Gang of 11

[John Pearson]

Well I'm up to 5 pairs and a male wanabe pair. I'm seeing on other sites that some folks have nests already but I'm not seeing any of that activity yet. Gisela said she heard that the SY's were in Corpus Christi which means it won't be long before they get here.

I have noticed the gang like behavior of my current crop of Purple Martins. These neighborhood crows have a favorite spot to land in the top of an old Post Oak about 400 yards from my colony. It seems to bother my martins because they attack en masse and drive the crow(s) off. I liked the more aggressive behavior because I remember the days when I had one pair and they would be driven off by one sparrow.

[John Pearson]

I caught my neighbor to the back of me watching my birds last night. He said he couldn't figure out why all these 'birds' were circling overhead and making all the racket the last few weeks. We had a long conversation about Purple Martins and how cool they are. I am in sales and based on what my neighbor was saying, there were a lot of 'buying' signals about him starting his own colony. I think he might be hooked. I'll invite him over for a nest check when I have eggs and babies. That should seal the deal-ha.

I'm holding at 8 pairs, all ASY's, 4 gourds and 4 house compartments. After last year I thought my birds prefer the Troyer horizontal gourds over the super gourds but this year it does not appear to be so. I got a new gourd rack and pole this year. I put the super gourds on the top level of the rack and the Troyers on the second level. I have two pair in each the Troyer & the supers. Maybe they like the higher spot of the Super gourds. I have to reaquaint myself with how to attach pictures and will show you what it looks like. I had a brilliant sunset two days ago and took a picture with my colony. I'll attach it later.

How is everyone else doing this year?

[Tim Hammonds]

From my observations and articles I have read, Martins perfer the higher locations. Rule being higher means the ones below get attacted first from climbing predators.
Keep working on that neighbor. Mine like my birds, but not interested in being landlords. Too many things to do on Ipads, Smart phones and computers. Boy that just do not realize what they are missing in the real Earth World.
Tim

[John Pearson]

My picture of the sunset. It doesn't do it justice but you get the idea.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...092/Sunset.jpg


John