Purple Martin Forum

Thank you for the help Just was wondering if they ever really get used to us and not fly off.

Just wondering how long it takes for the Martins to get used to you walkup under or around the racks. Mine seem to always fly off as I get with in 10 to 15 feet from the racks. Is this a normal reaction or will they eventually get use to me being in the yard near them. Thanks for the help.

Jones4381 you should use the tree swallow protocol set up a Gourd on a shepherds pole on either side of you set up about 30 feet away and let the tree swallows nest in them and they will keep other TS from trying to use your setup. Never let TS or any other bird nest in your PM Dedicated housing. Go...

Hey lindy if they are still building the nest in the gourd you moved go to Walmart and buy a 2 pack of the wooden mouse traps and place one In The gourd And set it but you must be there to watch and make sure only the house sparrow goes in it. Good luck.

Thanks for the up dates guys.

Hey flyin lowe that’s what I was hoping I have a few but I was hoping I would pick up a few more up before they moved on up north. We will be leaving for vacation tomorrow so I hope I have a few more when I get back home. I put up 12 more troyer horizontal gourds today just in case.

I was wondering if the sub adult martins are finished moving through the southern states or are there still more SY birds migrating from South America. Thank for the help.

Hey jones the tree swallows are fun to watch especially when you are mowing the lawn. They will fly by and get the bugs that fly up out of the grass. As far as the barn swallows get you some wood about 6 inches deep and 8 inches long and screw then to the bottom of the barn rafters. It will give the...

Ryan the song bird magnet is great and it’s just small enough to fit in the attic of the barn style house you just run the power cord down the pole and to a timer. It also puts your speaker higher in the air which is always a good thing. The main key Rusty is don’t give up you are already ahead of t...

Hey rusty do you have the red and silver S&K barn with the tri pole if so I have one of them and it has withstood winds as high a 40mph and never bent at the least. But I don’t put mine to the highest holes. And if you have modified the house the attic area is a great place to put one of the green S...

Thanks guys you make great points and I believe they will take to the barn when there are no other choices. And hopefully there will be more SY birds show up and use it this year. That is if the SY birds are still moving up from Texas and Louisiana. But I will definitely leave it just for Nostalgia ...

Thanks coolwhip that’s kinda what I thought. I have the 24 gourds and I have about 50 troyer horizontal gourds I plan on putting next season. I thought about letting them get so populated that they over flow to the S&K barn but I’m worried I would lose Potential Martin’s if they chose not to use it ...

?? Why will the 30 to 40 martins at my colony not use the S&K barn. I did all of the modifications closed the attic area off expanded the rooms from 6+6 to 6 by 6 by 12. I have 24 gourds Bo 9s and super gourds. Lots of activity in all the gourds nest buildings and new green leaves ( no eggs yet). Bu...

Amen is right LadyBug all blessing come from the man above. And PM are a small blessing in this world that we live in today. It’s amazing how you can just go outside and sit and watch your Purple Martins and for just a moment forget about the things that are going on in the world today. Savor those ...

Hey Jasalva it’s the same way In East Tennessee I sit and watch the scout arrival map. And see those purple dot just popping up in Memphis then Nashville then Crossville. Every year those dot slowly move across the state of Tennessee until they finally start showing up around my neck of the woods in...

Thanks Dave I didn’t know if just the numbers were lower than the adults normally.

I was wondering why are the subadult reports so much lower than the adult scout reports on the migration map.

Hey I made my gourd racks using 3in pvc and put 8 1/4 in all thread into the pvc and placed a lock nut on the inside and outside of the pvc to hold the all thread in the pvc. Then I placed a lock but behind and in front of the gourds to hold them. Also places 1/4” all thread at the top of the poles ...

Hey everyone I’m happy to say that I have between 20 and 30 Martin’s now and I hope they keep coming. I hope everyone has a great year especially the newbies who are trying to get their first pair I hope it happens for you just don’t give up and keep trying.

Wow that is amazing details on the wings and well everything. Very nice thank you for sharing this with all of us.