http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/ The Purple Martin Society, NA is a nationally recognized birding organization of Purple Martin Landlords whose purpose is to educate the public by stimulating their interest to learn and to care about the conservation of these birds and their behavior. en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:02:13 GMT vBulletin 60 http://purplemartins.com/RTC/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/ http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6579&goto=newpost Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:03:38 GMT I put five bottles under the eves of my garrage and house yesterday (06SEP2010). Today I had to refill two of the bottles. Here are a couple of... I put five bottles under the eves of my garrage and house yesterday (06SEP2010).
Today I had to refill two of the bottles.

Here are a couple of photos I took this afternoon that came out okay.
A Male Rubythroat


A Female Rubythroat? I am not sure about this one.
]]> Hummingbirds Thomas Bumby http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6579 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6578&goto=newpost Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:48:49 GMT Subject: PBS for kids will cover Purple Martins Just a little something but it sounds fun - PBS is broadcasting an updated version of The Cat... Subject: PBS for kids will cover Purple Martins


Just a little something but it sounds fun - PBS is broadcasting an updated version of The Cat in the Hat, starting Monday Sept 6 - check to see when it will be on in your area, because the second episode is going to feature Purple Martins as a way to launch the kids and the Cat into learning about bird migration! It starts when they notice that Melvin, the Purple Martin that nested in the backyard birdhouse, is gone......

Doesn't matter if there are kids in the family or not, I am anxious to see it :-) You'll ALL watch, won't you? Plus there are activities and lesson plans to download at the PBS kids website.

http://www.facebook.com/l/7d278vRsBO...g/catinthehat/ ]]> (Main) Round Table Conference Terry Suchma http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6578 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6577&goto=newpost Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:46:15 GMT THE LOUISIANA BAYOU BLUEBIRD SOCIETY will hold its annual meeting at Biedenharn Museum & Gardens Education Center at 2000 Riverside Drive, Monroe, LA October 23, 2010 from 9:30 A.M. until 1:30 P.M. Speakers for the event are Mary Jane Shearer, Tucker, GA, LBBS board member and James Dean, Marion, LA., LBBS member. Participants can also enjoy taking the tours including the Coke Museum which is a new addition. Nice door prizes will be given at the meeting. There is no registration fee. Please join us! ]]> Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society Evelyn Cooper http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6577 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6576&goto=newpost Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:40:07 GMT http://www.labayoubluebirdsociety.or...nts/bbnn34.pdf

Here's the link to our latest newsletter.

Evelyn ]]> Branded Bluebirder Evelyn Cooper http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6576 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6575&goto=newpost Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:43:02 GMT Dear Landlords, No doubt you are trying to enjoy the last vestiges of Summer 2010. And, for those along the northern Eastern Seaboard, I hope... Dear Landlords,

No doubt you are trying to enjoy the last vestiges of Summer 2010. And, for those along the northern Eastern Seaboard, I hope Earl treats you lightly.

The summer of 2010 is the last residue of El Nino and it is said that in El Nino summers, hurricanes track more up the eastern coastline than they do in the Gulf of Mexico. For PMs, this is a good thing considering that thousands of martins are transversing the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico in great numbers as well as island hoping through the Carribbean entering South America via Venezuela. It is, of course, a hard and long journey for our martins, one that does take a great toll on both young and old birds, both males and females.

All in all, reports have it that it was finally a good PM year for martin landlords across the martin breeding range.

Finally!

By most reports, martins are long on their way and are making their journey back to South America which is now entering its spring time. Hopefully, our martins that have enjoyed a good and productive season here in North America will enjoy a problem free overwintering offseason in Brazil and Western Bolivia.

It is also time for you to give some thought in the next few weeks to fine tuning your martin colony site. Time to build that new house or even, perhaps, buy a new martin house. And, add some gourds, too! Time to tweak and repair. And, for sure...While martin things are slow now, it is a good time to clean out your martin digs if you have not already done so for the season.

Then, please! close the compartments up so starlings and House Sparrows enjoy no squatters' rights over the offseason. In fact, the best thing is to always take your martin housing and gourds down to insure many years of good service for both you and your martins.

And, for those of us here at the PMSNA, we want to thank you for all you do for Purple Martins. Thank you! Thank you!

We ourselves are coming back to work after a late summer hiatus. We will be tweaking the site some. We are considering adding blogs to the Round Table. There are some of you, we already know, that are interested in writing a blog, martin, bird or nature-wise. If you are interested in doing a blog, let us know info@purplemartins.com

We should be hearing from the martin maven who I am told did not have a successful martin year, Professor Birdbrain who was traveling this summer and, maybe even Ranger Rick Cruz who has been off to who knows doing what?

If you are a member of any Purple Martin orgainzation and would like to have a forum conference here on the Round Table or some help with your org's new website, let us know. We can help with both. Also know that we will give grants to those PM orgs. Please send request in writing to:

Purple Martin Society, NA
21250 S Redwood Ln, Ste 101
Shorewood, IL 60404

In the meantime, if you are still out there, let us know and check in. Let us know how your martin season went, what your ideas are and how you are doing.

Also, we have published this morning a nicely written article on martineer, Ray Feld of Winfield, IL and the great work, singlehandedly, he has done to increase numbers of martins in western suburban Chicago areas. Check this article out here: The Scout Report Online

Terry ]]> (Main) Round Table Conference Terry Suchma http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6575 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6574&goto=newpost Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:35:22 GMT Hi Gang,

I reported at one of our meetings that a gentleman with a colony down by our state's capitol was going to band birds this year. Not exactly sure what happened but it does not appeared to have taken place. I was hoping to learn more about it and perhaps get to see some of their findings/ data from their banding activities but it didn't work out.

However fear not! I found a conservation organization in the north east (New Jersey) that protects a number of valuable, natural resources including Purple Martins. I reached out to see if they would be willing to share some of their data and talk to me about their banding activities. My initial emails have been received most positively and I'm encouraged that our club may have new friends with a similar passion for purple martins. Stayed tuned and I will pass on what interesting things i learn- they have banded 22,000 birds so far over 3 years in their study.

I took down my houses and gourds and put them away for the winter. Come January I'll be bringing them out and making them better for 2011. I'm buying another pole and gourd rack so I'll keep you posted on that too. Enjoy what's left of the summer.

John ]]> Purple Martin Landlords of North Texas Conference - (PMLNT) John Pearson http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6574 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6573&goto=newpost Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:16:16 GMT Hello All, We currently have 16 wonderful people that have sent me their colony data for 2010, and I expect the rest of you to send your... Hello All,

We currently have 16 wonderful people that have sent me their colony data for 2010, and I expect the rest of you to send your information any day now - I know who you are.....haha.

At first glance it appears that most of our landlords had a much better season in 2010 than in 2009. The heat did not hit as early this year and judging from the comments, most of us believe there was more insects available this year than last. Fledge rates are up dramatically over last year since the young remained healthy and were well fed. Initially it looks like birth rates were up too but not as dramatically given the larger number of unhatched eggs. The phenomenon seems to be across many landlord colonies this year where numerous nests had eggs they never hatched. We even had one landlord that reported a nest with 5 eggs a pair started and then abandoned only to start a second nest in another compartment. We also had a landlord that reported a couple with multiple broods; one brood early in the season and a brood later in the season. Our overall numbers are up from last year and while it is early and all your "votes" have not been counted but it also looks like our birds stayed longer this year as well. We'll see what it all looks like after all the data is in.

Please keep your cards and letters coming-ha. Seriously we appreciate you sharing your results with us and your colony information is very valuable to our club. Thanks.

John ]]> Purple Martin Landlords of North Texas Conference - (PMLNT) John Pearson http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6573 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6572&goto=newpost Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:20:34 GMT Our final PM meeting for 2010 will take place on Saturday, September 18th at 9:00 a.m. at The Orchard View Golf Course......just 15 minutes from the... Our final PM meeting for 2010 will take place on Saturday, September 18th at 9:00 a.m. at The Orchard View Golf Course......just 15 minutes from the town of Essex. Looking forward to any out of towners who would like to join us.....If you haven't done so ,don't forget to bring your fledgling results to this meeting to see how well our club did.If you can, please bring along the Colony Data Survey Form. Looking forward to seeing all of you and hearing your exciting stories... ]]> Essex County Purple Martin Association Conference John Balga http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6572 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6571&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:51:09 GMT What is Celibacy? Celibacy can be a choice in life, or a condition imposed by circumstances. While attending a Marriage Weekend, My wife and... What is Celibacy?

Celibacy can be a choice in life, or a condition imposed by
circumstances.

While attending a Marriage Weekend, My wife and I,
listened to
the instructor declare, 'It is essential that husbands
and wives know the
things that are important to each other.."

He then addressed the men,
'Can you name and describe your wife's favorite
flower?'

I leaned over, touched my wife’s hand gently, and
whispered,

'Gold Medal-All-Purpose, isn't it?'

And thus began my life of celibacy......... ]]> Purple Martin Cackles John Pearson http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6571 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6570&goto=newpost Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:21:14 GMT Image: http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll274/1meanpig/birds%20misc/HummingBirds/hummingbirds1.jpg Image:...





]]> Hummingbirds Dennis/N.Illinois http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6570 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6569&goto=newpost Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:22:39 GMT Well after nearly three weeks of coming back home for the night, the martins have finally left. There is certainly an emptiness and a disturbing... Well after nearly three weeks of coming back home for the night, the martins have finally left. There is certainly an emptiness and a disturbing quiet that surrounds the entire back yard. The season went well with only a few jumpers and these were due to impatient fledglings awaiting their martin meals. I estimate an 86% fledge rate from the 43 plus pairs . Finally, after a dismal last year there will be a noticeable recovery of martin young numbers this year as many landlords report a healthy growth in their colony structure.

I look forward in attending the NABS conference in Burlington, Ontario this September if nothing unexpected occurs. This is usually not held in in this region very often so I look forward to hearing "John Tautin" and "Bridget Stutchbury" speak about purple martins.

Bridget's research with geolocators on songbirds is so fascinating! She will probably shed some light on the new Texas recoveries at the Barrow colonies in the Corpus Christy area. John has been involved in banding martins with master banders in his area for a few years now so Bridget's results should be quite revealing. They have captured a few returning geolocator equipped martins. ]]> Essex County Purple Martin Association Conference John Balga http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6569