Purple Martin Forum

You can spend time around them, but I wouldn’t change anything at this point.
Good luck!!!

The more time you spend outside around them, the tamer they will get. A lot of times the birds will still fly off and sometimes not. I have three momma birds that stay on their nest and just sit there and look at me while doing nest checks. One of them even let me put my hand under her to count the ...

Crazy birds, lol!!! Congrats on your first pair. I always help my SY martins out a little trying to ensure success. I would help them build a little better nest, put some leaves under the eggs and build the nest up a little to keep them together, so they don’t roll around, they won’t mind the help. ...

No Sir, it’s not any fun at all on my knees and the thought of it knocking you out or killing you if it falls. I’ve often thought about using a 12v winch like used on a ATV. My housing sits about 12ft. off my back porch so I have easy, short access to power, I’m sure that may be a factor for some. E...

Sounds good. My only concern is that it’s going to require more torque with that long of a extension, a electric drill or motor might be needed, not sure how heavy your rack is. Good luck with it, enjoy your Martins!!!

Dutton Lainson WG1500.
I just pulled this winch up and on Amazon it doesn’t show it having the 5/8 drive on it. Be sure to look at that before purchase, it’s a 5/8, worm gear, hex drive that you want.

Works very fast, yes it’s a worm gear. I’ve got it on my T14 for fours years now, put a little grease on the gears twice a year and it works great. It also comes with a crank handle if needed. I do have a 1/2 electric drill for backup, so far 18v Dewalt doing the job. I cut the end off a cheap 3/8 d...

I switched to a 5/8 hex drive and use a cordless drill to use it. No more cranking or worrying about brake holding.

Sounds like your on your way!!! Usually if you dispatch a couple starlings the rest will leave. The HOSP on the other hand can be a constant battle, especially at first, your neighbors houses aren’t helping you any there, so stay on them, you will eventually start thinning them out some. GOOD LUCK A...

Sorry to hear this is happening Sharon. We have lots of Mockingbirds around our house and have never seen any of them on our T14 or harassing our Martins. I’m leaning towards a sub that didn’t get a mate or a male HOSP. Hard to believe it would be a male HOSP though, you would hear him all day long ...

Wow, how neat is that? Never saw a baby vulture before.
I unfortunately found four baby blue jays hopping around my flower bed yesterday, couldn’t find there nest, put them in the shade and mom went down too them, I’m sure they perished though.

Greenhill subdivision. Go down Bowman near Mays, you can’t miss my T14 across from TCBH cattle field.

Hello everybody, everyone needs to read up and take action on this topic. My ten year old colony was nearly destroyed by a large rat climbing the cable and up and over the bird netting, getting into the T14 at night. For ten years I just had the bird netting and I thought I was good to go, boy was I...

Well - With the COVID-19 fun many of us get to work from home for the next several weeks and go nowhere. On a good note, it gives us more time to keep an eye out for returning Martins. Here in Middle Tennessee it's cold raining and just nasty (40's and 50's). It's hard to imagine a PM could survive...

Glad they’re still coming in!!!
After last years bad luck I’m only up to three pair, seven birds total. Keep them coming, having to start over here.
Good luck!!!

How do you add photos from phone library?

Glad your efforts are paying off, always exciting when there’s so many flying around you can’t count them.
Good luck!!!

Had three ASY males on the house this morning, now they just need to navigate the wing entrapment pieces and we’re good.

The lone male was singing away on the house just a few minutes ago. I’m glad my misfortune has helped others be more proactive.
Let’s have a great year everyone!!!

Welder might need to fab something, shouldn’t be a big deal, some are mobile.