Purple Martin Forum

Where in Alberta are you located? I’d be willing to help out if you’re not super far away. Bob is a great resource to pull from. His houses are of excellent design. He provided me with some mentoring (truth be told, quite a bit) when I got going with Martins. I’ve paid it forward with helping a few ...

I don’t believe there is any real set distances to follow for placement. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong here. Somewhere they can easily access and see it obviously. Mine is on a telescoping pole and sits 7’ from ground to platform. Closest house is 20-25’ away. Furthest being probably 80’ or...

Without pulling out “The Binder” with all my records, I know I’ve been at 100% four seasons out of the last 14 or 15. At 36, 48 and twice at 60 pair(60 is what I offer). It’s much more common for me to see the 54-58 type count but 100% is not impossible. I’ll be close to, if not full again this year...

Looks great my good man! With my own, I’ve often wondered how much an acrylic or poly roof would add to longevity of a house. Regardless, your offering is shaping up nicely.

I played around with springer break barrels a bit and that was an effort in futility. No matter what I tried I was not satisfied. Then tried a side cocking springer, which was much better but still not what I needed. Bought a PCP and all was right in the universe. I bought a Weihrauch HW100T in .22 ...

I’m in the Edmonton, AB area. More often than not, everybody has hit the road by August 16th which is my birthday. Sort of anticlimactic. But we’ve still got 20 or so martins hanging around and I’ve got four nests yet to fledge. These remaining nests should all be fledging over the next eight days. ...

Private Eye is a new sreh to me. Wonder if they're all homemade entrances or if they've actually been used on manufactured housing/gourds. Couldn’t tell you the exacts as I do not know. I first got them on housing I purchased from Bob Buskas. On his website, it says the conception occurred on “Club...

Hello farmerharv! What style of sreh is in your photo? Sorry to stray from scope topic! That’s a very good question. :grin: I have absolutely no ideas they came with the house. There are also some that look like 3 holes drilled side by side and smoothed across the top on some compartments. Had some...

Every opportunity presented, I try and capitalize. Some of my friends who are interested in helping out native birds are on the program too. They don’t have time to host Martins but will shoot every trash bird they can, knowing that they are causing grief somewhere else.

Absolutely.

Sounds like a good plan to me. I wonder what the experts would think? It makes good sense to me as a way to help nature out in keeping your colony viable and healthy. Kind of like how hunting helps keep some species thinned out. Hi Dave. Appreciate the fact you don’t think I’m nuts! I’m not sure wh...

I’m trying something in regards to this for this season. I believe another landlord was on board to try this too but we haven’t touched base since last fall. Anyway, I’m leaving 20% of available housing closed until SY birds start arriving. Part of the reasoning behind this is in regards to somethin...

Curtis I’m from southern sask and were having some crappy weather as well just wondering where you purchase your crickets from? I live in a small town where a cricket would have to be dugout of the ground that died last fall! In other words there aren’t any. Archer’s link would probably work for yo...

Had my first arrival on April 19th. Had four here as of yesterday - 3 males and a lone female. Woke up this morning to snow on the ground and it has been super windy for three days. Winds 40-60km/hr and a high of +6C. Figured they probably didn’t get a good feed yesterday so went out to try and feed...

We’ve had a couple Martins back for two or three days now. This morning I was waiting for the my coffee to finish percolating so I could go out on the deck and listen/watch them. Excited I was. Heard some ever so shrill vocals of a Starling. Turned to see one on a porch and then watched it wiggle in...

Thanks for reply Curtis. I read some reviews online for pellet guns and finally decided in my budget to get the Crosman F4. The scope is not the best but making it work. I live in Kansas so wind is always a factor. Although my best shots were when it was calm out. I've been using the Crosman hollow...

Hi. I started with a very lucky year last year. My 1st S&K barn house. Had mating pair with fledglings. Pretty novice for sure! No starling breaches or sparrows. Well, this year has been a beast. Have lost numerous PM pairs and eggs to the deadly beasts. Didn't want to, shall we say, dispose of any...

I ended up getting three there in 45 min or so. Good on you for helping others out Archer. I’d like to do a bit more of that myself but finding people receptive to a new or better way to host Martins proves more difficult than I’d ever thought. I’m only batting about .250 in that regard but will kee...

I was over and met my neighbours(very nice folks) who live a couple miles away from me who have hosted Martins for quite a while. With our inclement weather I reached out in regards to supplemental feeding and I was well received. We covered the basics and even got one to eat some flipped crickets. ...

Your weather is surprising, as we have been hot and dry all spring, but still there were times of high winds and low temps where martins could not feed. Mine are so trained, they tell me when they want food. The leader of the pack will almost fly into my house when I open the patio door when he is ...