Purple Martin Forum

Bo 9 vs Bo11+

I have 33 Bo 11+ (gourd within a gourd) divided between two of the Gemini round racks. Gemini can hold more than that, but since the Bo 11+ weigh a little more I went with fewer. I love the Bo11+. They cost a little more, but I feel over the last two years I've had less jumpers because of them. Gour...

I have Starling resistant entrances. Eggs have all been cracked in half. Was sitting outside this evening and saw a male sparrow land on gourd rack for the first time in about 2 weeks. Let’s just say he isn’t with us anymore. Maybe that will take care of it

I always have a few eggs on the ground throughout the year that were probably deemed "bad eggs" by Martins. This is way more than normal though. All in the same vicinity of one of my racks. Have had a lot of Martins fighting this year. More so than normal. No sparrows or starlings around to speak of...

Lots of fighting going on at my site. Birds all the way on the ground fighting. Way more than a normal year. Found 6-7 broken eggs on the ground today. Always find some early in the season that I’m guessing they just deem “bad eggs” and push them out. I do not have a sparrow problem. Have a pair of ...

I'm doing alright in Lawrence, Ks area. Got to 57 yesterday with light winds so plenty of feeding going on for the 20 or so Martins I have so far. Today and tomorrow will only be upper 40's with some off and on rain, but back into the 60's for the weekend.

Putting up a second Gemini rack to max out my colony size. About how far apart should I place the ground stakes?

Not a bad idea. Thanks

Anyone know of anything for sale to transition a tri-tel trendsetter triangular pole to a 2” round pole?

Thanks for the info. I plan on maxing out at two racks with 16 gourds on each, so won't be as big of a deal for me to take them down each year. I could see how your setup would be next to impossible to take all of them down.

Took me 3 years. I remember when I was younger it took my parents 5 years. They now have a colony of about 30-40 pair every year and they don't have an ideal setup. Trees fairly close to the housing, etc.. Martins don't seem to mind now. They actually sit in the trees which most people state NEVER h...

Very nice! Curious about one thing and I suppose it depends on where you live? Does leaving the racks up during the "off season" cause in problems? Rust, etc..? I have 1 Gemini rack but purchasing a second. The last two years I have taken the whole thing down and stored in my shop. However, I live i...

Sounds nice!

Thanks! I'm not here to push housing on people, but man my Bo11+ (gourd within a gourd with vent caps) worked like gangbusters this year. Had many days with babies in 105 degree temps with heat indices over 110 and I didn't lose a single baby to heat. I was just sure I would. Can't hang as many on a...

Needed a better way to store my gourds in the off-season, so built this in my shop. Nothing fancy, but it's definitely a space saver. Room for another row below if I decide to expend by one more gourd rack.

Damn. That's rough. Glad your birds where gone, but still.

Quite Facebook years ago and never looked back.

Have a few nests that haven't fledged yet which is late for me. I'm not sure they will make it through these next few days. Should be fledge by this weekend, but temps and heat index not getting better over next few days.

If the housing was not damaged, I doubt the Martins left. Have storms almost weekly where I live, and it's never bothered them.

Congrats!!!

Sure hope I never have to deal with snakes, luckily my dogs do a pretty good job of keeping any preditors out of the back yard.