Purple Martin Forum

Hi Danny,

Yes, I love this time of year! I am fairly confident I will have another nesting pair of bluebirds this season. They really like my Purple Martin housing too, but they can't get in the gourds. It's like they know the martins will be back soon too.

Not my martins, but Bluebirds! I've had steady activity for the past several days, so I think I'll have them nesting this year. HOSP are being actively controlled, so I am pleased to see the early activity from the Eastern Bluebirds this season. I've had them nest every year since 2011. I hope the t...

I've been getting everything ready for my martins to return in about 5 or six weeks. I'm thrilled to be heading into the new season! Best of luck to everyone this year.

I'm pleased to see them coming in! I'll be expecting mine in about 8-10 weeks.

Very nice new look!

Yeah, I'm still seeing a few visitors too. They have been stopping by every morning and perching on the top perch. Then they'll fly off for a bit and come back, and then they leave. Mostly SY birds. I guess I'll leave my rack up through August, and then I'll take it down and clean everything, and st...

Chuck I don't know about lake Arkabutla , but the sticky post at top of page says there is active roost at Memphis Tn, Shelby county. Needing someone to locate roost. Isn't this fairly close to you? I doubt I'll be able to look for the Memphis Roost. I was wondering about Arkabutla, since I spend m...

The local population in my area has thinned out substantially with only a few martins left. Morning visitations are over now at my site. I occasionally hear a high altitude chortle or two now and then, but that is it.

Does anyone here know if they roost at lake Arkabutla in N. M.S. ?

Well, My season is officially over! All nestlings have fledged. It was an awesome season. The new rack I built held up very well (through some pretty rough weather too). I look forward to next year. I wish all of you the best, and I hope your next season will be great. Here is one shot from last wee...

They may be out and about. My birds had been getting kinda thin here too, except for one or two watching the racks. But this AM there was about 60+ of them all over making lotsa noise. A whole lotta cheepin going on! They may come back for another visit. Yes, same thing here, It's getting very quie...

It does concern me to hear about large scale negative impacts on birds etc. It is odd for so many birds to abandon at once. Undoubtedly though it may be tied to some negative impact by humans. :wink: Maybe it could have been some sort of weather event, or a massive, sudden decline in food supply. Of...

A friend asked the question / Does the adult martins feeding the young have a special ability to carry more than one feeding (one bug or whatever) to the young. His observation suggest many trips if only one feeding at a time. I could not answer his question. I can attest to the fact martin season ...

A friend asked the question / Does the adult martins feeding the young have a special ability to carry more than one feeding (one bug or whatever) to the young. His observation suggest many trips if only one feeding at a time. I could not answer his question. I can attest to the fact martin season ...

Chris B wrote:Isn't it a little early for them to be roosting at the north MS, AL, south TN latitude?

I don't think it's that early. 7 out of 8pairs at my housing have fledged their babies and are no longer returning at night, so they are gathering somewhere.

Thanks for posting your 2015 summary of your purple martin season. So happy you had a great year. Since you are now well established how big do you plan to go? Just wondering cause it sort of looks like you might live in town? Good luck with your last fledglings. _____ Jody I live in a suburb. Nume...

I think this is my favorite photo of the season:

I have four martins left to fledge (any day now). This was a great season for me and my martins. I ended up with eight mating pairs, and they laid a total of 46 eggs. From those eggs, 36 hatched and fledged (or will fledge). 8) I'm sad to know they will be leaving for the pre-migratory roosts soon, ...

I have no doubt it's primarily based on individual vocalization. Each fledgling has its own vocal fingerprint. I can hear some of the differences myself at my little band of martins.

I've wondered if a bright strobe light (like a camera flash) rigged to go off, in the direction of the owl, when the owl gets too close to the housing would startle it? Keeping a spot light on is constant lighting, so the owl would become accustomed to it. Short answer - "No - it doesn't work". Go ...

I've wondered if a bright strobe light (like a camera flash) rigged to go off, in the direction of the owl, when the owl gets too close to the housing would startle it? Keeping a spot light on is constant lighting, so the owl would become accustomed to it.