Purple Martin Forum

I knew the end of this season was coming to a close by the dwindling amount of birds at the condo. Just not too long ago it was chaos with all the new additions hanging around. You knew who the parents were , they were the ones scolding the children. My Martins knew me well because most evening I wo...

Thanks Whippy , best of luck to you in coming years up there in Plano.

After a disappointing season last year and a slow start this season I’m very glad to say this has been a boom season ! I have fledged so far about forty five chicks. I have so many Martins now hanging around the Condo and Gourds with all the fledglings. I still have a young brood about two weeks old...

Thankfully my Martins are doing very well this year. I have chicks that fledged and have joined the flock. I have noticed that the Martins are very protective of their air space and what they have been doing is dive bombing the grackles. They chase them off and are hot on their tails. The Martins ar...

Possibly lightning or static electricity maybe ?

Hope you get some Martins ,Good luck and keep on that Ol Wiley male HOSP they are actually pretty smart. The Bandits I’m after high tail it faster than the wind no sooner than they spot me. A landlords job is never done.

Introduce them Starlings to Mr .177 Cal pellet. I was having trouble with them too but after dispatching a few they don’t come around anymore. We all know these are invasive species that do harm to our native birds and PM. They would fight with my Martins and actually pull them off the porch. Not an...

Today Was a busy day keeping the HOSP away. They seem very determined to get a room at the PM condo , as soon as I turn my back and walk into the house they see their chance and fly back to the condo. My Martins are cheerful and collecting nesting material for their nests and are doing very good. As...

Today I was home for lunch and as I pulled up the drive I seen a pair of Starlings getting comfy at the Martin Condo. Well I went into action to enforce the strict code of No HOSP AND No Starlings at the PM Condo. Today the starlings were brave. And I was able to get up under the condo , but at this...

Well as I have been doing sitting out and enjoying the Martins getting their last flight for the evening , today they went off chirping and whistling and gained altitude in a hurry. All the local doves and grackles skidattled in a hurry and it became silent pretty quick. A large hawk swooped into th...

I use the Gamo Silent Cat 1250 FPS Break barrel With scope. I have been practicing at 50 yards and it puts a hole in a 1/4 plywood backstop after hitting bullseye a few times. Plenty power for HOSP and Starlings. Cost around $100.

C.C.Martins I too have been walking Guth park , who knows might have walked past you ! But I’ve been watching them Martins also. That is where that hawk was hanging out last week. I think the park is a nice place for the Martins to fly. Open flyways and rolling hills.

Hi C.C.Martins good that you are getting birds. I have six gourds SK’s and a 20 room condo. Maybe I don’t have enough gourds but plan to expand next season with more gourds.

Hello BillieJR , they just might be heading North , but not yet. They are still in the neighborhood. Good luck up there.

At dusk I enjoy sitting on my driveway and watching the few Martins I have this season. They circle overhead singing and whistling, but each evening I notice a few other Martins that join them then fly off to wherever while my Martins come on in for the night. Last evening I was astounded to see a h...

Steve Kroenke that is a nice article. I enjoyed reading it.

SMJohnson at first it was hovering about tree high estimate 20' high or so. That is when he was doing acrobatic moves in the brisk wind. Then he moved over the Martin houses. At that time he was probably 40/50' or so. He was light brown with broad wings. Big. Here in Corpus Christi we have the migra...

I was taking a nice walk this evening at West Guth park when I noticed a large hawk, I’m thinking a Red tail hawk. He was taking advantage of the brisk winds and doing some nice acrobatic turns and flips. He would hover on the winds and then swoop down along a hillside. As I was walking along I noti...

Great to hear @jasalva! Good luck this season with the Martins.

This years new house. 20 room condo.