Trying To Get Caught Up!

[Kyler]

Hello Everyone. It’s been a minute since I have been on here. I missed talking to all of you! I’ve noticed the martins are on there way again. I can’t wait for them to show back up! About 4 weeks out according to last year! Just a little update on last year. I ended with 40 pair. We ended up losing about 15 martins at my main colony because for some reason they wouldn’t take any supplemental food last year. So I’m hoping this year is going to be better. I’m adding to the colony just a little bit for 2022. I will be rocking 87 compartments this year! I’ve done a few modifications that I will make a separate post about and add a few pictures.

But anyways the main reason I’m writing this is to see what has everyone been up too? Also to see if anyone is adding or even cutting back on the size of there colonies? Any modifications I missed out on or anything like that!

Thank you guys! I hope you all have a great season!
Take Care!

Kyler,

[SSMartin]

40 pair nice! It really is something when they all get airborne and do a new slow turn and come back to the housing. That’s where the numbers really make it a sight to see.

I added a 18 gourd rack this year putting me at 64 cavities. I also ordered another 18 gourd rack just yesterday because it’ll probably be more expensive next year so might as well.

I will say the increase in my gourds of choice has been a big turn off for me this year. I mean I do it for the ‘birds’ but when I’m spending over 1k on a new rack with gourds…. I gotta stop and scratch my head a few times.

[Whippy]

Good to have you back. I'm looking forward to the pictures.

All I did this year is add 4 gourds to my T-14 that I got last year. In the 7 years sine starting I've gone from 16 gourds to 24 gourds on a rack, a Trio Wade from my neighbor, a T-14 from our member Jangley for last year. As you can see by my signature my colony has been growing quite nicely. Although I had only 29 pairs last year, I had a whole lot of SY martins staying here so I'm looking forward to increasing pairs this year.

Coolwhips

[C.C.Martins]

Welcome back Kyler!
Sorry for your losses, many, many martins fell victim.
Glad you finished strong!
Hope you stay active, lost a few LLs i think.
Despite our early losses here, finished in good shape. Biggest accomplishment was getting the martins to catch and accept crickets last year. Wish the ones I lost learned but those that survived sure made out.
Bunch of upgrades, added 6 gourds here to a delux gourd rack, our satellite site trio mini now sports troyer tunnels and new pole with winch. And one spare o door!
10 pair up from 3 the year before out there.
Dedicated a trio grand pa with the old spaghetti rails into a sparrow trap out there-full of hard to get spare o doors and two delux sparrow traps. Got it and a trio castle, the spare o doors, extra everything from a long time land lord in san antonio who called it quits...sparrows did him in.
Martins should be here any day!
Again, welcome back!
Tom

[Kyler]

SSMartin,
It’s good to hear from you! I know exactly what you mean. I like that your thinking ahead and buying when the price is right. Good luck this year! I hope those gourds fill up for you!

Whippy,
You are definitely getting a great colony going. I’m happy your still adding to your colony! That’s awesome 29 Pair plus all the SY’s. It’s going to be a great year for you! Main reason I added this year is because I had so many single SY Males that started to cause problems. So I’m hoping with a few more cavities they would be able to attract a mate this year! Keep me updated!

Tom,
Sounds like that weather hit you too. That was probably the worst thing I’ve experienced as a landlord. Other than that 19 inches of snow we had back in 2017. It’s good that you finished strong as well! Keep getting after those sparrows, there a absolute pain. Those spare-o-doors are a life saver! It always seems like you have it under control and then a week later there’s 10 more that show up. I guess that just part of the game. It was good to hear from you! Have a great year!

Kyler,

[Whippy]

Kyler,

That's interesting about your SY males. I had quite a few last year as well and I witnessed something pretty cool. May have been a fluke or coincidence but it made sense to me.

I had 29 breeding pairs and all were successful. I had 44 cavities. So that left 15 cavities for the SY's to hang out in. As I did nest checks I was seeing gourds and T-14 cavities with hollowed out bowls in the pre-nesting but no added nest material as if it were a build. So the SY's were staying in these gourds as if they were their own and it appeared to keep them from entering active nests. Sure they checked them out from time to time but it wasn't a constant barrage of attacks and I believe it's because they had their own place and they were working on attracting a mate or just keeping possession of their cavity.

I had no dead babies and no broken eggs last year. I'm wondering if 100% occupancy is a good thing. In true youngster fashion - if they have their own toys no need to play with someone else's.

I also wonder if those SY's will return as ASY's this year being that, although they had a cavity, they did not mate and raise a brood. So do they have site fidelity just because they had a cavity? Something to ponder I guess.

Coolwhips

[Spiderman]

The Sy’s that didn’t pair up last year will definitely be back if they survive the migration. They imprinted on your site and hopefully should attract mates this year and breed.

It’s is always preferred to have empty gourds for single Sy’s to stay in to cut down the fighting within the colony.

[Dave Reynolds]

... Great to see you back .. Kyler ... .. Missed your commentary ... I bit the bullet this year and bought a new Triple AAA 16 Gourd rack with all the gourds for this year.. It's all laying on the basement floor... Just checking everything out before I try to put it up in a few weeks... This will make two gourd rack's of 16 gourds apiece. I only had 8 pair last year at home with two that could not find mates... So I'm hoping to double up this year if I'm lucky.. Anyway great to have you back with us...

Dave

[Kyler]

Whippy,

That’s interesting! I’ve always seemed to have a problem with SY Males and even some SY Females. I have a video that shows that back in 2017. I had about 20 cavities open last year but for some reason they just kept causing problems. I hoping by adding more this year maybe more females will show up. I agree with Spider-Man. I believe those males will definitely show back up as ASY’s and raise a brood.

Here’s that video.
https://youtu.be/LlC8tIH5-cI

Dave,

It’s good to here from you! I cant wait to hear your updates through out the year! Your martins are definitely going to be spoiled this year! Good luck this year Dave!!

Kyler

[C.C.Martins]

Kyler,
Never ever want to see the martins go through that cold again. Tried flipping eggs, crickets and June bugs. Put them on the roof of our house, on porches and in cavities. Nothing, when I ran out bought all they had at pets mart, Mr Barrow was good enough to give me some large meal worms, despite him going through the same thing. Put hand warmers in cavities, didnt help. 4 early arrivals died, found 2 more in cavities dead and one dead on the ground. I know other folks lost more. 40 losses....man. mother nature can be brutal.
Never, ever.

[Archer]

Hi Kyler, last I recall you were working on styrafoam nest trays, how did that work out for you? I will not be explanding any further at my residence but have been working towards getting a colony set up at our local school. Last summer I found out that a teacher I knew, was interested and had martin in her own yard. She was excited about the possibility of having a colong at the school. All these years I have been looking for a teacher to take responsibility of a school colony. I believe I have now found the right person.

[Kyler]

Archer,
It’s good to here from you! I used those nest trays in about 10 compartments last year! They worked great. My plan is to make more and fill the other compartments this year.

That’s awesome about the school! I can’t wait to hear some updates on that. I really hope you make that happen! I’ve been wanting to start a colony in another town just north of me. They have a local lake there that has many walking trails and such. So I think it could be a perfect spot! But anyways like I said it’s good to hear from you! Take care!

Kyler,