Purple Martin Forum

Maybe you need to get some decoy martins from the PMCA store? I've heard the hawks will go for the slowest birds when attacking a house. So, while it swoops down to get the decoy, the live ones can escape.

Yeah! One less nasty starling in this world. This may sound sick, but I get a thrill out of watching them go to sleep after giving them a shot of engine starting fluid after trapping them.

OK, I put my owl guards on today. When my PMs returned, they kinda freaked out and hovered and voiced their disapproval. But, they eventually, figured out how to get through and all bedded down in their respective compartments. They all went to bed late, but they went to bed. I was about to go out a...

Thanks Kent. That makes perfect sense. Guess I just didn't take my thought process far enough. So, I'll put all my owl guards on this afternoon while all my PMs are out feeding. I'm determined to have success this year. I've put a definite dent in my starling and sparrow population along with all SR...

On the topic of owl guards: is an owl guard still necessary when you have expanded compartments? Seems as though if the PM's were in the back portion of the compartment, an owl would not be able to reach them. Do the parents sleep in the forward section and the nest with the babies in the back? If t...

I too am seeing large flocks of cedar waxwings. I love them. They seem to like the berries in one of my bushes. It would be fine with me if they chose to stay. ;v))

I have all of mine open even though I currently only have one adult male resident. I DO have to clean out a couple of the compartments of sparrow nest daily though. And I currently have one house on a telescoping pole that I don't raise. It has two traps set and I catch a sparrow almost daily. Today...

I used the pool noodles this year. But those pesky HOSP peck at them until they can knock them out. Curses on them! I may have to try the clothespins next. I only have one adult male that resides in one of my three houses at this point. Comes in at exactly 7:40 every evening. So bizarre....it's like...

A little over a week ago, I saw three martins flying around over my house. A couple days later, I saw five. The next day, two actually landed on one of my houses, but did not spend the night (that I know of). Now, the last few days, I haven't seen any anywhere. We've recently had lots of extremely w...

I've trapped two in my nest traps in the last few days. I have a large plastic bucket that pretzels came in that has a screw on top. I just dump them in the bucket and give them a couple of squirts of engine starting fluid. They go right to sleep. But leave them in there a little while. I had one th...

Thanks Chris. I'm not proud; I'll accept charity martins. ;v))

rrmartin, I wonder why I haven't seen any. We live fairly close together. I am the person who brought you the orphaned baby martin last season. My houses have been up and ready for a couple of weeks, but haven't even seen a hint of a martin. So, my plan is to trap as many sparrows and starlings as I...

I set a sparrow trap this morning. A couple of hours later, I could hear something rattling around in the house, and the red door was down. Lowered the house and was so excited to see it was a starling. So, I removed the trap and laid it on the ground to run to the garage and get the engine cleaner ...

No fair! How come you folks in Round Rock and Hutton have martins? I live in Pflugerville, practically between you guys, and I haven't seen one. I want my martins back too!

Thanks for the tips all. I was just about to order one of the PMCA's new T-shirts. So, now I can order the traction tape at the same time.

I'm officially jealous of you both.
I'm sitting here right now, staring at my three unoccupied Trio houses and my dawnsong CD is playing. Still nothing. The suspense is killing me!
Was really hoping they would arrive for me to see them this weekend before going back to work tomorrow.

I have enlarged the compartments in all my Trio houses for this season. My question for all you experts is: should I put sub flooring only in the rear portion to encourage the nest building in the back? Will the martins just naturally know to nest in the back? Or, should I put the sub flooring in bo...

Louise, I have not had TOO much of a problem with starlings (had one pair last year and once I shot one with my air gun, the other one left), but the sparrow population is thriving. I got so weary of pulling out their nests that I purchased a couple of traps toward the end of the season after my fle...

Is it best to start out the season with regular round entrances and then change to crescents after the eggs are laid? Or, to start with the crescents from the beginning?

My husband and I went over to Highland Mall in Austin a couple of weeks ago after seeing a story about it on the evening news. What an amazing sight to see. Was our first roost watch and we couldn't believe our eyes. Got pooped on 3 times and had to wash my car when I got home, but it was well worth...