Purple Martin Forum

Thank you Andrew. Sorry for the time lag. The good news is that there are 3-4 Martins using the 12 unit Trio. I don't know if that's pairs or not. I'll see this Spring. I was informed by Dr. Boyd, that he ejects Sparrows and Starlings but fell behind this past season due to the construction of the b...

Thanks for replying Sharon. I will use the PMCA educational material to explain the research behind location and housing types. Thank goodness it's available. I will look at it again, thanks for the reminder. And good luck to you. G. Saner, the fifth photo shows a tree to the left that is next to th...

Our city has opened a new wetland area due to a bypass going through the old one. Ten plus years of lawsuits and what not, it is what it is. Please look at the photos and offer your advice on how best to approach Dr. Boyd on allowing me to do something about the Purple Martin housing at the new wetl...

I've never heard of Cardinals nesting like this. Doves and Robins are doing this all the time. Just do a search for them nesting on garage door openers. The interesting part is the young leaving the nest, hope the door is open.

Seems that many visiting should net you some nesting pairs. Hang in there.

Thanks Dan, I always watch for your scout report. I usually follow you by a week. I bought the spar-o-door and built a box around it. Catches a fair amount of HOSP's. The birdhouse in the picture is a Troyer Starling Trap. I put it up this year using a tri-tel pole. Makes it easy to raise and lower....

Emil beat me to it. Even the dumbest dog would learn after one time. Heck, it would only take me one time!

Another option is to use a fence charger. I believe Emil uses that method on his poles. You never have to free any snakes or worry about any other ground predator.

City ordinances prohibit that method for me.

Steve has posted photos from time to time.
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... ke+netting

The trees are in the neighbors yard and they like the tree. Westar comes through on a 5 year rotation. The branches are more in the cable and phone lines than the power line. Might be a couple of years before they return. If they return. The little cedar get trimmed once the martins leave. I take ab...

Hi Jack , I believe that's a Mourning Dove coming in. I did see the feathers of 2 doves and the carcass of another in my yard earlier this spring. My colony hasn't been hit by the hawks but they are here. This is my 8th year of hosting martins, it took 4 years to get my first pair. Matt: Thanks, wo...

Trees and Trees. Still my best season, seven pair and two nest to go. In two weeks it will get quiet around here.

The older I get the more I think I'm going to miss out on some great discoveries. Interesting stuff.

25+ fledglings in the Blaine Trap. This is the time to eliminate them for next year.

Congratulations! It's a great feeling seeing that first nest of eggs and going through the season. Here's hoping you get as many martins as you want.

I built a tray that sits on top of my shed to hold nesting material. There are several cats that use my raised bed garden as a litter box that it makes me nervous to have the martins on the ground. City ordinances don't matter much when it comes to all the neighbors cats.

Welcome to the forum. I'd say that it will be a struggle to attract martins. Since it looks like your neighbors are behind those pines it doesn't look like you can take out the House Sparrows and Starlings. Those two species will be attracted to the area. As a guide, look to what the PMCA says. Tree...

The folks here are correct. Ideally you want as open as you can get. But don't let that stop you from trying.

Thanks for sharing, great shots!

I've had starlings breaching the tunneled clinger entrances this year. I've switched out those that have been breached and replaced them with the wing entrapment clinger tunnels. Now the starlings are going for the trap house. This is the first year my SREH have been breached. And like Stan said wit...