Purple Martin Forum

Enjoyed the pics of your nest check. Sure hate the one baby didn't make it. Nest check are very important but we have fallen way behind this year due to work schedules. Hope all the babies fledge successfully.

Good questions. I figure it will take several years to see what happens.
My guess is decline in numbers of martins. Hope others will share their thoughts.

Steve,
So sorry about the Hawks attacking and taking your fledglings. I know you understand what I am going through.

Deb
Thank you Deb. It is so hard and I just hate what the martins and I am having to go through. Wish they had an easier life.

Brad We had 2 barn swallow nests that the babies have fledged and now both sets of parents are sitting on second set of eggs. The baronies are a big help in spotting the hawks. We also have a pair of eastern kingbirds which also help. Also have several BB pairs. These Hawks are determined to catch t...

We have lots of martins here. Lot that moved on to other colonies too. Not many good housing in our area. As older landlords age and pass away, I am surprised we have as many around here as we do. Young folks around here have no interest in providing housing or doing what it takes to even halfway ta...

We are experiencing numerous cooper hawk attacks daily. By numerous I am talking about every 30 to 40 minutes daily and these are 90% successful attacks. I can time the upcoming attacks by our clock. I am heart broken, upset, miserable and angry. The parents/adult birds are so loud during these atta...

We have 167 pair of martins and don't see wing feathers scattered here or there. Occasionally might see one here or there within the colony. Sounds like to me you have some type of preditation going on.

Malcolm
That is a very nice Martin colony! Lots of work:)

Great pictures!

Bulldog, Where did you find the feather? Sometimes they will sit on top of the rack. Check your colony between 9 and 11 pm. Also watch your martin flyways. They will sit on tree limbs and watch your colony sometimes. Also we have had an owl sit on tree limbs or top of tree about 4 to 4:45 am and wai...

You must have nice martins! That usually doesn't happen here. Occasionally a young martins sneaks in a wrong gourd, but will usually get chased out after a little while.

So glad you have lots of martins at your place!

So sorry James that this hawk has found your colony. Yep they can make a purple Martin landlord angry real quick. Hope you can figure out how to send him on his way elsewhere.

We are having attacks daily and expect them to be more frequent when babies start fledging.

How close are you to the Martin when snapping these pictures? Do you use a certain program on your computer to get this close? Totally love your photos you share with us here.

Awesome pictures!!

April and Steve I am pretty sure this is resident Cooper's. Have them every year. Yes it will much worse when the young martins fledge from their gourd. They, both male and female, will come every 2 hours and keep coming until successful each time. If not successful within the colony, they will get ...

Thanks BW! Sure hope it helps.

Very nice pictures Steve! Always enjoy them.

Today I ordered 5 dove decoys and 16 more purple martin decoys. Already have 8 martin decoys on gourd racks. Got to try to do something to give martins a few extra seconds to escape the Cooper Hawks that love to try to grab a meal here. Will place these on outer parameters of our colony. Think they ...

Trisha
Your cages look great. should help protect your martins.

Right now we have a pair of Cooper's coming. The female (larger) is the one taking the lead and trying to catch the martins. The male is just hanging out with her around the area kinda following her. But now if a great opportunity the male will go for a martin in a split second. He is kinda followin...