Picked my gourds today!

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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!

This is the gourds I picked today! One is 48" round! BIG BOY!! Thanks to all who helped me accomplish this! :) Image
Sharon from southern Illinois
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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

Monster gourds,Sharon! You did a good job! Now have fun making them into martin gourds and craft items! Have a great Christmas BMF!
_____
Jody
Jody in Central Illinois
Landlord in 2016
2016—4 pr fledged 16
2017—8 pr fledged 34
2018—11 pr fledged 60
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Donnie Hurdt MN
Posts: 1717
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
Location: North Prairie, MN

Great looking gourds please dry them well before working on them. I hope the gourds have good thick walls so they will stand up to whatever Mother nature drops on them. When I grew gourds all to often the walls were too thin to be used for martin houses.
PMCA member and Martin fanatic....
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012 :-(
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows. :-(
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest :evil:
2019 Same old story................ :-(
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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 Jody and Donnie! I only had 2 plants and didn't have any small ones! Nice! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Emil Pampell-Tx
Posts: 6743
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas

Very nice, you planted in the right kind of soil, and the weather must aid you. You did much better than I can do! Congrats
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Steve Kroenke
Posts: 4342
Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
Location: Louisiana/Logansport

Hey Sharon,

Those are beautiful gourds! They should make excellent martin cavities! When I look at your gourds, I wish that I still had at least one natural gourd rack in my colony. Though I now use all plastic gourds, I still like naturals very much and they are outstanding cavities for martins. We all will be looking forward to seeing photos of those gourds turned into martin cavities! Good luck in 2017!

Steve
PMCA Member
300+ pairs of martins each season
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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!

Thank you Emil and Steve! It took me 4 years to get nice ones! I used sand and cow poop for the soil in a raised bed! I watered when it was dry! But we had a hot and humid summer. Plus it didn't freeze until November. So they had a longer growing season! I'm crafting a few for gifts and if I get martins this year I'll fix some up for them in 2018! I have several naturals made up already and will hang them under the THG's. My fingers and toes are cramped from keeping them crossed! :lol: :lol:
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Larry Kronemeyer
Posts: 494
Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 5:27 pm
Location: Illinois/Millstadt

Sharon
Those gourds are gorgeous! A lot of thought, time and energy..not to mention water...went in to them. Reminds me of when I first started with martins, I was told to look for gourds that were large enough to hold a bunch of bananas...that size cavity would comfortably hold a martin family. Your gourds absolutely fit the bill!
Yes, keep your fingers crossed. But I really think you'll be a landlord this year. The excitement builds. We are ticking the days off...
Have a Merry Christmas Sharon.
Judy and Larry
Larry and Judy Kronemeyer
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 4 gourds(crescents)
1 T-14 and 4 gourds (crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
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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!

There's 2 Martin sightings in Florida I hear! Yippe it's begun! :)
Have a merry Christmas to Larry and Judy ! I'll be so ready to see what happens! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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dhjohnson
Posts: 478
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
Location: North Carolina/Clayton
Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy

Nicely done Sharon! :grin:
Best wishes for a positive 2017 martin season!

Debbie
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
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dhjohnson
Posts: 478
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
Location: North Carolina/Clayton
Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy

Sharon,
For the big 48" gourd...Don't discard...Cut it in half, use a 1/8" divider wooden divider. Make a duplex with 2 separate entrances and access ports.

Just a thought,
Debbie
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
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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 !

VERY COOL Sharon ! :grin: That Picture kinda looks like a "Purple Martin Sleepy Hollow " :shock: :grin: I LOVE IT !! :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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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 Anthony, I like that name! Maybe I'll be like Rodger and get me a special sign made! Please make this my year greater power!!!! Then I can get a sign!!! Lol
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

Wow them gourds are huge great job there ,sending you the best of luck this year
2018 146 cavities.
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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!

Thank you very much! It's took me 3 years to get the hang of it! But good quality seeds are key too! I wish you the best of luck also and thank you for you support! Glad to see you back! :grin:
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Rodger Drye
Posts: 671
Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:07 am
Location: NC/Mt. Pleasant
Martin Colony History: Have been hosting and providing a sanactuary for Purple Martins for 30 years.

Good Job on the Gourds Sharon.!! They Look Great.!!!! I have a feeling you'll be getting your sign this Year.!!
I have my fingers crossed for you too!!! Good Luck For 2017.!!!!!!!
Rodger
PMCA Member
Have been Hosting and Protecting Martin's for 30 years.
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