Downsizing worries.....

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Connie
Posts: 443
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.

This season I have 10 less gourds and 2 less poles than last. I had to cut back due to my health.
Now my martins are back and I am sick to my stomach thinking about them looking for their homes and not finding them.
My question is, will the ones who arrive first and find their old gourd and pole gone, go into the set up that's still here? Or, will they leave and try to find a new place to nest? My neighbor has a set up and he has some vacancies so they won't have far to go.
I am definitely having regrets now though I know at the end of the season I won't have to clean and store so many gourds. The maintenance on 24 gourds and 3 poles was just getting to be too much for me. If I were the type that could just throw everything up and leave it, never do nest checks and never scrub gourds I could probably handle it. But I am way to OCD and crazy over my martins to ever be that way.
Anybody ever downsize like this? What do you believe the martins do in this case?
:-( :?:
Connie
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threelilkids
Posts: 386
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:11 pm
Location: Denham Springs, La
Martin Colony History: 2014 1 pair 3 hatched 3 fledged
2015 1 pair 5 hatched 5 fledged
2016 1 pair 5 hatched 4 fledged
2017 2 pair 8 hatched 8 fledged
2018 4 pair 15 hatched

Connie, I live in Denham Springs, So if you need help just let me know I'll be glad to help you keep up your martin gourdes :wink:
Mary
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CraigMo.
Posts: 1480
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 12:30 pm
Location: Missouri/Lone Jack
Martin Colony History: Active since 2003

Connie, you did the right thing by downsizing. If it gets to be to much work then it won't be enjoyable anymore. I think your extra birds will move on and find another home. Good Luck
Craig
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Connie
Posts: 443
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.

Mary,
That is soooo sweet of you! I think I am going to stay a little smaller tho.
I can keep up with my nest checks, it is mainly cleaning and storing gourds at the end of the season. This year it took me all day to clean 24. I may put up another four in the front yard so I can see my martins from both sides of the house, but I think I can handle that many. I really waited too late this time and had to rush to do it all. Seems like I just got them stored when I had to pull them back out. Just going to have to start earlier and go slower. :) Where are you in Denham Mary?

Craig,
You are so right! It was becoming a chore instead of enjoyment. I will see how I do with what I have this year. If I can stay on the ball I may put up 4 more in the front!!
Thanks y'all! :)
Connie
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threelilkids
Posts: 386
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:11 pm
Location: Denham Springs, La
Martin Colony History: 2014 1 pair 3 hatched 3 fledged
2015 1 pair 5 hatched 5 fledged
2016 1 pair 5 hatched 4 fledged
2017 2 pair 8 hatched 8 fledged
2018 4 pair 15 hatched

Hi Connie, I am off Juban Rd. 1 mile from the interstate. Would love to help with any thing you need, I'm weird like that, helping all the time I love it :)
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4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1483
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.

threelilkids,
There are two kinds of people, Givers and Takers.
Your post reflects a Giver.
Well, I can tell you that Connie is a Giver also. So far, my sister, 3 of my mentees, and myself can vouch for her. And don't forget all of the martins that have and will be attracted to a new site because of Connie!
If I lived closer to her, I would be knocking on her door this afternoon to help that angel of a woman.
Mark.
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.
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Don Strickland
Posts: 430
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:38 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Shady Point

Connie,
I removed two aluminum houses. They were getting too hot and the babies were jumping. Sad sight to go out and find 3 or 4 dead, so I took down the aluminum houses. I tried to remodel to make them cooler but that didn't work. I'd rather have fewer Martins than have to witness the death of the babies. I have three T-14's now.
Don
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Anthony Neira
Posts: 1317
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !

Connie, this season is the most housing I've ever had, going from 70 openings up to 100, But, I'm replacing 6, 3 section poles for 3 Multi Purpose Poles ( a 4 th to replace 2 more poles next season ). If I see more vacant homes this year, I'll probably take a Trio House or two, down , to use them to "rotate" restored ones every season. Good luck, you & your Martins will do fine ! :grin:
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 1883
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: 2018 Success at my Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”.
2019 Success at my home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".

threelilkids --- I sure hope Connie takes you up on your offer to help her.. I think that is so nice of you.... Have a wonderful year yourself..

Dave
Home Site “Little Hocking, Ohio”
2010 / 2018 -- Lots of Visitors
2019 — 1 Pair, 5 Eggs, 5 Babies, 5 fledged. :wink:
2020 — 1 Pair, 4 Eggs, 4 Babies, 4 fledged. :wink:
2021 — Waiting on March 2021

Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”
2018 -- 15 Pair, 58 Eggs, 38 Hatched and 36 Fledged :wink:
2019 — 26 Pair, 128 Eggs, 99 Babies and 97 Fledged. :wink:
2020 — 30 Pair, 156 Eggs, 137 Babies and 137 Fledged. :wink:
2021 — Waiting on March 2021

PMCA Member
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threelilkids
Posts: 386
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:11 pm
Location: Denham Springs, La
Martin Colony History: 2014 1 pair 3 hatched 3 fledged
2015 1 pair 5 hatched 5 fledged
2016 1 pair 5 hatched 4 fledged
2017 2 pair 8 hatched 8 fledged
2018 4 pair 15 hatched

Thanks Mark and Dave, your kind words are touching. Mark I would be knocking but don't know where she is. So how about it Connie, Want to get together and talk Martin? :wink:
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Anthony Neira
Posts: 1317
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !

Connie, sounds like a good, kind hearted offer from threelilkids , I wish there were a neighbor I had, who was a Martin fan, 4 wings are better than 2 ! :wink: Good Luck
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
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threelilkids
Posts: 386
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:11 pm
Location: Denham Springs, La
Martin Colony History: 2014 1 pair 3 hatched 3 fledged
2015 1 pair 5 hatched 5 fledged
2016 1 pair 5 hatched 4 fledged
2017 2 pair 8 hatched 8 fledged
2018 4 pair 15 hatched

Connie, No worries, I can help for free, I love the martins and keeping up with them, and you are so close to me. PLEASE Give me a call cell- 225-281-4240, and house 225-665-8612, you can leave a message on the house phone. I would love to see your colony :)
Mary
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baileysambone
Posts: 131
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 12:38 pm
Location: Louisiana/Baton Rouge

Connie,
Same goes for me. I'm not that far from you. I would be glad to help. You already have my number. If you lost it, PM me and I'll give it to you again.
Yvonne
2011 visitors
2012 1 pair ASY male, SY female 9 eggs, 8 hatched, fledged 5
2013 5 pairs fledged 8
2014 4 pairs fledged 15
2015 7 pairs fledged 25
2016 10 pairs fledged 31
2017 17 pairs fledged 69
2018 18 pairs fledged 69
2019 21 pairs fledged 52 (biting gnats lost babies)
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