Small Colony Update
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Chuck4
- Posts: 861
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:05 am
- Location: North MS
- Martin Colony History: I started trying to attract Purple Martins in 2011. I got my first breeding pair in 2013.
2013-1 pair, 2014-4 pair, 2015-8 pair, 2016-12 pair 60 babies :-).
Hi Everyone! I had the chance to get out and get some decent photos of the Purple Martin activity at my colony this morning. Nest building is actively under way right now! It is funny watching the females try to stuff the huge sticks into the small gourd openings. They manage to get it done though! I have at least one gourd (A) that has a full nest of eggs. It had four eggs last Sunday. I will know more tomorrow when I do the next nest check. I think I may have filled up this year with no vacancies! That would be twelve breeding pairs, if that is the case. Only the eggs will tell though.
PMCA Member
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Great picks Chuck!! Martin season is so much fun. Ours are very busy building nest also. It is funny to watch them figure out how to get the big stick they brought, into the opening. Good luck with them.
2019
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
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Archer
- Posts: 757
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
- Location: Manitoba/Altona
- Martin Colony History: six pair in 2014, have grown to 52 pairs in 2017.
Love your pictures, that fence makes a nice little photo set. My first martin arrived today, looking forward to the nest building part, very entertaining. Have a great year.
2011- first year trying, a few visitors.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
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Okie
- Posts: 541
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 3:26 pm
- Location: Claremore, OK
- Martin Colony History: 2016 Informed landlord now Have 2 pair returning from 2015 That is a miracle. Hoping for a very successful year, sparrow population on decline.
First house was plastic with crescent holes Had martins within a few days. Ignorant landlord gradually lost them
Then got Trio House and still lost most of them. Lots of sparrows
Wow, what kind of camera do you have? Those are AWESOME
Okie
Okie
Okie
PMCA member
2016 Started with 2 pair, 1 pair abandoned after HOSP destroyed eggs
1 pair= 6 eggs, 6 fledged
2017 1 pair so far, But they abandoned before nest complete for ?reason? Now Bridless and joined the Wannabes
2018 One pair ASY male SY female 5 eggs, 5 fledged
PMCA member
2016 Started with 2 pair, 1 pair abandoned after HOSP destroyed eggs
1 pair= 6 eggs, 6 fledged
2017 1 pair so far, But they abandoned before nest complete for ?reason? Now Bridless and joined the Wannabes
2018 One pair ASY male SY female 5 eggs, 5 fledged
Beautiful shots Chuck! So wonderful that you are getting a full house. Will you be adding to your set up in the future? Sometimes I think a smaller colony is the way to go. Each year I think how nice it used to be when I could actually count my birds without figuring it out by counting productive nests. You have a beautiful set up! Keep up the good work! Brenda
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taxidermy lady
- Posts: 2989
- 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!
Really enjoy those nice pictures Chuck. Keep'm coming! 
Sharon from southern Illinois
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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
Congrats on filling up and fantastic pictures hope you get many babies
Mick
Mick
2018 146 cavities.
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Great Pics (as usual) So crisp I think I can hear them chattering! Your birds look very happy! 
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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AidanRois
- Posts: 182
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:19 am
- Location: Mississippi/Horn Lake
- Martin Colony History: Since 2012
Good stuff Chuck!! We're FINALLY getting underway over here in HL. Got one with eggs, and the rest are finishing up their building. Here's to a great season!!
Tiffeny N. - Horn Lake, MS - PMCA member
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Since 2012
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Since 2012
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Carlton
- Posts: 1927
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Pompano Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I will have 2 MSS-8 houses, with Excluder entrances, here on my condo grounds. This season I will also have two Delux Gourd Racks with 24 Excluder Gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. In our condo development, along the lake in a different section, I have 7 Excluder Gourds hanging from 84 inch Shepherd's Hooks with predator guards.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I have a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also have an rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park at Coconut Creek, I have a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Delux Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with wing guards over the Conley II to keep out smaller starlings.
LOVED the pics.
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Chuck4
- Posts: 861
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:05 am
- Location: North MS
- Martin Colony History: I started trying to attract Purple Martins in 2011. I got my first breeding pair in 2013.
2013-1 pair, 2014-4 pair, 2015-8 pair, 2016-12 pair 60 babies :-).
Thanks for the kind words everyone! I did a nest check on Sunday, and I have twelve nests so far! Gourd A has 6 eggs. Gourd J had 1! I hope I fill up this year!
PMCA Member
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arkansasmartinman
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2016 2:42 am
- Location: Marion, AR
- Martin Colony History: 2015 1st year landlord, put up Coates 12-room house, with round holes, had 10-pairs the first year!
2016-Added a 2nd house. Trendsetter 16-room with SREH, filled up 14 rooms in the 16 room house.
18 pairs, 60 fledged
Wow those are really nice pics! You should enter those into the county fair!
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Chuck4
- Posts: 861
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:05 am
- Location: North MS
- Martin Colony History: I started trying to attract Purple Martins in 2011. I got my first breeding pair in 2013.
2013-1 pair, 2014-4 pair, 2015-8 pair, 2016-12 pair 60 babies :-).
I did another nest check yesterday, and I am up to seven nests with eggs! I counted a total of thirty six eggs so far. Yay! I have twelve completed nests, so hopefully next check will reveal more eggs in new nests! Wishing everyone a successful season this year. 
PMCA Member
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Chuck4
- Posts: 861
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:05 am
- Location: North MS
- Martin Colony History: I started trying to attract Purple Martins in 2011. I got my first breeding pair in 2013.
2013-1 pair, 2014-4 pair, 2015-8 pair, 2016-12 pair 60 babies :-).
Here is a shot a ran across of one of the males in my colony. This was taken a couple of weeks ago. He was perched on my fence watching his partner gather some nesting material.
A male Purple Martin by Chuck Rose, on Flickr
A male Purple Martin by Chuck Rose, on Flickr
Last edited by Chuck4 on Thu May 12, 2016 8:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
PMCA Member
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Chuck4
- Posts: 861
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:05 am
- Location: North MS
- Martin Colony History: I started trying to attract Purple Martins in 2011. I got my first breeding pair in 2013.
2013-1 pair, 2014-4 pair, 2015-8 pair, 2016-12 pair 60 babies :-).
I wanted to wish all of you a prosperous season! SHARON! I hope you pull in some nesters.
PMCA Member
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taxidermy lady
- Posts: 2989
- 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!
Thanks Chuck, you sure have a beauty there. He is proud I can tell.
I am getting the martins to check things out so its up to them to decide. It's all good! Thanks so much for your support. I don't think I would be doing this now if it wasn't for you all. It's easy to give up if your by yourself at trying. I'm doing it for me and all of you!!!!!
I am getting the martins to check things out so its up to them to decide. It's all good! Thanks so much for your support. I don't think I would be doing this now if it wasn't for you all. It's easy to give up if your by yourself at trying. I'm doing it for me and all of you!!!!!
Sharon from southern Illinois