Purple Martin Forum

Mine are 8 days early. First pair came in yesterday.

With the exception of possibly more algae, they cleaned up very well with 50-50 mix of simple green. the thg and tvg gourds seem to clean up better than others. I usually lubricate my top bearings every 2 years. Like I say, I just don't have enough storage space.

I decided to try something different this year. Instead of cleaning my gourds and putting them in storage I left them on the poles and have been cleaning them and putting them right back with doors on. I have storage problems and this saves a lot of space in my shop. I think I like this better. Deci...

Thanks everyone. It has, at times, been a struggle but very rewarding when you get them back.

My first bird got back on 2/20/18. I now have five pair and more seem to coming in every day. I'm a happy camper. I ended up with 17 pair last year and have 48 gourds. Any body know what I should expect this year? I fledged 69 babies last year. Good luck to everyone.

Thanks, Louise-Time to start another project. Last year when I had 2 birds bail, I did a nest check and had one bird in the gourd. I tried to locate the 2 birds but couldn't. When I went back inside (sick to my stomach) a coopers dropped in to chase the 2 birds. I just knew I had caused their demise...

That is an idea, Curtis-Thanks. I've got a Gemini(24 gourds) and an ss24(24 gourds) so I can see this will be an ongoing problem. Maybe someone with a Gemini can suggest something.

My numbers are still increasing. Through May 28 I have 17 pair, 44 eggs and 21 babies. My problem is my first babies are 22 days old and I have read about the string and plug method of lowering racks for nest checks. Last year I had 2 birds fly prematurely while lowering the racks. Luckily they were...

Thanks Okie-I could write a book on how to make mistakes on attracting purple martins but with the help of this forum and other martineers, I feel like I'm on my way. The largest commitment I had to make was taking out ten large trees which gave me seven open flyways. My wife thought I was crazy but...

I now have five or six pairs. Did a nest check today and have six well developed nests. Put out some seven dust, as I noticed some mites and wanted to get them under control before eggs were laid. So far no more problems with hawks yet(keeping fingers crossed.) Anyway, I am a happy camper and just w...

Read the bluebird and tree swallow protocol on pmca.org. I fought bluebirds for two years and the protocol really works.

Ed, that is so true. I had them nesting under my front porch(stucco). They almost ruined the stucco so the next year I started tearing out nests. Finally they went somewhere else. These birds are pretty but don't let them fool you, they are very nasty. They're nests are made of mud and really hard t...

Thanks for all the replies. Last year I move the rack that my birds mated in 10 ft where I had a T14 and 8 gourds. I bought a new gemini and put it where that rack was. Everybody told me not to take the chance of losing my birds but I decided to take the chance so I am thankful they adapted to the g...

I was really getting nervous but my two founding asy males and one asy female came back this morning. I gambled last year and made some changes in my site but after some confusion one pair picked out a gourd and the lone male is sleeping alone, waiting for his girl. Hooray! Good luck to all.

If you're talking about the bo11p, they go on with snaps but I would caulk the joint because they will take in water

I thought mine were all gone too. My first five babies disappeared two weeks ago and I assumed they were gone. Late yesterday afternoon all five and momma and daddy came in and went to the gourd they were born in. I have read they take test flights to prepare the "kids" for the flight home. I'll alw...

Momma is attending to things at your nest, but it is the opposite in my case. Papa has been there as these babies are fledging but momma was only there for the first one & made only one appearance. I have been wondering where she was & it occurred to me tonight that she may be with those already fl...

Hi John, was the baby that appeared to be dead, laying upside down. I have seen young and adults do this when they are sunning themselves. It look hilarious. It was kind of strange but it was on it's underside, as if to be motionless. It had it's head facing left. I watched it for 10 or 15 minutes ...

I guess I did the math wrong because all nine of my birds fledged between 6/15 and 6/17. I saw something weird today while looking at them with binoculars. One baby was laying through the entrance and on the porch, appearing to be dead. I've avoided doing a nest check for about a week because I knew...

My birds are due to start fledging around 06/28-06/30. They're app birthdate is 05/14. I would like to do a nest check to see if I have more eggs but I'm nervous about premature jumpers. I've got a total of ten birds coming and going and don't know if they're just visitors. With the trouble I've had...