An ASY Male arrived at 2:15 PM. We had the houses lowered due to high wind warnings. Winds are blowing at a steady 30mph, gusting to 60 mph. We could have snow showers tonight.
I walked within in 5 feet of him & then he flew off, circled & hung on the air like a kite. We raised the houses up & he came back & went in. He looks good considering the lousy weather we've had.
If the winds die down I'll try to supplement feed him before dark.
Toy in PA
Woo Hoo!! ASY Male back in central PA
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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.
PMCA Member
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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.
I was thinking you were due there. Congratulations
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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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!
Happy for you Toy! Good luck with this spring weather! It’s been a mess! 
Sharon from southern Illinois
Congratulations Toy! I have been watching for your post and feel your excitement! I'm always amazed just how much a bird can endure. Here at my site (Ohio) I have been feeding 25 martins. Thank goodness they will eat eggs and not just crickets. The way the weather is I'm afraid a diet of only crickets would break the bank. Monday we woke up to 3" of snow. Tuesday we had a high of 70+ degrees and tornado warnings. And today? You guessed it, cold, windy. and snow flurries. Who knows how long this roller coaster ride will last. Good luck to you and your colony. Keep us posted on your new arrivals. Brenda
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Larry A Kronemeyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 5:27 pm
- Location: Illinois/Millstadt
Congratulations Toy
You're officially on the map now.
I know you've been watching and waiting.
You're officially on the map now.
I know you've been watching and waiting.
Larry and Judy Kronemeyer
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 8 gourds(crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 8 gourds(crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
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Larry A Kronemeyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 5:27 pm
- Location: Illinois/Millstadt
Congratulations Toy
You're officially on the map now.
I know you've been watching and waiting.
You're officially on the map now.
I know you've been watching and waiting.
Larry and Judy Kronemeyer
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 8 gourds(crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 8 gourds(crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
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Dan G
- Posts: 446
- Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:52 pm
- Location: PA/Bellefonte
- Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius.
Have had visitor every year 2014-24.
Two large trees removed in fall 2024 and moved T-14 to a more open location.
2025- 1 SY pair. Fledged 2.
2026- no pairs. One daily SYM here daily. Named him Riggs!
Congrats Toy. We know he will be well fed. I saw a report in Centre county a few days ago so knew you’d be reporting soon. It sure doesn’t feel like martin weather quite yet even though the calendar says it is spring. We have the high winds as well.
Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
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Dale D
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 10:11 am
- Location: Orlando, Fl
- Martin Colony History: Landlord since 2004
Congratulations, on your 1st return. Wish you the best with him knowing your weather probably isn't too Martin friendly right now.
Orlando, FL Landlord since 2004
Offer 42 Cavities Total
Offer 42 Cavities Total
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MichaelH
- Posts: 586
- Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:10 am
- Location: IL/Gillespie
- Martin Colony History: 2015 28 cavities 2 pairs
2016 big upgrade 56cavities 16 pairs great year
2017. 76 cavities 36 pairs
2018. 146 cavities
Good news hope the weather turns for the better for us all enjoy the birds
2018 146 cavities.
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pmartinlover2
- Posts: 521
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:37 pm
- Location: IL/Hillsboro
- Martin Colony History: 2011 Home site--1 SY pair--2 fledged
2016 Satellite Site---4 pair--19 eggs laid--17 hatched--16 fledged
2017 Satellite Site--8 pair--37 eggs laid--34 hatched--34 fledged
2018 11 pair--fledged 60
2019 20 pair-fledged 94
2020 23pair-fledged 108
Congrats Toy! Glad they made it back. Weather is rotten here in Illinois too. Expecting more snow in a couple days so winter isn’t over here yet either. Hope your martin does well.
Jody in Central Illinois
Landlord in 2016
2016—4 pr fledged 16
2017—8 pr fledged 34
2018—11 pr fledged 60
Landlord in 2016
2016—4 pr fledged 16
2017—8 pr fledged 34
2018—11 pr fledged 60
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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.
Thanks every one.
It sure has been bad weather for many sites this spring migration. I often think, they are thinking, if they have to fly ALL this way we should have to endure some of what they do/did as well & it's our reward to make sure they are taken care of, because it really is a wonderful experience to care for them.
Early evening (around 6:30) with the wind gusting at a recorded 54 mph, we decided to bring the houses down a bit. He took off & had a good fly, then came back & went in for the night. It was too windy to feed him. I'll be out flipping in the morning.
Darn weather. Looks like it may be a repeat of spring 2017....cold & wet. Even tho a day or two, over the next 2 weeks, may make it to 50 it's calling for some snow & lots of rain. So I'll be out flipping crickets.
Toy in PA
It sure has been bad weather for many sites this spring migration. I often think, they are thinking, if they have to fly ALL this way we should have to endure some of what they do/did as well & it's our reward to make sure they are taken care of, because it really is a wonderful experience to care for them.
Early evening (around 6:30) with the wind gusting at a recorded 54 mph, we decided to bring the houses down a bit. He took off & had a good fly, then came back & went in for the night. It was too windy to feed him. I'll be out flipping in the morning.
Darn weather. Looks like it may be a repeat of spring 2017....cold & wet. Even tho a day or two, over the next 2 weeks, may make it to 50 it's calling for some snow & lots of rain. So I'll be out flipping crickets.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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Hanover Bill
- Posts: 656
- Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 3:10 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Hanover Township
- Martin Colony History: 2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
Hi Toy;
Happy for you Toy, hope you have a great season. I am still waiting for my first return, keeping my eyes on the sky.
Hanover Bill.
Happy for you Toy, hope you have a great season. I am still waiting for my first return, keeping my eyes on the sky.
Hanover Bill.
2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
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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.
Boy this sure is cold windy weather. OMG I dang near froze out flipping crickets for him. Temp 30/wind chill 21, NW winds around 15mph, gusting & we've had snow showers. If we're lucky it may make it to 41 today. Calling for 51 & rain/snow Friday. After that we aren't to get out of the 40's until next Thursday. So yep I'll be out flipping.
The houses were down all night due to the high winds. Temp dropped overnight to 29. We had a dusting of snow around 5 AM. I went out at 9AM & whistled & he peeked out. As soon as I got set up to flip crickets he came out & got on the wires. The first few the wind took, so I had to flip into the wind & much higher. Then he was able to catch some. While he was off for a fly around we raised the houses. I'll feed a couple more times today. Wish this darn cold wind would give up.
Toy in PA
The houses were down all night due to the high winds. Temp dropped overnight to 29. We had a dusting of snow around 5 AM. I went out at 9AM & whistled & he peeked out. As soon as I got set up to flip crickets he came out & got on the wires. The first few the wind took, so I had to flip into the wind & much higher. Then he was able to catch some. While he was off for a fly around we raised the houses. I'll feed a couple more times today. Wish this darn cold wind would give up.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member