see! I was watching our martins come home tonight. Then about a 100 new martins landed, and about 150 of our martins were defending their nests. There was so much chirping, they were so loud, it was so enjoyable! This lasted about 10 minutes, then suddenly, many of them left, and things instantly returned to normal. I have NEVER seen so many martins on the outside of the gourds before since I started being a landlord. All I can say, the martins headed north, is that there will be many happy landlords when that flock arrives.......Enjoy them
We seem to have picked up many martins in the past 3 or 4 days, I think that we are near capacity. Earlier, I thought that we were down, but now I think that things are completly normal here....Good luck...
A sight to see
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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
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
I will be looking to the sky's for more martins to arrive, it will be getting in the 70s Sunday after a spell of wind rain snow flurries , I have 12 martins back so far and had to lower the gourd racks as it was very windy and 43 degrees . The martins stayed inside the gourds all day but came out when I fed them then back into the gourds they went .
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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!
That's music to our ears Emil! The best of our migration in southern Il. Is coming!!! Good luck with all those birdies!!!! 
Sharon from southern Illinois
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Emil,
My sister in Seguin, TX has 2 of the K-Series 18 Gourd Racks with Troyer Horizontal Gourds (36). She describes a similar situation at her colony but not quite as impressive as you describe. Each evening she observes every gourd as occupied and additional martins trying to roost. The additional martins leave, so she presumes the extras are migrants. She describes quite a racket at dusk each evening.
She added the second K-Series 18 Gourd Rack this spring and within the past 10 days it has become completely occupied with martins.
Everyone needs to get their colonies in prime condition and be on the lookout for martins to start their colony or add to their colony.
My sister in Seguin, TX has 2 of the K-Series 18 Gourd Racks with Troyer Horizontal Gourds (36). She describes a similar situation at her colony but not quite as impressive as you describe. Each evening she observes every gourd as occupied and additional martins trying to roost. The additional martins leave, so she presumes the extras are migrants. She describes quite a racket at dusk each evening.
She added the second K-Series 18 Gourd Rack this spring and within the past 10 days it has become completely occupied with martins.
Everyone needs to get their colonies in prime condition and be on the lookout for martins to start their colony or add to their colony.
- Attachments
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- K Series 18 Gourd Rack 2.JPG
- (189.59 KiB) Not downloaded yet
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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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
Thanks to all. Seguin is a very popular place for martins, at least one super colony in that city
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hello and best wishes to you, Emil. Our colony of 88 gourds is close to full capacity. Nest building and green leaves, but no eggs yet.
Great seasons to everybody. I hope to manage a full report to project MartinWatch this year.
Great seasons to everybody. I hope to manage a full report to project MartinWatch this year.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Emil,
Tony Frederickson's colony is in his backyard in a neighborhood about 1/4 mile from my sister's colony. Her colony is behind her office and her colony backs up to a 10 acre wheat field.
She really appreciates his colony's effect on her colony's success. As he reduces his colony size, I believe that is contributing to her success.
Our family understands the continuum of purple martin landlording. My sister and I are the fourth generation in our family to host purple martins.
Tony Frederickson's colony is in his backyard in a neighborhood about 1/4 mile from my sister's colony. Her colony is behind her office and her colony backs up to a 10 acre wheat field.
She really appreciates his colony's effect on her colony's success. As he reduces his colony size, I believe that is contributing to her success.
Our family understands the continuum of purple martin landlording. My sister and I are the fourth generation in our family to host purple martins.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Glad to hear there are more purple martins on the way. Me ? I still have only 4 right now but have hopes for more ! I have never been this low on birds. Glad I came down to see you Emil a few weeks ago and "talk birds" for a bit ! Thanks. *BW*
Retsub