Purple Martin Forum

If your neighbors have bird feeders, forget about the repeating traps. Who can blame them? Why go through all the maneuvers required by a repeating sparrow trap, when all I need to do is land on the neighbors bird feeder safely hung high in the air and eat to my hearts content? Eventually, your mart...

Does your housing have extra ventilation such as PVC elbows? Your first year means they probably got a late start which means more heat, especially in Louisiana. That many dead birds sounds like heat related illness to me. I have 2 PCV elbows on each gourd and I drilled extra holes in the bottom of ...

The wind isn't responsible for the pellet gun mishaps. Pellet guns need to be sighted in, adjusted, and practiced with regularly. Only then can you expect to hit something as small as a house sparrow. Buy some paper targets, make sight adjustments, and practice. It's not that easy to hit a HOSP. Pra...

I never close cavities. I consider my housing a house sparrow massacre magnet. I want to expand my HOSP free radius as far as I can. I want as many sparrows as possible to attempt occupation of my housing. The more sparrows that attempt occupation of my housing, the more sparrows I have the opportun...

Why do you allow sparrows? 12 years?

I've had an SY male for almost 2 weeks. I don't expect him to succeed in finding a mate. Will he most likely return next year and will he most likely return earlier? Thanks

That martin house looks like something you bought at the bird store or big box store. That house might work in ideal terrain, but not your terrain. You might try upgrading your housing such as larger cavities, more cavities, more variety of cavities. The more geologically challenged your site is, th...

Has this ever happened? I assume an entire colony could abandon one site for another as soon as the chicks can fly. Or do they just wait until the following year to jump ship. I'm seeing a lot of activity from martins that are already committed elsewhere. I'm guessing they already have eggs and chic...

I posted yesterday about my SY activity, but that I hadn't seen them enter a gourd yet. That changed this morning. The SY peaked into several gourds before finally completely entering one. It stayed about a minute and came back out. I don't know if its a male or female. I have had 2 SY's circling to...

4'th year trying. After Memorial Day, I conceded defeat and gave up for the year. Actually, I gave up entirely. Then Tuesday May 26, about 4 to 5 martins started circling around my housing. 2 of them landed on gourds a few times and stayed a bit. They continued to return, land, and look. I believe t...

I couldn't have said it better myself. I've only one thing to add. English sparrows and European starlings along with rock pigeons are NOT protected by federal or state laws. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act excludes these 3 species specifically from protection. Even the government disapproves of these...

There is one problem with being too close to a house or building. Hawks can fly low, avoiding detection, then rise up and swoop over the roof at the last second just a few feet from the martin house. This gives the martins very little time to respond. Perched martins can't see the other side of your...

I just hung my great crested flycatcher house. They are already here, looking for scarce cavities with an entrance hole large enough for them. This will be my third year hosting the GCF. They really depend on me and I can't let them down. I'm going to replace the GCF house with a northern flicker ho...

high powered pellet gun

I don't think Mississippi Kites could catch a martin, unless the martin is totally not paying attention. Kites strike from the air just like Red Tail Hawks. Air strikes aren't as successful against Martins because they can see it coming and have plenty of time to react. The Cooper is successful at a...

Perfect location in Louisiana and you waited 6 years for the first pair. That gives me hope because I'm on year 4 in Texas. I've never seen a hanging S&K barn like that. Interesting. Good luck.

I have both. I've noticed the Daytime Chatter C.D. isn't as loud as the Dawn Song C.D. Anyone else notice this? Is that Daytime Chatter C.D. loud enough? I have it under the pole pointing straight up. Dawn Song instructions say to play from 4 AM to 6AM for best results. It's still dark here at those...

I have a 24 DGR. When I added the winch upgrade, mine got stuck up there on a bolt that protruded too far out and wouldn't lower down. I had to use a mini hack saw and trim that bolt so it wouldn't catch on my bracket.

Mosquitos hover at an altitude of 5 or 6 feet, the same altitude as their victims. Martins feed an altitude of around 200 feet. Mosquitos also stay close to shrubs, bushes, trees and structures where martins can’t go. There is no nutritional value to a mosquito. 1 calorie or less is my guess. By the...

$750 initial investment, kill nest box competitors, wait 3 to 5 years on average for your first pair, all the knowledge and research required. It really takes a special person to do this hobby. Like finding a needle in a haystack.