Purple Martin Forum

Right on Duckcamp. Enjoy the ride and learn as you go. It is all part of the process. We are all still learning. Adapt and survive.

I would open up more of your holes for potential residents. As for the dawn song , I don't think it hurts to continue playing it as long as your current pair is not bothered by it. If you are able and it makes you feel better turn it off when they are around and back on when they're gone.

I think I would be trying to relocate them. If they associate your gourd rack with their nesting success, you will have the same problem next year. It would be better dealing with moving them when they are not interfering with Martins trying to nest.

I guess a common enemy creates allies. At least temporarily.

Agree they must be eliminated. Even if they are nesting somewhere else they are producing an offspring that will cause problems as well. Eliminate every chance you get.

To state there is no difference between asy and sy birds and trying to start a colony (that might have a good location and might not) and an established colony is silly. Human activity is good, but aggressive or harrassing activity would be a detriment.

Ha ha, a landlord wears many hats. Yours was the hat of a physicorists today.

I agree, keep doing all the right things and be patient. It takes time until one decides to make your site their home.

I guess I'm a little more sceptical that new sy birds starting a colony would not be effected by all that activity directly under the house. SY birds can be skittish because their lack of confidence. They possibly would get no break from what could be loud or even aggressive behaviour from someone t...

I would say sy male on the left and female on the right. I don't see any purplish color on the head of the one on the right. As suggested listen to them and watch how they interact.

You will get different answers from different people on that one. I say keep playing it unless you can visually see that it is effecting them negatively.

It's not necessary, none of my birds add mud to their nest and they do just fine.

I think both of your locations look good. Leave them both up and see which one the Martins prefer. I would be playing the dawn song all day long. They are attracted to it anytime of the day. A decoy or two wouldn't hurt either.

Your description of orange and white chest and royal blue back does sound like a bluebird . It's hard for me to tell from your picture if those are Martins or maybe a tree swallow. It appears to have a snow white chest, which leads me to believe it is a tree swallow. If you search a YouTube video o...

I have been reading about the premigaratory roost on Lake Ouchita in Arkansas. Has anyone seen it? Is it worth a visit?

Not sure if this counts, but they do collect leaves from a Bradford pear tree I have. Not a fruit producing pear tree.

Not here, I have been trying to grow, so trying to stay ahead of them. 33 nests this year and I'm where I want to be , time will tell.

Mitch, I have been hearing the dawn song for awhile now. It started just prior to any egg laying and well before most nests had eggs. The first time I heard it this year there were multiple birds singing it. I am hearing them singing at 5:00 give or take a little bit. That is approximately 45 minute...

I would not think you would want to close the gourds off that you might miss the opportunity for the Martins. My thought is that if you close off the gourds your chance for Martins is minimal. As hard as it might be I would leave them open and do the best you can to keep thr TS at bay. My 2 cents an...

Excellent, hopefully he will bring his friends back as well. He will be out attracting a female. Fun to watch them convince her to stay with him. Keep doing what your doing.