Purple Martin Forum

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. She will be missed and did love our Martins. If the first one of the year arrived while I was at work, she would call me all excited that they had returned. She was also my nest check partner. But, alas, life goes on, as she is finally at peace.

Dave, I hope you have a cheap air rifle and not a high quality one that you paid dearly for. If it is a spring gun, one of the worst things you can do with it is to shoot it without a pellet in it. The spring is expecting to have some resistance caused by the pellet. Of course, if it is not a spring...

DakotaLady, that is the Chinese model. Good luck with it. Some have had success with it, but most have not because the rifling is not cut to quality standards, as well as lesser quality in other areas. Sharon, my R-7 prefers JSB Exacts 8.4 gr and my R-9 prefers Beeman Kodiak Match Heavy. Both are do...

DakotaLady, which Beeman did he buy you? Unfortuantely, Beeman allowed their name to be used on some Chinese made guns and they are not a crap. If it is one the cheaper Chinese guns it isn't worth a crap and you get what you pay for. The minimum Beeman gun should be a R-7. Either the R-7 or R-9 are ...

That looks like a good setup to get. It is strong, can easily be raised and lowered. Supergourds, which is what is pictured, are good way to go, but be sure to get SREH equipped gourds to help keep starlings out. No one type of gourd will attract martins over another type, so don't get into that kin...

Personally, I think nest replacements are more important for Northern landlords who have to deal with blowflys. Fortunately, we do not have to deal with them in the South, so I don't think nest replacements are necessary unless you come across wet nests. 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of Sevin dust, sprinkled ...

Congrats. You can never go wrong upgrading to quality housing versus inexpensive garbage.

Despite what some of you have said, not all spring guns are hold sensitive. The Beeman R-7 is not the least bit hold sensitive, and neither is the R-9. Many people get hung up on speed which is why Gamo advertises such high speeds. Not only is there no need for that kind of speed, but the more speed...

Yes, if you have a good scope, good steady hand, and you learn what your gun wants to be fed as far as pellets go. Also, you must practice, practice, and then practice some more so you have the confidence that you can make the shot. My target pictured above was shot at 23 yards or 69 feet. This gun ...

I have yet to see a R-7 .177 that does not like to shoot JSB Exacts 8.7 gr accurately and consistently. Crossman pellets are also accurate, but they fit very tight into the bore of a Beeman barrel (the German made one, not the Chinese or Spanish made Beeman's). The R-7 is German made and made to tig...

Put a lock on your present traps and the wife can't let them loose. I did that when I found that one of my brother's employees were letting some of mine loose. She stopped.

They will tolerate a 12 gauge shotgun. I just wouldn't shoot it in their direction since you can't control the spread of the pellets. The shotgun noise won't bother them.

Debbie, the birds in eastern and middle North Carolina seem to prefer gourds, natural first, then plastic. They will nest in houses, but usually only after all the gourds are filled. As soon as it it practical for you, you need to trash the house and get a gourd rack up. This is a classic example of...

If you already have an active colony, I wouldn't add any round holes for any reason. I have killing and trapping starlings for over 20 years. Like your place, they know my place is a no fly zone, yet come nesting season, their hormones overrule their brains and they come anyway. I am still average s...

It sounds like you had a good and bad day. Go Pack Go!!!!!!!!!!

Steve, your assessment is right on. One thing you didn't mention is that the gourds you discussed are made in the USA, thus creating American jobs. Gourds that were discussed by others are not, thus creating Chinese jobs. And, people want to know there are no American jobs. Well, when you prefer to ...

Are you sure that they are house wrens? House wrens should not be in your area this time of year. Carolina Wrens, Marsh Wrens, and other Wrens should be, but the only time House Wrens should be that far south is in the winter. House Wrens are notorious for pecking the eggs of other species. Carolina...

Zip ties will not hold up under UV rays from the sun. Not even the supposedly outdoor ones (black) will hold up, but they do hold up a little longer than the white ones. Zip ties have no place on a martin rack for any reason, especially holding up housing.

You would be correct, Craig. After 7 days, sevin is inactive. Also, the smaller amount the better, like the 1/8 teaspoon, especially with older nestlings, as they like to flap their wings inside the compartment (provided the compartment is big enough and not a 6X6), so an excessive amount would crea...

If you don't move that egg to an unoccupied nest, or accidently drop it, then you have just doomed the Martins that hatch. Believe me now, or after the fact, but you will end up believing me.