Gang, A couple weeks ago I watched the Eagles of Decorah on public TV. Wow, what a powerful story. This kind of centered around one man's (Mr. Anderson) dedication to these majestic birds. This makes our job of caring for Purple Martin's seem not quite so labor intensive. The original nest was blown...

So maybe the groundhog was right down south anyway. Believe me, the jury's still out on that up north, we've got a real mess. I sure hope things start turning around real soon. I've had my fill of this winter, even thought it got started late, we have more than made up for that.

Thanks Dave ,but truth is... this is one of those folks that are better left alone. He lives about 40 minutes away from his buisiness and has martins there at his home,he said. He strikes me as one of those obstinate folks that just can’t be helped. I offered a full and complete service asking noth...

Hey Clivia , yes he actually knows better but doesn’t wanna bother. I told him plug all the holes for the off season and open when he spots martins. He said he doesn’t have any plugs,and I said I would quickly empty out the house and gourds,loan him my plugs and just leave a few holes open for the ...

All the house sparrows I've ever observed, just love to hang out on the porch and be disgusting. My personal opinion is it makes the trap more inviting.

I got all my horizontals vented in the back too. Using a 3/4" (outside threads) to 1/2" (slick inside, for 1/2" pipe) PVC elbow for vent. Using two on each gourd. One side of the elbow has 3/4' threads (into the back of the gourd) The 1/2" end fits a 1/2 PVC pipe. So I made 1 1/2 " pipe pieces, stu...

Thomas Edward Cox (1925-2019)of Danville, Kentucky past away January 23, 2019. The article in the Advocate-Messenger says he was a Purple Martin landlord, and a Veteran of WWII and Korea.

Dave,
Hopefully in 2019 I'll get to put this into practice, but maybe I will just play a radio, so the neighbors won't think I have totally gone off the deep end.

Happy Holiday's

Dave

One other thing I would like to add. Give some careful thought to installing a through bolt in your poles, this will create week point when the wind blows, making it easier for your pole to fail (bend or break) at that point. As an alternative, make some kind of a safety device that straps to the po...

Gang, Just thought I'd share an observation. Most weekdays I eat my lunch in Ewing Park in Des Moines, Iowa. As I was doing so today, I just happened to look up at the right moment, and right at high noon and to my delight, I was treated to a group of around a dozen PM's swooping and soaring their w...

Thanks to all you Iowa landlords out there providing habitat for the pms and doing your part to flood the area with birds. Thanks to all of you I still hope someday soon I will be allowed to do my part and help Tim to bring them back to a more plentiful state in central Iowa.
Dave

I would just about give anything to be in your shoes. Enjoy and be glad you have them.

Dave

Heavy The one thing I have learned, they are experts at driving us folks crazy. I don’t think they have been taught, that they shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Too bad they aren’t more willing to accept our hospitality when we have taken the time and effort to offer it. All we want to do i...

Heavy The one thing I have learned, they are experts at driving us folks crazy. I don’t think they have been taught, that they shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Too bad they aren’t more willing to accept our hospitality when we have taken the time and effort to offer it. All we want to do is...

Avesrun, Keep pumpin out those youngsters. Everyone matters and I sure appreciate you increasing the number in the area. Don’t know if I ever mentioned it before but my hope is that martineering will be part of my retirement plan. Here I am 63 and my plan is to stop the old 8 to 5 by 67. Sure hope i...

Wow! That sounds so cool, hope someday I get to experience that, I just love nature and wildlife.
Dave

your may want to get a prognosticator from the pmca. I did, when I had a group for a while in April. looks like a great tool, maybe someday I'll get to put it to use.

Dave

If they are just now starting to show interest down in Missouri, hopefully they'll start getting their act together up hear in Iowa too. Sure been dead up here since mid May. Hope I don't have to scratch another year, this is getting beyond depressing.

Dave

If there's any veteran pilots there, I would think they would really get a kick out of them. The flight characteristics of Purple Martins always have reminded me of fighter planes, the way they soar, dive and maneuver. I'm sure a lot of them would enjoy nest checks also. Maybe some day I will get to...

Everybody, Thanks for the input. I was kind of hopeful this heat would throw things into high gear, and cause the sy birds to seriously concentrate on search mode for housing and mates. I observed a lot yesterday and today and there is just nothing going on. My thinking is that the asy birds tempers...