Search found 157 matches
- Wed Jan 27, 2021 5:51 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Recommendations for a new house set up
- Replies: 6
- Views: 53
Re: Recommendations for a new house set up
I always tell new landlords just starting out to check out existing colonies close to you, and start by using the same housing as they are. I hear this a lot and it may work. I think its better to surpass/exceed the housing of nearby colonies if you can afford it. If they are offering 1 or 2 star h...
- Sat Jan 23, 2021 8:33 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: The Disappearing Culture of Purple Martin Landlords | JSTOR Daily
- Replies: 15
- Views: 304
Re: The Disappearing Culture of Purple Martin Landlords | JSTOR Daily
Got a link to this article ?
- Tue Jan 05, 2021 12:11 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Luring ASY martins from an existing colony?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 535
Re: Luring ASY martins from an existing colony?
Knock on his door and talk to him. He'll be more than happy to discuss his martin history with you. Make sure you have some pictures to show him. Martin landlords are very proud of their colonies and love it when others (especially neighbors) show interest. I've known my closest landlord for 2 years...
- Fri Jan 01, 2021 10:28 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: S and K Manufacturing's plastic houses,
- Replies: 21
- Views: 669
Re: S and K Manufacturing's plastic houses,
I started off with an S & K house also. I only kept it one year. Flimsy poles, cardboard floors, cardboard walls, inaccessible attic rooms, plastic doors, made in China. It's a martin slum. The definition of a martin slum is an S&K house. A simple neighborhood investigation can determine if there ar...
- Fri Jan 01, 2021 3:24 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: S and K Manufacturing's plastic houses,
- Replies: 21
- Views: 669
Re: S and K Manufacturing's plastic houses,
I've a couple of gripes about the S&K houses. The doors that swing up and down are made of flimsy plastic. An owl can easily grab and rip these doors off the hinge exposing all for an easy meal. Also, shooting house sparrows is a problem. I only pump my Benjamin twice for a house sparrow kill. Even ...
- Sun Dec 20, 2020 12:23 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Ideas wanted for housing portable base
- Replies: 12
- Views: 2341
Re: Ideas wanted for housing portable base
https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-11860/Drums/Plastic-Drum-with-Lid-30-Gallon-Open-Top-Blue I think this might work. Add enough concrete first to stabilize, and let it cure. Drill some drain holes just barely above the cured concrete so rain wont be an issue. Then add gravel to the top for extr...
- Thu Nov 05, 2020 1:23 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: 1-1/2 schd pipe question
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1078
Re: 1-1/2 schd pipe question
1 1/2 inch will have a substantial sway, even though it's schedule 40, especially with heavy housing made from wood. 2 inch is the minimum recommended for square poles, 2 3/8 for round poles. 1 1/2 inch may support your housing, but it will have a heavy sway, and be undesirable housing, in my opinion.
- Sun Jun 21, 2020 2:23 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Repeating sparrow traps.
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2911
Re: Repeating sparrow traps.
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...
- Sat Jun 20, 2020 7:00 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: MY BRUTAL 2020 SEASON
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1947
Re: MY BRUTAL 2020 SEASON
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 ...
- Sat Jun 13, 2020 2:44 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: sparrows
- Replies: 2
- Views: 498
Re: sparrows
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...
- Sat Jun 13, 2020 2:21 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: What to do after catching male sparrow?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 505
Re: What to do after catching male sparrow?
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...
- Tue Jun 09, 2020 9:33 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Going after a squirrel
- Replies: 2
- Views: 515
Re: Going after a squirrel
Why do you allow sparrows? 12 years?
- Fri Jun 05, 2020 8:27 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Will My Unsuccessful SY Male Return Next Year?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 485
Will My Unsuccessful SY Male Return Next Year?
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
- Sun May 31, 2020 1:58 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: 4th Year Trying
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1214
Re: 4th Year Trying
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...
- Sun May 31, 2020 1:24 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Do Martins Ever Abandon One Site For Another After Fledging?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 538
Do Martins Ever Abandon One Site For Another After Fledging?
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...
- Sat May 30, 2020 1:46 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: My SY Entered a Gourd But Still Not Staying Overnight (Pics)
- Replies: 3
- Views: 548
My SY Entered a Gourd But Still Not Staying Overnight (Pics)
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...
- Fri May 29, 2020 1:23 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: My SY Male Brought In a Female For a Look (Pics)
- Replies: 2
- Views: 411
My SY Male Brought In a Female For a Look (Pics)
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...
- Wed May 13, 2020 6:37 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Starling and Sparrow control for new and wannabe landlords
- Replies: 7
- Views: 981
Re: Starling and Sparrow control for new and wannabe landlords
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...
- Sat May 09, 2020 11:52 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: 4th Year Trying
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1214
Re: 4th Year Trying
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...
- Sat Apr 25, 2020 9:55 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: What I did on Earth Day.
- Replies: 5
- Views: 698
Re: What I did on Earth Day.
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...