Purple Martin Forum

Iv decoys up ar our satellite site, helped us attract last year. They are still up, considered taking them down today but they aren't scaring martins. They are useful. Its also fun to watch professional photographers take pictures of them. :shock: Id keep them up. I don't use them here at home, unle...

Good picture, you should be fine! I used to worry about that too, if it wasn't absolutely straight would drive me nuts...I make sure they are straight but the martins don't mind a bit if its off a tad. Good job on that sparrow! Keep after the buggers.. Was checking nests at our satellite site today ...

for years our birds have been lining their nests with ucalyptus leaves, can see them swarming the tops of the two trees nearby. Those trees got hammered by the freeze but after nest checks today, martins are still getting them. Dried and dead but they still go for it. Force of habit I guess.

Hey Cindy welcome and congrats sounds like they are there to stay. Thats awesome!! Yep, normal activity sounds like they are jumping from home to home male following the female. Or vice versa. They will settle down, end of this month egg laying should start, later for sub adults as they don't have a...

sounds like some early risers! to me, if its that early they are staying. to watch them arrive go out around 6pm and sit and watch the house. watch the sky for them but primarily the house. They come in very fast, barely touch the porch and its over. ours down here rise a bit later, (although some s...

1:1 ratio here. started as usual with all males, a few females showed up a few days later but still more males. Big pushes of arrivals started coming in with those strong south winds and now are paired up. Females now fighting for occupied cavities.

Dang, sorry about that. Perhaps an early returnee that used too much energy? Even so, tough to find. I'm starting nest checks tomorrow. Hope alls well rest of your season and this is the only one.
Tom

if it works there won't be a tennis ball within 50 miles of a martin landlord...be like toilet paper last year.

I'd say do both, they will be sitting ducks. Trouble is if a martin comes by, they won't be able to enter either?

Hi Mary and welcome! Good for you and glad they are around. Its a great sign and good start. Guess a couple of questions, Are they staying the night? Gotta watch close when its getting near dusk, they are very fast. When do they come around? Some martins visit from other sites. To have them landing ...

Yep, agree with whippy. Id also agree hes human despite his wife's concerns. :lol: You could add a canopy over the natural gourd entrance without disturbing the martins, it will assist in keeping their nest dry. Its available on line, just a short strip of tin over the entrance. Sevin will make your...

Last year lost an ASY female just before egg laying, the ASY male quickly attracted a SY female. They had 5 eggs (little late)
and fledged them all.

Texas is a big place maybe more will chime in. I do have one very old female I'm partial to, she is very dark and I thought a subbie male at first. Had a male choose a lower gourd but the new gals seem to have wanted the upper level and barely looked in his, poor old guy. She came in a few weeks ago...

They are coming whippy, trust me. Last week had big numbers of birds, 3 days running now have had our birds bring in lots of visitors, many of them young females. They were roosting in the tree two nights ago, most of them moved on then last night more showed up and after trying their hardest to get...

I hope he will be a good advocate for you and draw lots of company.

No green leaves, ever. Thats interesting. Wonder why that is, can't be humidity being a factor in their choice, Lord knows its humid enough in south texas and our birds bring in green leaves.
Thought they all did that.
Makes you wonder.

Man thats great, what a feeling eh? Yeah good idea to overwhelm their senses, give them some options. Hope you get a bunch,
Tom

Congrats on your arrival, sounds like she took to that entry very well.
Hope you have a good season!

Well said.

Yep. Just when u think the coast is clear to do what you need to do here they come.

Easter eggs! Good shot of an understanding female.