Purple Martin Forum

I wanted to wish all of you a prosperous season! SHARON! I hope you pull in some nesters.

Here is a shot a ran across of one of the males in my colony. This was taken a couple of weeks ago. He was perched on my fence watching his partner gather some nesting material. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7605/26309831643_486869d17a_o.jpg A male Purple Martin by Chuck Rose , on Flickr

I did another nest check yesterday, and I am up to seven nests with eggs! I counted a total of thirty six eggs so far. Yay! I have twelve completed nests, so hopefully next check will reveal more eggs in new nests! Wishing everyone a successful season this year.

Thanks for the kind words everyone! I did a nest check on Sunday, and I have twelve nests so far! Gourd A has 6 eggs. Gourd J had 1! I hope I fill up this year!

And a few more!

Here are a few more images:

Hi Everyone! I had the chance to get out and get some decent photos of the Purple Martin activity at my colony this morning. Nest building is actively under way right now! It is funny watching the females try to stuff the huge sticks into the small gourd openings. They manage to get it done though! ...

I don't know if you have a repeating trap, like the Blaine's trap, or not, but I used some of their nesting material as bait. I put some of it in the trap, and below it, too. I placed the trap down below the gourd rack, where they could see it! I had them, the male and female, trying to build in two...

Yes, you still have time! I am in north Mississippi, and I got my first nesting pair in May of 2013. But regardless of whether or not you get a nesting pair this year, leave up your housing. Martins in your area will check it out when they start moving south again. Have you used the dawn song record...

Sharon,

I want you to know I am pulling for you to get your first nesting martins this season! Best of luck to you. I have a ton of photos from this season that I need to sit down and go through.

That's great about the eggs! I also did a check yesterday, and one of my gourds had 4 eggs already!!! I was completely surprised by that finding. It is the earliest I have ever had eggs. I have had to be active with controlling HOSP this year. Fortunately, I have been winning the battle.

Nice photos! I am starting to forget what the sunshine looks like here! We've had clouds and rain all week. At least there have been enough breaks in the rain for my martins to get out and feed! I am looking forward to getting out and also taking some photos soon I hope.

Chuck --- I'm sure you were surprised,,,,,, two weeks early.... That's wild.. Have a good day.. :wink: Dave I had a feeling I would get some early this year. We've had a lot of bugs so far, and it has been a mild winter in my area. It looks like the milder weather is going to last through mid March...

Beautiful Steve! You have done the Purple Martin species a great service!

taxidermy lady wrote:Super Duper! Love your photos too!

Hi Sharon! Thank you! I wish you great success this year.

The first ASY male showed up at my site on Saturday Feb 27th of this year. That is a full two weeks earlier than last year! He has since paired up with an ASY female, and they have been staying in Gourd D. I am pleased the Purple Martins are back. :grin: I wish all of you a prosperous year! I'll pos...

Yay! Glad to hear your martins finally arrived!

It seems like it depends on where you look. I've seen several reports of martins a week or two earlier than last season too. Either way, I think many will arrive this week with the southerly flow and warmer temps. Here in N. MS, I'm already seeing a bunch of flying insect activity too (flies, bees, ...

I wish you the best at the new location, Tony. I was just wondering if you had gotten any returning martins yet.

Yes, I actually like the look and feel of the new format more than the previous one. In the meantime, I am now in "eyes to the sky" mode looking for that first Purple Martin to arrive here at my site!