Purple Martin Forum

The purple undertail covert is a certain sign. It's an SY male. Sorry yours from last year didn't return, but now you have new hope!

1) no prep needed and will be okay as long as they don’t get maggots on them.

1 Disclaimer) I’m not sure how Salmonella might effect a Martin or if they’re already infected with It and immune to it, so maybe one of the PMCA staff will clear this up.

2) the extra toasty ones are fine

Don't put the eggshells on the porches or in the gourds. That could attract pests and you don't want that. I feed eggshells in a bare dirt spot in my garden. You can also use a raised platform 4' high or so. Brad could you elaborate on the pest statement? I would think if the eggshells were cleaned...

Don't put the eggshells on the porches or in the gourds. That could attract pests and you don't want that. I feed eggshells in a bare dirt spot in my garden. You can also use a raised platform 4' high or so.

The adults take their fledglings around to neighboring sites. I suppose it’s so the fledglings will know where they are the next year when they return as SY’s. It’s normal behavior.

I have an all gourd colony. Yes I have had 100% occupancy many times. Once it gets to the point that my oldest nestlings get close to fledging age I don't lower the gourd racks again, but it's not hard to verify nestlings being fed in other gourds with binoculars. It's very common at my site to have...

No Chris, you never sent me any seed.

When I said that the majority of my birds fly, I don’t mean fly off into the sunset. They’ll fly in circles around the gourd rack. Some will land on the perches while I’m lowering their rack but most of them are airborne

All that I can say for sure is that it takes longer than 17 years. Some or even most of mine fly, every time I walk to my garden. That’s every day. They’ve been doing that since the get go, 17 years ago.

Sounds good. My only concern is that it’s going to require more torque with that long of a extension, a electric drill or motor might be needed, not sure how heavy your rack is. Good luck with it, enjoy your Martins!!! Thanks man, enjoy yours too. My racks run the full spectrum on weight, from ligh...

Dutton Lainson WG1500. I just pulled this winch up and on Amazon it doesn’t show it having the 5/8 drive on it. Be sure to look at that before purchase, it’s a 5/8, worm gear, hex drive that you want. I'm going a different route on the drive. There are winches made that have a loop on the end of th...

Mark I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a female get a green leaf.

Duplicate

Black Jack wrote: ↑

Sun May 24, 2020 3:47 pm

Brad Biddle wrote: ↑

Sun May 24, 2020 3:35 pm

Dang, I've got gun envy...

I have located a CZ 452 with 16" threaded barrel that will be mine before weeks end....

Brad,
Threaded +

Most definitely since I have all the paperwork in to get what screws on the end of it.

Works very fast, yes it’s a worm gear. I’ve got it on my T14 for fours years now, put a little grease on the gears twice a year and it works great. It also comes with a crank handle if needed. I do have a 1/2 electric drill for backup, so far 18v Dewalt doing the job. I cut the end off a cheap 3/8 ...

Dang, I've got gun envy...

I have located a CZ 452 with 16" threaded barrel that will be mine before weeks end....

rrmartins wrote: ↑

Sun May 24, 2020 2:41 pm

I switched to a 5/8 hex drive and use a cordless drill to use it. No more cranking or worrying about brake holding.

How long does it take to let a rack down with that? Did you change over to a worm gear winch?

Ryan, I hope he makes it back.

Just had a crow at least large black in color bird grab one of martins right off the porch. The rest of the Martins chased the bird off, but worried lost 4-5 Martins over last 2 weeks and this may be the cause. Any thoughts ? It's a hawk. Put up a Martin decoy or two on the perches above your house...

Dead nestling update... Renesting is underway. I checked the gourd rack that had the most dead nestlings this afternoon and many of the 24 gourds had new eggs in them. There are 3 nests with nestlings. Two with one each and one with 4. Three out of 24 and all 24 would have nestlings by now if not fo...