The first of my returning martins arrived on February 27. Good for me, bad for the martin. For my location the arrival of this bird is much too early in the season. Now the effort begins to keep him alive until natural food becomes available in a few weeks. If you are following the Tree Swallows migration they arrived at my location on February 25th. Hopefully this wind out of the north at 40+mph will slow the migration of the martins for a few days.
Enjoy your passions,
Bill
Purple Martin Returns Too Early
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Bill Pec
- Posts: 545
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:21 am
- Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Virginia
- Martin Colony History: 2010- 2 pr. Fledged 6
2011- 20 pr. Fledged 75
2012- 35 pr. Fledged 143
2013- 37 pr. Fledged 153
2014- 40 pr. Fledged 198
2015- 40 pr. Fledged 183
2016- 42 pr. Fledged 189
2017- 42 pr. Fledged 168
2018- 43 pr. Fledged 172
2019- 43 pr. Fledged 193
2020 -44 pr. Fledged 181
2021 -43 pr. Fledged 184
2022 - 40 pr. Fledged 160
2023 - 39 pr. Fledged 151
2024 - 40 pr. Fledged 154
THE MORE ONE LEARNS THE MORE ONE SEES! While the ignorant person sees only a blackbird the enlightened person sees a Purple Martin.
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
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Jeff Robinson
- Posts: 908
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 3:32 pm
- Location: Rogersville, Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2008 - Current
72 Cavities - 70 Pairs in 2021
PM Mentor
Good luck Bill!
Jeff
Jeff
PMCA Member - Bedrock Colony
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Rediwill
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2016 12:06 pm
- Location: fredericksburg, va
- Martin Colony History: 2016 6/1 Pole put up late due to HOA . Had visitor birds but no pairs that stayed.
2017 3/1 visitor birds but no pairs that stayed.
2018 3/1 visitor birds but no pairs that stayed.
2019 3/1 visitor birds but no pairs that stayed. Brothers Martins didn’t show up at all at his pole 10 miles away.
2020 7/30 Had 3 pairs, 1st- 5 eggs/ 2nd hatched 2 fledged, 2nd - 5 eggs/ 2-5 hatched fledging. 3rd formed late July and no nest built.
2021 3/1 no pairs returned. One lone male hung out few days then left. Weather was bad.
2022 6/1 one pair all four eggs that hatched fledged. I’ve had 6-8 visitors.
2023 6/15 Eleven pairs 4-6 babies per nest. 51 babies total hatched. Will start fledging July 4th until end of July. I am in total shock.....Wow
I agree. Seems last year they were a little late and this year a littler early. Last year the storms I think took a toll and this year the warm weather we had a week ago might of sucked them up a few days earlier. Where I am at near fredricksburg I typically see them about March 10-15th. Tryng to establish a new colony again this year I worry about the fledge count from last year being low but I will think positive and hope for the best. I do think the winds we have for the next few days should keep them a bay. I need a day or two to get my new pole put in and such. I have seen bluebirds already but so far not many HOSP or starlings in my yard. I normally get a few tree swallows a few days before the martins show up but I haven't seen them yet either. I am sure that the HOSP will be here though and my air rifle and traps will be ready.
Shane
Shane
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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.
Hi Bill,
I always like to see when your first arrival comes in. I am not usually too far behind you up here in Western Pa.
It is a rewarding chore to keep those early birds alive. They become like pets. This is when my whistle sound comes in handy to lure them out to feed.
I have had early arrivals when the lakes are still all frozen and brought a few though weeks of sub freezing temperature and inches of snowfall. One time a week of high temps only in the teens and lower 20s with lows below zero. Can't remember how many times I have seen them out flying in the snow.
I rarely ever lose any to weather however. I always try my best to keep them alive as I am sure you will too.
Good luck Bill. The early bird gets worm? Or maybe crickets and eggs too. This year I bought 5 lbs of dried crickets and 11 lbs of freeze dried meal worms. Sometimes I need to keep 30-40 birds fed for weeks at a time up here. It goes with the territory. Last year we had a female that would eat right off your hand. She would land right on the hand and eat crickets.
I have also fed a few early ones that eventually keep going north when it warms again. Not even my bird. Thanks if your feeding one of mine. LOL
Doug
I always like to see when your first arrival comes in. I am not usually too far behind you up here in Western Pa.
It is a rewarding chore to keep those early birds alive. They become like pets. This is when my whistle sound comes in handy to lure them out to feed.
I have had early arrivals when the lakes are still all frozen and brought a few though weeks of sub freezing temperature and inches of snowfall. One time a week of high temps only in the teens and lower 20s with lows below zero. Can't remember how many times I have seen them out flying in the snow.
I rarely ever lose any to weather however. I always try my best to keep them alive as I am sure you will too.
Good luck Bill. The early bird gets worm? Or maybe crickets and eggs too. This year I bought 5 lbs of dried crickets and 11 lbs of freeze dried meal worms. Sometimes I need to keep 30-40 birds fed for weeks at a time up here. It goes with the territory. Last year we had a female that would eat right off your hand. She would land right on the hand and eat crickets.
I have also fed a few early ones that eventually keep going north when it warms again. Not even my bird. Thanks if your feeding one of mine. LOL
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.