Purple Martin Forum

Tim,
It's been dead around here since the 18th of April. Even though it's only been a couple weeks it seems like an eternity after being treated to a dozen migrants for a week. In that time I have only spotted a pair that appeared to be feeding together. Lynn said their place only had SYF also.
Dave

A shout out to PHL Dave , thought I would let you know I have seen a few Subadult females . They got here last night or yesterday sometime I see at least two of them here this a.m. Have not seen any males yet. Thanks Lynn, I see Dave D. reported some too. I'll continue to keep my eyes peeled. Lower...

I'm finding it very unnerving they haven't crossed over the I-70 corridor yet!
Dave

I have been looking on windy.com and it looks like the Midwest is forecast to have a good southern flow starting Sunday for a couple days. Hopefully some of our friends will be riding on those breezes. I will be keeping my eyes out for them. Maybe the subbies will start pushing their way north.
Dave

Everybody, Please check out your birds and report your sub adults just as soon as they show-up. Once again, I'm afraid I have to place my salvation in the hands of these trouble making rabble rousers. The wonderful group of ASY martins I had at my place for almost a week, seem to have migrated on. S...

Tim, So good to hear from you. The last I saw of the group that was hanging out here was Thursday just before sunset. I play dawnsong morning, mid day and evening and like you said I think I provided refuge for them when they got trapped by that storm. I’m sure the vocals directed them to safety. Th...

After talking to the neighbors, they reported that they saw the Martins yesterday and low and behold they showed up a half hr tonight before sunset. I am almost convinced I may have a start this season. I think I counted 5 asy males and only 1 female. The boys have got some courting to do.
Dave

For sure I am going to lower the house when I get home, if there is no activity. Because I have had about a dozen hanging around since Saturday, and I didn't see them at all yesterday. I assumed they were holed up during that storm we had. Sure hope they're back today temp right now is 50 and sunny....

Gang, I am a little bummed out today, We had that storm move through yesterday, temp in the 30's with mixed precipitation. I got home after work and kept an eye out up til dark, and never did see any martins. I am hoping they were holed up in my site. Didn't want to disturb them. kept an eye open ti...

Well, I had almost given up seeing them today, fearing they had moved on. But they showed up at sundown. Hopefully they got their belly’s full with this 50 degree day, because the forecast is awful tomorrow and the next 2 nights. I never dreamed, whenever I got noticed, that I would have such a grou...

Well most of them jammed into one gourd last night, I saw a couple others go in a compartment of the house. Was a cold night 20's and windy. Before leaving for work I whipped up more scrambled eggs and placed them in the elevated tray. One had exited and was sitting on a porch before I left. Went ho...

Well gang, they are still here. I think 7 spent the night in one gourd, and another in a compartment in the house. Four of them exited after 7:30 this am flew a little and are now sitting on the house. I think 3 are still in the gourd. It's only 26 deg and we have over an inch of snow, 40 is forecas...

Friends, It has been an amazing afternoon. I have literally been swamped by Martins. First there were 3 then a dozen. Right now there are 7. My concern is the temperature is 41 and snow is forecasted. Earlier they were on the roof perches now they are on the porches. I'm guessing maybe it is too ear...

I had just hit the sack last night around 10:30, and as I laid there starting to fall off to sleep, I heard that eerie sound of three short hoots followed by one longer and lower hoooo. The past couple of years, periodically I will hear this haunting sound. Even though at this time of night it wasn'...

Jim,
Is there a trap available that works with your gourds, like the troyer gourds? As aggressively as they are building, sounds like you would catch the male in no time and your problem would be solved. continual nest removal just makes them mad and they may take it out on the martins.
Dave

Kathy,
It would be my guess, you guys down there in Missouri are seeing a little bit of a traffic jamb starting to form. Because it is not very hospitable up here in Iowa yet.
Dave

Dave, Even though I have not had to concern myself with this yet, since I have no martins to worry about. For those of us with a gardening background, I know there are loops of wire available with thermostats incorporated, that are designed to keep containers warm + - 70 deg that are used to start s...

Billie, I am a Senior civil engineering technician by trade and everything I have heard is sound advice. I would recommend a 6 to 8" diameter post hole 30 to 48" inches deep, the deeper the better, to withstand the overturning moment of wind blowing on your setup. If your don't put a cap on the conc...

Sarah, Not to put too fine of a point on it, and I don't mean to sound too much like a ghoul, but the only good sparrow or starling is a deceased one. There are plenty of articles and pictures of how ruthless these birds are to native birds. So I guess what I'm saying is, once you have one of these,...

I have found the more transparent the bag is the better. I hold the bag around the neck of the gourd. lift the trap door with my finger out side the bag. Rock the gourd and be patient. Oh by the way, did I say be patient, because it wouldn't be the first time they both were in there. Now that I am a...