My neighbor up the street from me put up a gourd rack. I've had Martins since late Feb and she had none. I was convinced that it was because of the location (right in the middle of her yard with two huge trees about 20 feet from either side of the rack). I managed to get her to agree to change the location to 60ft from the trees (she wasn't happy too far from her house). Two weekends ago I did nest checks for her and noticed two Bluebird eggs (still no Martins). This past weekend, I went to check on the BB eggs to only find them poked (sparrows). But as I was doing the nest check I hear this SKRETCH and familiar PM alarm and I looked up and two subbys were flying over and around the rack. I quickly removed the eggs and put the rack back up and they both landed. They seemed quite happy! So I am curious if Subs are still arriving?
Thanks!
Are Subbies still arriving
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- 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!
Let's hope so!
Sharon from southern Illinois
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- 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.
Me too! Hurry home, beautiful Martins!
~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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- Posts: 1113
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:10 pm
- Location: Iowa/West Des Moines
- Martin Colony History: Home Site: 2017- 0
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
Satellite Site: 2017 (3rd season)
34 pair
Fledged- 102
I have to ask: are any Midwest landlords or otherwise still seeing new arrivals of system martins? Thanks.
Tim
Tim
PMCA Member
Home Site: 2012-15 visitors
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
2017-18 Zero
2019- 3 Successful Prs.!
Satellite Site: 2014 - visitors
2015 - 2 pair, fledged 9
2016 - 13 pair, fledged 44
2017 - 31 pair, fledged 118
2018 - 44 pair, 163 fledged
2019- 49 or. 219 fledged
Home Site: 2012-15 visitors
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
2017-18 Zero
2019- 3 Successful Prs.!
Satellite Site: 2014 - visitors
2015 - 2 pair, fledged 9
2016 - 13 pair, fledged 44
2017 - 31 pair, fledged 118
2018 - 44 pair, 163 fledged
2019- 49 or. 219 fledged
I thought we would be getting more here in Ohio but none have come in weeks. I hope you all get many of the rest if they come by
Dick
Dick
2015 69 pairs 418 eggs 396 fledged
2019 I have 148 openings now
2016 100 pairs 600 babies fledged added another t-14 and have 126 openings now
2015 Jun 24 360 babies and 58 eggs also found one that had died
2017 632 babies 11died and 20 were killed by hawks
2015 74 pairs and 9 eggs 5/14
2010 3pairss
]JOINED PMCA JUNE 6,2018
2018 651 babies 5 hawk kills 11 floater kills 25 died in houses and 610 fledged
2014 80 pairs 283 babies 282 fledged one died
2019 I have 148 openings now
2016 100 pairs 600 babies fledged added another t-14 and have 126 openings now
2015 Jun 24 360 babies and 58 eggs also found one that had died
2017 632 babies 11died and 20 were killed by hawks
2015 74 pairs and 9 eggs 5/14
2010 3pairss
]JOINED PMCA JUNE 6,2018
2018 651 babies 5 hawk kills 11 floater kills 25 died in houses and 610 fledged
2014 80 pairs 283 babies 282 fledged one died
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- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Both adult and subadult reports are still coming in from midwest and northern states, provinces too.
I found new eggs on a check last weekend - don't know if it's SY pair's first clutch, or replacement clutch from ASY birds.
I found new eggs on a check last weekend - don't know if it's SY pair's first clutch, or replacement clutch from ASY birds.
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- Posts: 494
- Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 5:27 pm
- Location: Illinois/Millstadt
We seemed to have more birds arrive this past Monday....looks like some empty cavities have been newly claimed. Both SY and ASY. Not sure if they are local birds looking for a different place or new migrants. If they stay it means a longer season for us. Our oldest nestling are 18 days old, the youngest 3days old. More nests near to hatching. A few have just begun to sit on eggs. Now these new arrivals seem to be getting serious. Will know more tomorrow as its nest check day.
So I think, yes, they are still moving up.
So I think, yes, they are still moving up.
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
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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- Posts: 1487
- 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.
All,
I can only tell you what I am seeing at my tiny colony.
This evening, just before dusk, about 8-10 martins were called down by my 2 ASY males and circled my tiny house. They did not land but flew off together as a group due north.
I can only presume that they are SYs migrating through on their way north.
I do not believe that SY migration is over yet.
Mark.
I can only tell you what I am seeing at my tiny colony.
This evening, just before dusk, about 8-10 martins were called down by my 2 ASY males and circled my tiny house. They did not land but flew off together as a group due north.
I can only presume that they are SYs migrating through on their way north.
I do not believe that SY migration is over yet.
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.
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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- Posts: 323
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:12 am
- Location: North Dakota/Larimore
- Martin Colony History: Will add later
I'm in North Dakota and just saw my first subbie, a male, two days ago.
~ Not all those who wander are lost.
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- Posts: 1941
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
- Location: Pratt County/Kansas
- Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
Not a big subbie influx at my colony. Yet. I have an increase in pairs but I've only seen one SYM. I think they are still coming.
Deb
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
well I did a nest check on her site today and two of the 6 gourds have nests with green leaves, so I'm thinking they will have eggs soon. I'm not sure if they are subs or adults because I can't get a good enough look. My neigbhor is thrilled she has PM's this season. She is so happy.
Now I'm battling Sparrows for her.
Now I'm battling Sparrows for her.

Mike
Fifth season of being a landlord!
and a PMCA member!
Fifth season of being a landlord!

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- Posts: 1941
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
- Location: Pratt County/Kansas
- Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
Mike,
You can come up and be neighborly in Kansas and battle my sparrows. Oh, how are you end season house/gourd cleaning? 'Cause that'd be great!!
Deb
You can come up and be neighborly in Kansas and battle my sparrows. Oh, how are you end season house/gourd cleaning? 'Cause that'd be great!!
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
I have a SY-M that arrived Friday May 30th. He has been slipping in and out of my Excluder II doors easily. My site has been inactive for at least four years, so it's a lovely sight and sound!! Hoping for more subbies to be attracted to his calls.
I'm encouraged by all the posting going on about SY's continuing to arrive!!
I'm encouraged by all the posting going on about SY's continuing to arrive!!
Dorothy ......in the "Land of the Yellow Brick Road" click click !!
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- 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 everyone for the update! That sounds good.hope some females fly by Fred! 

Sharon from southern Illinois
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- Posts: 1113
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:10 pm
- Location: Iowa/West Des Moines
- Martin Colony History: Home Site: 2017- 0
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
Satellite Site: 2017 (3rd season)
34 pair
Fledged- 102
I too thank everyone for the updates. One of my favorite music artist is Neil Finn and he wrote a song titled "Last Day of June". Just thought I'd mention that. Have a great season landlords out there everwhere, but especially those in their first season and those in the tier of states waiting till the last day of June.
Keep us posted mhoover!
Keep us posted mhoover!
PMCA Member
Home Site: 2012-15 visitors
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
2017-18 Zero
2019- 3 Successful Prs.!
Satellite Site: 2014 - visitors
2015 - 2 pair, fledged 9
2016 - 13 pair, fledged 44
2017 - 31 pair, fledged 118
2018 - 44 pair, 163 fledged
2019- 49 or. 219 fledged
Home Site: 2012-15 visitors
2016 - 1st pair, fledged 5
2017-18 Zero
2019- 3 Successful Prs.!
Satellite Site: 2014 - visitors
2015 - 2 pair, fledged 9
2016 - 13 pair, fledged 44
2017 - 31 pair, fledged 118
2018 - 44 pair, 163 fledged
2019- 49 or. 219 fledged
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- Posts: 1178
- Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:09 am
- Location: Mississippi/Dumas
Yes, we still have extra martins looking for place to stay here each night. Maybe 6 to 10.
Fortunately DEBA, I have more than I can handle at the moment! I've got three sites that I'm a landlord over. Mine, which has 3 setups, with a total of 26 cavities, all occupied with nests and babies except for one. Then I manage my neighbors next door to me, because although he loves Martins, he's not a very good landlord (I had to purchase and put a predator guard on his pole) and really doesn't take an active management role in his house. His house has 8 cavities but only 4 nests with babies right now. Then, this new one up the street from me. She is an elderly lady whose husband that past away last year, put up a 6 gourd rack and it was in the wrong location (within 20 feet from two huge trees), so I convinced her to let me move it and now she has Martins! I think at end of season, I'm going to wish I hadn't taken on the extra sites!DebA wrote:Mike,
You can come up and be neighborly in Kansas and battle my sparrows. Oh, how are you end season house/gourd cleaning? 'Cause that'd be great!!
Deb


Mike
Fifth season of being a landlord!
and a PMCA member!
Fifth season of being a landlord!
