Purple Martin Recovery Blog

4th Nest Check - June 10, 2008

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:29:45 GMT

The fourth nest check started with some bad news. I was a bit devastated during my most recent nest check of the ECE and Rush Lake colonies. As I approached the housing at the ECE colony, I noticed SEVERAL cracked eggs below the housing! In total, out of the 19 nests containing eggs, 9 eggs were missing! However, there are still 19 nests with eggs and 5 nests with green leaves. The productivity of the colony will be down a bit because of the House Sparrows, but hopefully the hatch rate will be high. At the Rush Lake Colony, one of the firsts nest's eggs were all pecked! However, there are still 2 nests with eggs and 9 other nests with green leaves. I've already trapped two pairs of House Sparrows and there was no House Sparrow nests found in any of the compartments. In total, 12 eggs have been pecked by House Sparrows.

I plan on making several small "bird houses" that can hold the Universal Sparrow Trap, with 1 - 3/8" entrance hole and attach a couple of them to the T-14 and a couple to the gourd rack and leave them open all week. I'm sure I would catch many of the House sparrows before they venture into the martin's nest. I'm not worried about Blue Birds or Tree Swallows as they don't seem to attempt to nest in a martin house that is occupied by martins. Its a risk, but is it worth it??? ...it just might be!

The Memory Lake Colony (Grantsburg, WI) has 22 nests, 17 of which have eggs. The Snake River Colony (Pine City, MN) has 14 nests, 9 of which have eggs. The Pokegama Lake Colony (Pine City, MN) has 11 nests, 2 of which have eggs. The ECE Colony (Braham, MN) has 24 nests, 19 of which have eggs. Finally, the Rush Lake Colony (Rush City, MN) has 9 nests, 2 of which have eggs. There are about 3 weeks left for nest building and egg laying. Some subbies (Second Year birds) are still busy building nests and bringing in green leaves (the picture shows a nest that is ready for its first eggs!), while others are already incubating their eggs.

Purple Martin Interpretive Signs - June 9, 2008

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:21:23 GMT

I have my first interpretive sign just about finished! The sign was printed at the Virigina State Parks Sign Shop. The PMCA's Purple Martin poster was enlarged and printed onto an aluminum sign. I made the display case.

Plexi-glass covers the sign - hopefully this will help extend the life of the sign. I will have signs placed at four of the ECMPMR colonies: Snake River, Rush Lake, Memory Lake, and Plastech Corp.

Wave of SY Birds - June 1, 2008

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:23:38 GMT

Many new SY (second year - hatched last year) Purple Martins have recently returned to east central Minnesota. This handsome fella was attempting to lure a female to his chosen gourd at the Rush Lake Colony.

I just completed my third nest check of ECMPMR colonies - things are looking great! The Memory Lake Colony, now in its fifth year has 22 nests, 15 of which have eggs. The Snake River Colony activated last year with three pair, two of which were successful. This year, the colony has 11 nests, 3 with eggs. The Pokegama Lake Colony is in its first year and currently has 4 nests! The ECE Colony was established many years ago. This is the second year I have managed the colony. Last year it had 18 nests. This year it has 25 nests, 15 with eggs. The Rush Lake Colony is new this year. I'm very excited to report 10 nests, 2 with eggs. Unfortunately, the Plastech Corp. Site still has no martin activity. This housing may be moved to a more appropriate location for next year. In total, there are 72 nests started! Of course, not all of these will result in eggs. However, I expect some SY pairs still need to begin building nests. So, all-in-all, things are looking good in East Central MN!

House Sparrows continue to be a problem. One egg was pecked at the ECE Colony (presumed by a House Sparrow). I have also been actively trapping them (using insert traps in the Excluder Gourds) at the Memory Lake and ECE Colonies, where the House Sparrows are especially prevalent. I have seen little House Sparrow activity at the other colonies.

Egg Laying Begins - May 26, 2008

Fri, 30 May 2008 22:19:00 GMT

Nest building continues... Several of the ASY pairs are now bringing in green leaves and a few have started egg laying. The SY (second year) birds are continuing to arrive and pair up. The SY birds should begin nest building soon. The Memory Lake Colony has 20 nests started, 4 of which have eggs. The Snake River Colony has 7 nests started. The Pokegama Lake Colony has 3 nests started. The ECE Colony has 21 nests started, 4 of which have eggs. The Rush Lake Colony has 3 nests started. There still hasn't been any activity at the Plastech Corp. Site in Rush City. After this season, the housing may be relocated to different location if it doesn't host nesting pairs this season. In total, the ECMPMR colonies have 54 nests started! Some of these nests will likely not result in eggs as some Purple Martin pairs will build nests in multiple cavities. However, the 2008 season is off to a great start!

Nest Building Begins - May 18, 2008

Mon, 19 May 2008 17:49:55 GMT

ASY Purple Martins have begin nest building! A few SY Purple Martins have also started to arrive. The first official nest check was conducted today. The Memory Lake Colony (Grantbsurg, WI) has 19 nests started. All of the compartments in the T-14 and gourd below has nests; may have a full house! The Snake River Colony (Pine City, MN) has 2 nests started. The first SY male was spotted. The new Pokegama Lake Site (Pine City, MN): has one ASY pair bringing in nesting material! The well established ECE Colony (Braham, MN) has 18 nests started, 6 of the nests were in the new SS24 gourd rack! The new Rush Lake Site (Rush City, MN) has 3 nests started. Unfortunately, the Plastech Corp. Site (Rush City, MN) still hasn't had any martin activity. Looks like the beginning of a great season!

First Martins at Pokegama Lake Site - May 11, 2008

Mon, 12 May 2008 01:44:52 GMT

I decided to check on the Pokegama Lake site this evening. I just had a hunch... sure enough - there was an ASY male trying to lure down a female! The male zipped right into a compartment and called for the female. She landed several times, peered into the compartment. She nearly entered several times but never went all the way in. She took off and the male continued to sit on the porch. He is perched on the lower porch of the right side of the T-14! Several Tree Swallows harassed the female a bit, she didn't seem the least worried about them. It sure would be nice to have this site activated its first year!

Looking Good for Rush Lake - May 11, 2008

Sun, 11 May 2008 17:27:26 GMT

There are now 3 adult males and 1 adult female Purple Martins at the new Rush Lake site! All four of the birds were interested in the T-14; they didn't pay much attention to the gourds. They were easily able to enter and exit the WDC entrances with ease. It appears there is a pair of tree swallows interested in the gourd rack. One of the male martins dive bombed the tree swallows.

First Martins at Rush lake! - May 09, 2008

Sat, 10 May 2008 11:38:47 GMT

This evening I decided to check out the Rush Lake Site - a new site for 2008. I couldn't believe my eyes - an ASY male was sticking his head out of one of the compartments (top compartment facing the picture) and an ASY female popped out of the lower compartment as I pulled up. It was getting dark and I only saw the two birds. They both took off when I approached and circled over head. Hopefully this new site will have its first committed ASY pair!!!!!

New Sites Ready to Go - May 4, 2008

Mon, 05 May 2008 02:55:43 GMT

I visited all of the sites today. The Memory Lake, ECE, and Snake River colonies are doing great; the males are busy defending cavities and attracting females. The three new sites, Rush Lake, Plastech Corp. and Pokegama Lake, remain without martins, but are all ready to go. These sites will most likely attract SY pairs, which should begin to return within a few weeks. I checked each site today to ensure all compartments had dried White Pine needles. I also trapped a bull House Sparrow from the Pokegama Lake site using a nest insert trap. The three new sites are now free from European Starings and House Sparrows, which is of utmost importance when starting new colonies!

ECE Martins Approve - May 4, 2008

Mon, 05 May 2008 02:22:59 GMT

Several ASY martin pairs seem to have claimed their gourd on the new gourd rack at the ECE Colony in Braham, MN.