This has been quite the Ride for us here in Ohio, first of all it seems obvious that it is in the location of where you place your martin houses as we have virtually no trees at our current location, and since we had tried for 10 plus yrs. at our previous location which was virtually 2 miles down the road from our current location we also knew there were Martins in the neighborhood but prior to moving we had no success as simply being we had too many trees at our former location, it makes a world of difference.
So in 2016 we put up a House the first week of May, by the 23rd we had our first visitors we ended up with 4 pair of Subbys which fledged 9 baby martins.
Fast forward to 2017 we decided to add another T-14 the end of April as the first box on the left was filling up fast.
As of 6 am. this morning as I was enjoying a cup of coffee while sitting on the front porch enjoying all the activity I realized that the house on the left was almost at capacity as there are only 2 of the gourds that are empty , seems they like the T-14 at our location, we feel lucky and blessed to have such a fast growing colony.
The first nest check we did was on Monday Memorial day and we had 1 nest with six eggs and 2 other nests with 2 & 3 eggs in them....10 more nests lined in Leaves, and 1 nest that had a very nice nest built but no leaves yet, this morning the leaves were going into that compartment as I was watching...All in House # 1
House # 2 has all subbys and currently there are 6 nests that are being built in this house...
Next nest check will be Friday the 2nd of June and I'm sure there will be more eggs.
Closest I could tell was there were 38-40 martins at our location with more showing up daily. Subbys are still migrating.
I took a short video as the sun was coming up this morning and uploaded to YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02DkzKluncg
For you folks still trying please don't give up as I am sure your time will come. It is such a joy getting up early and sitting out and watching them prior to heading off to work.
Absolutly Crazy in Ohio
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sugarcreek
- Posts: 252
- Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 10:43 am
- Location: Sugarcreek, Ohio
- Martin Colony History: 2016 First Yr.
Last edited by sugarcreek on Wed May 31, 2017 10:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
16 - 14 Cavities 4 Act. Ne 9 fledged, 2.25 Fl. per Act. Ne
17 - 36 Cavities 18 Act. Ne 65 Fledged, 3.61 Fl. per Act. Ne
18 - 54 Cavities 43 Act. Ne 169 Fledged, 3.93 Fl. per Act. Ne
19 - 108 Cavities 67 Act. Ne 209 Fledged, 3.12 Fl. per Act. Ne
20 - 108 Cavities 72 Act. Ne 243 Fledged, 3.38 Fl. per Act. Ne
21 - 112 Cavities 91 Act. Ne 313 Fledged, 3.44 Fl. per Act. Ne
22 - 114 Cavities 101 Act Ne 355 Fledged, 3.51 Fl. per Act. Ne
17 - 36 Cavities 18 Act. Ne 65 Fledged, 3.61 Fl. per Act. Ne
18 - 54 Cavities 43 Act. Ne 169 Fledged, 3.93 Fl. per Act. Ne
19 - 108 Cavities 67 Act. Ne 209 Fledged, 3.12 Fl. per Act. Ne
20 - 108 Cavities 72 Act. Ne 243 Fledged, 3.38 Fl. per Act. Ne
21 - 112 Cavities 91 Act. Ne 313 Fledged, 3.44 Fl. per Act. Ne
22 - 114 Cavities 101 Act Ne 355 Fledged, 3.51 Fl. per Act. Ne
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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 
. Great open flyway. Amazing how fast your colony grew. The only issue you may have are Starlings. They love to forage in fields.
If it were me.....I'd add also a feeding station with egg shells, etc. I'd also suggest you limit your housing capacity to the amount of Martins you can care for or you will get overwhelmed.
Best wishes,
Toy in PA
. Great open flyway. Amazing how fast your colony grew. The only issue you may have are Starlings. They love to forage in fields. If it were me.....I'd add also a feeding station with egg shells, etc. I'd also suggest you limit your housing capacity to the amount of Martins you can care for or you will get overwhelmed.
Best wishes,
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
-
sugarcreek
- Posts: 252
- Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 10:43 am
- Location: Sugarcreek, Ohio
- Martin Colony History: 2016 First Yr.
Congrats . Great open flyway. Amazing how fast your colony grew. The only issue you may have are Starlings. They love to forage in fields.
If it were me.....I'd add also a feeding station with egg shells, etc. I'd also suggest you limit your housing capacity to the amount of Martins you can care for or you will get overwhelmed.
Best wishes,
Toy in PA
Thanks Toy...
Have had very little starling problems to date a couple have tried but couldn't get in with the Conley II openings...Since we live in the country I have a shotgun handy so they are pretty skittish but so far so good.....We put out egg shells on the driveway right by the house on the pavement so they come right down in front of the porch and feed...
. Great open flyway. Amazing how fast your colony grew. The only issue you may have are Starlings. They love to forage in fields. If it were me.....I'd add also a feeding station with egg shells, etc. I'd also suggest you limit your housing capacity to the amount of Martins you can care for or you will get overwhelmed.
Best wishes,
Toy in PA
Thanks Toy...
Have had very little starling problems to date a couple have tried but couldn't get in with the Conley II openings...Since we live in the country I have a shotgun handy so they are pretty skittish but so far so good.....We put out egg shells on the driveway right by the house on the pavement so they come right down in front of the porch and feed...
16 - 14 Cavities 4 Act. Ne 9 fledged, 2.25 Fl. per Act. Ne
17 - 36 Cavities 18 Act. Ne 65 Fledged, 3.61 Fl. per Act. Ne
18 - 54 Cavities 43 Act. Ne 169 Fledged, 3.93 Fl. per Act. Ne
19 - 108 Cavities 67 Act. Ne 209 Fledged, 3.12 Fl. per Act. Ne
20 - 108 Cavities 72 Act. Ne 243 Fledged, 3.38 Fl. per Act. Ne
21 - 112 Cavities 91 Act. Ne 313 Fledged, 3.44 Fl. per Act. Ne
22 - 114 Cavities 101 Act Ne 355 Fledged, 3.51 Fl. per Act. Ne
17 - 36 Cavities 18 Act. Ne 65 Fledged, 3.61 Fl. per Act. Ne
18 - 54 Cavities 43 Act. Ne 169 Fledged, 3.93 Fl. per Act. Ne
19 - 108 Cavities 67 Act. Ne 209 Fledged, 3.12 Fl. per Act. Ne
20 - 108 Cavities 72 Act. Ne 243 Fledged, 3.38 Fl. per Act. Ne
21 - 112 Cavities 91 Act. Ne 313 Fledged, 3.44 Fl. per Act. Ne
22 - 114 Cavities 101 Act Ne 355 Fledged, 3.51 Fl. per Act. Ne
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handyman315
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 11:03 am
- Location: SW Ohio
- Martin Colony History: Colony established May 20, 2017 after three unsuccessful years. Persistent and aggressive Tree Swallows plagued the site, but beyond learning - and practicing - to control them, was the return in 2017 of a 2016-SY-M previously unable to find a mate. As a handsome ASY-M, he brought along two females and a swagger that soon put the Tree Swallow issue to rest. As the anchor pair, he and his mate hatched all six of their eggs into fat and healthy babies into what settled in to be a three-pair, flourishing new colony with up to 11 birds total, including 3 SY-M trouble makers.
Congrats on your perseverance and success.
Beautiful video. Great open location. Love the houses, they are awesome.
Patio, coffee, and flying demonstrations, what could be better? Enjoy.
Handyman315
(We've previously exchanged messages; I'm in SW Ohio, just north of Cincinnati.)
Beautiful video. Great open location. Love the houses, they are awesome.
Patio, coffee, and flying demonstrations, what could be better? Enjoy.
Handyman315
(We've previously exchanged messages; I'm in SW Ohio, just north of Cincinnati.)
2023-42 Nests, 197 Eggs/Babies
2022-48 Nests Fledged 203
2021-43 Nests Fledged 185
2020-31 Nests Fledged 133, three early deaths due to cold & rain
2019-19 Nests Fledged 84
2018-11 Nests Fledged 48, ASY-M Arrived April 6, Despite Snow & Cold, Joined Soon by Mate & Two Adult Pairs
2017-3 Nests Fledged 13, FIRST-YEAR LANDLORD! Resident SY-M from 2016 Returned (as ASY-M) on May 20. At Least 11 Adult Residents
2016 Late-Arriving SYs, Resident Lone SY-M
2015-14 Many Visits
2022-48 Nests Fledged 203
2021-43 Nests Fledged 185
2020-31 Nests Fledged 133, three early deaths due to cold & rain
2019-19 Nests Fledged 84
2018-11 Nests Fledged 48, ASY-M Arrived April 6, Despite Snow & Cold, Joined Soon by Mate & Two Adult Pairs
2017-3 Nests Fledged 13, FIRST-YEAR LANDLORD! Resident SY-M from 2016 Returned (as ASY-M) on May 20. At Least 11 Adult Residents
2016 Late-Arriving SYs, Resident Lone SY-M
2015-14 Many Visits
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Martinfarmer
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 6:33 pm
- Location: Guthrie KY 42234
- Martin Colony History: 2015 put up a S-k house, visitors but no takers
2016 homemade Martin condo (40 nesting boxes) several visitors no takers
2017 changed crescent openings to Troyer Conley 2 openings and installed 4 super gourds with Conley2 adapters and 12 vertical Troyers.
Several nests and eggs. Hopefully will exceed one hundred eggs this year.
6-21-17 nest inspection 68 chicks and 26 eggs
6-30-17 inspection 90 chicks and a new nest with 4 eggs.
8-30-17 successfully fledged over 85 martins.
I enjoyed the video Sugarcreek . Just like people, those martins like high ground. Looks like you have a beautiful location for sure.sugarcreek wrote:This has been quite the Ride for us here in Ohio, first of all it seems obvious that it is in the location of where you place your martin houses as we have virtually no trees at our current location, and since we had tried for 10 plus yrs. at our previous location which was virtually 2 miles down the road from our current location we also knew there were Martins in the neighborhood but prior to moving we had no success as simply being we had too many trees at our former location, it makes a world of difference.
So in 2016 we put up a House the first week of May, by the 23rd we had our first visitors we ended up with 4 pair of Subbys which fledged 9 baby martins.
Fast forward to 2017 we decided to add another T-14 the end of April as the first box on the left was filling up fast.
As of 6 am. this morning as I was enjoying a cup of coffee while sitting on the front porch enjoying all the activity I realized that the house on the left was almost at capacity as there are only 2 of the gourds that are empty , seems they like the T-14 at our location, we feel lucky and blessed to have such a fast growing colony.
The first nest check we did was on Monday Memorial day and we had 1 nest with six eggs and 2 other nests with 2 & 3 eggs in them....10 more nests lined in Leaves, and 1 nest that had a very nice nest built but no leaves yet, this morning the leaves were going into that compartment as I was watching...All in House # 1
House # 2 has all subbys and currently there are 6 nests that are being built in this house...
Next nest check will be Friday the 2nd of June and I'm sure there will be more eggs.
Closest I could tell was there were 38-40 martins at our location with more showing up daily. Subbys are still migrating.
I took a short video as the sun was coming up this morning and uploaded to YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02DkzKluncg
For you folks still trying please don't give up as I am sure your time will come. It is such a joy getting up early and sitting out and watching them prior to heading off to work.
-
Henry Limpet
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:48 pm
- Location: IN./Howe, via the s/w side of Chicago
- Martin Colony History: Trendsetter-8. Set up in 2014 at my summer cottage, a beautiful natural inland lake in N.E. Indiana's Amish Country. T-8 is on cleared land behind my pole barn and adjacent to a farmer's field
2015: Had several flyovers in early June with 1 dedicated SYM visitor who visited each day for well over a month. He brought by a few PM "parades", with 8-12 PM's who would visit all at once, but soon leave. (Added 2 gourds to bottom of the T-8). We discovered a large (Amish) colony apx. 3/4 mile South of our T-8. We think this will eventually be our "feeder" colony.
2016: Put up a Trio G'Pa lakeside. Overall, not as much interest as 2015, likely because of our vacation to Gulf Shores, AL. in early June.
2017: Finally switched over to wheat straw. Success!! One nesting pair. Fledged 4!
2018: Zilch.
2019: Slow start, nothing observed by mid June. Wet, cold Spring a factor??
2020: Barely any sightings.
2021: Several observed high in the sky, eating. No interest so far!
Awesome numbers, I am very jealous. I do think that you should buy a scratch off lotto ticket as the odds are definitely in your favor. Nice videos, too!
Be careful how you wish . . for wishes can come true . . be sure that every wish you make is one that's right for you!
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Buckeyefarmer
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 9:33 am
- Location: Ohio
- Martin Colony History: 2015- 0 visitors
2016- 0 visitors
2017- built T-14+songbird magnet, 6 pairs,15 fledged
2018- built 2nd T-14. Anxiously waiting!!
Very nice! Looks like you'll need another house next spring.
Mark
Central, OHIO.
Central, OHIO.
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sugarcreek
- Posts: 252
- Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 10:43 am
- Location: Sugarcreek, Ohio
- Martin Colony History: 2016 First Yr.
Buckeyefarmer wrote:Very nice! Looks like you'll need another house next spring.
Hey Buckeye - Where are you located....?
16 - 14 Cavities 4 Act. Ne 9 fledged, 2.25 Fl. per Act. Ne
17 - 36 Cavities 18 Act. Ne 65 Fledged, 3.61 Fl. per Act. Ne
18 - 54 Cavities 43 Act. Ne 169 Fledged, 3.93 Fl. per Act. Ne
19 - 108 Cavities 67 Act. Ne 209 Fledged, 3.12 Fl. per Act. Ne
20 - 108 Cavities 72 Act. Ne 243 Fledged, 3.38 Fl. per Act. Ne
21 - 112 Cavities 91 Act. Ne 313 Fledged, 3.44 Fl. per Act. Ne
22 - 114 Cavities 101 Act Ne 355 Fledged, 3.51 Fl. per Act. Ne
17 - 36 Cavities 18 Act. Ne 65 Fledged, 3.61 Fl. per Act. Ne
18 - 54 Cavities 43 Act. Ne 169 Fledged, 3.93 Fl. per Act. Ne
19 - 108 Cavities 67 Act. Ne 209 Fledged, 3.12 Fl. per Act. Ne
20 - 108 Cavities 72 Act. Ne 243 Fledged, 3.38 Fl. per Act. Ne
21 - 112 Cavities 91 Act. Ne 313 Fledged, 3.44 Fl. per Act. Ne
22 - 114 Cavities 101 Act Ne 355 Fledged, 3.51 Fl. per Act. Ne
-
Buckeyefarmer
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 9:33 am
- Location: Ohio
- Martin Colony History: 2015- 0 visitors
2016- 0 visitors
2017- built T-14+songbird magnet, 6 pairs,15 fledged
2018- built 2nd T-14. Anxiously waiting!!
Near Buckeye Lake. Good things happening here, I've got 5 pairs of PMs now and they're building nest like crazy! They are gathering chopped corn stubble. Pretty comical watching them shove that through a crescent opening!
Mark
Central, OHIO.
Central, OHIO.
-
Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2442
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged
Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged
Buckeyefarmer... My Brother-in-law has a place on Buckeye Lake... Did they bring the water back up to par.. ? Good hearing about your colony...
Dave
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
-
j6745l@gmail.com
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:35 am
- Location: Raynham MA. 02767
- Martin Colony History: 2016, put Troyer pole with 6 units Horizontal with Conley 11 Tunnels.
Had some visits (two sittings) last year. A visit this year 2017.
Wow, Great Video, and so interesting to watch. Not all of us trying to get their first martins have nothing even close to this set up.. Conversely I have seen a large colony here with trees very close to their set up. That give some hope as I have some trees in the area.sugarcreek wrote:This has been quite the Ride for us here in Ohio, first of all it seems obvious that it is in the location of where you place your martin houses as we have virtually no trees at our current location, and since we had tried for 10 plus yrs. at our previous location which was virtually 2 miles down the road from our current location we also knew there were Martins in the neighborhood but prior to moving we had no success as simply being we had too many trees at our former location, it makes a world of difference.
So in 2016 we put up a House the first week of May, by the 23rd we had our first visitors we ended up with 4 pair of Subbys which fledged 9 baby martins.
Fast forward to 2017 we decided to add another T-14 the end of April as the first box on the left was filling up fast.
As of 6 am. this morning as I was enjoying a cup of coffee while sitting on the front porch enjoying all the activity I realized that the house on the left was almost at capacity as there are only 2 of the gourds that are empty , seems they like the T-14 at our location, we feel lucky and blessed to have such a fast growing colony.
The first nest check we did was on Monday Memorial day and we had 1 nest with six eggs and 2 other nests with 2 & 3 eggs in them....10 more nests lined in Leaves, and 1 nest that had a very nice nest built but no leaves yet, this morning the leaves were going into that compartment as I was watching...All in House # 1
House # 2 has all subbys and currently there are 6 nests that are being built in this house...
Next nest check will be Friday the 2nd of June and I'm sure there will be more eggs.
Closest I could tell was there were 38-40 martins at our location with more showing up daily. Subbys are still migrating.
I took a short video as the sun was coming up this morning and uploaded to YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02DkzKluncg
For you folks still trying please don't give up as I am sure your time will come. It is such a joy getting up early and sitting out and watching them prior to heading off to work.
-
Buckeyefarmer
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 9:33 am
- Location: Ohio
- Martin Colony History: 2015- 0 visitors
2016- 0 visitors
2017- built T-14+songbird magnet, 6 pairs,15 fledged
2018- built 2nd T-14. Anxiously waiting!!
It's much fuller than last year but I think they still are keeping it down a bit. Still more work to be done on the dam. We farm mostly on the north side of the lake but do travel near Millersport for a couple farms.Dave Reynolds wrote:Buckeyefarmer... My Brother-in-law has a place on Buckeye Lake... Did they bring the water back up to par.. ? Good hearing about your colony...
Dave
My colony gained another pair this morning, a fully colored male and his girlfriend. He looks quite stunning with his black suit of feathers!
Mark
Central, OHIO.
Central, OHIO.