Purple Martin Forum

I used a two inch square highway sign post, the kind with holes about an inch or two apart on all four sides. It has been up for 6 years and no issues yet. It has survived some pretty good Western Pa. severe thunderstorms. You are right about the weight of the T-14, it is a heavy one. Probably the b...

I'm a long way from Louisiana here in Western Pa. but I also have had a couple of later than normal nests and fledges. I got confused on my nest checks but I assume they are re-nests. I still have two to go. All of my others fledged weeks ago. Whatever the reason for these late nests it seems to be ...

Hi Trishy; I'm sorry to hear that you are closing down your site. On the other hand, I understand that being a landlord can be heart breaking at times. Nature can be cruel, and dealing with some of the problems a landlord encounters can push us to the limits of our patience, I know, I've been there....

Sounds like another rough year over that way Toy. You can take comfort in the fact that you are doing everything possible for your Martins. Hopefully you have a string of good seasons ahead, you certainly deserve it.

Hanover Bill.

Thanks for the responses, I think I'll have to go back over my records and see if I missed something. Maybe I had a senior moment when recording the information, it's been known to happen before. LOL.

Hanover Bill.

I am finding fledges that should have fledged days ago, still in the gourd. They appear healthy, just haven't fledged yet. I never remember that happening before. Are there any stats out there on what is the longest period a fledge has gone from hatch to fledge? I know the accepted time frame is 26-...

I have had some strange happenings at my site this year also. I have a gourd which I had scheduled to fledge 5 Martins on Jul. 6th. I assumed all had fledged successfully. While walking under the housing yesterday I noticed a female carrying a bug go into this gourd. I lowered the housing and much t...

Just looking for suggestions and advise on the handling of runts in order to give them the best chance for survival. During a nest check yesterday I noticed one baby probably half the size of his clutch mates.

Thanks in advance;
Hanover Bill.

Are the Manna Pro Oyster Shells available at Tractor Supply alright for Purple Martins? Reading the label, it sounds like they are mainly for chickens, but I was wondering if they are safe for the Martins? If not where do you get crushed oyster shells for Martins?

Thanks;
Hanover Bill.

I also used to think the Martins never went to ground except to gather nesting material, but the longer I am at this the more I realize that their behavior is adapted to conditions. I see them in my garden and mulch pile pretty often. Also always thought of them as high flyers and feeders, but I not...

Hi Toy; The weather hasn't been quite as bad over here as what you are dealing with, but it is still chilly and wet enough for me to be concerned about hypothermia. I have a lot of just newly hatched chicks out there, so the timing of the weather isn't good. Supposed to be decent today and tomorrow ...

Thanks Toy and Spiderman;

I will take your advice, wait and see how many hatch, and then take action if necessary.

Hanover Bill.

During my nest check yesterday I found one nest with 9 eggs. I have real concerns about this pair being able to feed that many babies. Would I be wise to move a couple of those eggs into another nest with fewer eggs, that is due to hatch around the same date? Are Martins aware of the number of eggs ...

Hi Toy; I think we can add a third certainty in life; death, taxes, and crazy weather. LOL. Sorry to hear about your Alpha male, hopefully he will find his way back to the colony. Things are going well over here, weather hasn't been too much of a factor, except for too much rain. I am due for a nest...

While shopping at a big box store garden center recently, I was reminded of how they contribute to the HOSP population and problem. They are a virtual breeding ground for HOSP. I would venture to say that the majority of the HOSP population in a given area were hatched and fledged from a big box sto...

Best advise anyone can give you is hang in there. It took me 5 years to attract my first nesting pair, and there are lots of people out there who have waited a lot longer than that. Keep playing the Dawn Song and keep visiting the Forum for lots of good advise on how to attract Martins. Since you ha...

Hi mechling family; Welcome to the life of a Purple Martin Landlord. It is a constant battle to keep the HOSP and Starlings out of the Martin housing, it seems like it never ends, probably because it doesn't. If you are using the Troyer Gourds with Conley II entrances, I have found that the Haskel T...

The 17 year Cicadas are due to make a return to my area this summer, which brings to mind an interesting question. Will the Martins feed on them? If so there will be plenty of food for this summer. Also, will they present a choking hazard if fed to the smaller babies? I remember the last time the 17...

Thanks for the reponses guys. Turns out you are right JoeD, it is a Carolina Wren. I got a good look at Mama on the nest this morning. I'm sure glad I got a look at her before tearing the nest out. I would caution other Landlords of the possibility of being fooled into thinking it is a HOSP nest. Ve...

I have a bit of a quandary. I found a nest on a ledge in my shed. I had no idea it was being built, I haven't caught a glimpse of the intruder yet. It has the look of a typical HOSP nest, tunnel, grasses, paper, plastic wrapper pieces, and 5 speckled eggs. My problem is I want to be sure it is a HOS...