I live on a lake and the Gourd racks are 5' from the retaining wall. I happened to be on the boathouse just now and a group of adult males (10) were forcing a Martin down into the water. I started to clap my hands to get them off of him. He had spread his wings and tail and was floating aimlessly on...

I have 82 Troyer Horizontals and use round holes as well. I have caught 10 Starlings this year in Van Ert Traps and then they finally quit showing up. I met a new friend that lived in town and Starlings were taking over his Colony with round holes. He bought 2 Van Ert traps and started catching 2 St...

Decoys work for hawk attacks, don't know about attracting new Martins. I have 6 decoys and use them at times but don't leave them up all season when the Martins are here. I will say if you can put them away from your actual Martins it seems to have worked better for me in the past. Yes, the 1st time...

You are on a roll!

I know you have your hands full with Ohio weather, trying to make sure they have food and stay warm this early in the year

Who said you weren't ready for Martin season.

Works for Starlings too.

One will be along in a minute, you'll see.

Hawk attacks weren't too bad at first but in the last couple of weeks allot more Martins have arrived. We probably have 60-70 Martins right now. It's rainy, cool, and windy this morning and all of the Martins were on the Gourd racks working on their feathers in the rain and talking. A Hawk came at 8...

They get to a point that their attacks are on a very regular schedule. Consistent times each day. Almost like clockwork. In the afternoons around sunset I will walk under or near the racks. Most times it will keep the Hawks from attacking. The Martins will come in when they see me out there. A male...

WOW, just wow. Can't imagine eggs this early.

I see your near Tampa and I lived there in high school. We went water skiing on Christmas one year. Not much winter there.

Congrats on having eggs!

Ok I think I read most of this.....lol. 1st thing I notice and correct me if I'm wrong. The rack that is occupied first by the Martins is the one that is the highest elevation above ground level? When our Martins arrive they fight to be in the top row of the Gourd rack. As time goes by the lower lay...

Like Steve I use round holes in my Colony I have 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and currently have 50 Martins. I have tried SREH over the years and found most Martins reluctant to enter them. Had one pair that the male established residence 1st and entered the Gourd at will and attracted a female. Afte...

Good Morning Dick. It sure is early for your Martins to be arriving, I know you still have many nights with below freezing temperatures ahead. Hopefully he will make it. I know you will do the best you can to take care of him & make sure he is well fed. It's balmy here in Texas with many Migrating M...

Allo of people ask me a bunch of questions all the time. To me the biggest problem is for a good quality Gourd rack with gourds the cost is $750.00. Once we get to that point the conversation is mostly over. I made the investment and enjoy the Martins but most people have so many things going on in ...

Living on the river, there would have been an abundance of bugs which contributed to your Dads success. I live on a lake and when all the Martins get here It is a sight to see them skimming 2' above the water & catching bugs in the afternoon. Easy food source and open fly ways over the lake has sure...

Good to hear your Martins showed up, you have a really Large Colony. I've caught 10 Starlings so far this year. I like the Van Ert Trap Box, you only catch one at a time but eventually it will get all of them in my area. Last year I caught 17 Starlings. I have about 40-50 Martins so far. Had 45 nest...

With Starlings, I think if you kill the male the female will not return.

But If you kill the female, the males will continue to bring other females to our Colony,

It will definitely attract blue birds & mockingbirds depending on the type of food you it in the feeding tray.

Not saying that is good or bad but they will come.

Closer the better!

I understand all of the comments above. I will say that when you have Martins and they are unable to feed for 3 days, you have a choice. You will either feed them or watch them die. I feed a group years ago and they were eager to learn how and eat flipped crickets. After the cold rainy weather had p...

I think the ASY's start most colonies. If you watch over time people move or get too old to maintain Martin houses. Some of these individuals have large colonies that must go somewhere else.

It will be 27 here tonight and the wind is currently blowing 30mph out of the north. They spend much of the day skimming the surface of the lake for insects. They are all in their gourds now for the night at 5:12. About an hour earlier than normal. Hopefully they will all make it through the night. ...