Search found 405 matches
- Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:06 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Another swallow missing !!
- Replies: 17
- Views: 12636
Our Barn Swallows always show up before the Martins and I haven't seen even one Barny yet. We usually have some Ruby Throats by now as well (I have the feeder out) but haven't seen them either. It is a strange year. I did notice on the hummingbird website that they have been reported moving my way (...
- Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:36 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Central Texas (Georgetown) Purple Martins
- Replies: 5
- Views: 5606
- Wed Feb 07, 2007 10:12 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Happy Ending to a Partial Disaster
- Replies: 7
- Views: 7273
Robin, I am also one of the fortunate ones who had birds return last season after a snake got all of my chicks the year before. It was my first brood ever and they were all healthy at 11 days old. Somehow the snake got PAST our snake guard. It happened toward the end of the season and all the other ...
- Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:52 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: FAT BAKER'S DOZEN
- Replies: 9
- Views: 10591
Wonderful news Tony! I'm looking forward to my first ever ASY's to return this year. It is very exciting. I know it can happen any time, especially with the temperatures they are predicting this week and all the reports coming in of birds arriving. Dave S. is only a few miles from me and one of his ...
- Wed Jan 31, 2007 7:10 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: We don't need no stinking crickets!
- Replies: 12
- Views: 11439
- Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:45 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Do you keep a journal?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 14634
Hi Dave, YES I have kept a journal since my first year trying to attract Martins (4 years ago). It is very interesting and informative to go back and read the entries. I am a very talkative person so my journal tends to be wordy as well :-). It is more like a Martin Diary. I often laugh at some of t...
- Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:53 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Purple Martins still nesting in TX?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 6907
Sheryl, We have a late nesting pair with four little ones. They should fledge in about a week. They certainly are drawing a LOT of martins to our site. Today I tried counting the ones ON the house and there were at least 50! It is incredble to see so many hanging around. I hope this is a good sign t...
- Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:03 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: House full of mites
- Replies: 10
- Views: 11429
Lanell is correct. We just caught our second snake this morning in the netting on our martin pole. We did experience the loss of an entire 11 day old brood of 6 nestlings and their mom last year when a huge rat snake crawled up the pole and settled into their gourd. We were fortunate enough to catch...
- Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:06 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: several snakes caught in netting
- Replies: 3
- Views: 3694
I hear you. We've seen three rat snakes in 4 days. One got into a barn swallow nest, killed the mother and ate the eggs. Another was in our yard and I posted a picture of one we caught in our netting if you haven't seen it. It was a biggie - about 5' long. I too appreciate all the help from Steve as...
- Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:40 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Snake Netting Works!
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4898
The one improvement I want to make Steve is adding the 1/4" mesh. We thought we found it at the farm supply, even measured it there and it seemed to be 1/4". But when we added it with the 1/2" to make the trap it didn't look any different! So I will be searching for it for next year. I am so thankfu...
- Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:43 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Snake Netting Works!
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4898
- Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:52 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Snake Netting Works!
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4898
Snake Netting Works!
We lost a clutch of barn swallow eggs a few days ago to a rat snake that managed to crawl up the wall of our house and get into the nest. This morning my husband noticed another snake caught in the netting we put on our martin pole at the beginning of the season. First one we've caught but am I ever...
- Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:02 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Age and about ready it seems
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1962
Dick, I have a nest that will be 28 days old tomorrow. I'm watching and hoping I don't miss the coming out :-). Since this will be my first brood to fledge, I too am curious about what will take place. I see little heads right inside the tunnel entrance to the horizontal gourd, but they have not yet...
- Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:17 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Newbie Post
- Replies: 15
- Views: 12508
Hello Texflats, Re the pellet gun, yes definitely get a scope. I have an air rifle, which I love, with a good scope on it and I've finally gotten to the point that I can get those killers every time. I am definitely no marksman so I am proud of what I have accomplished :-). I had several attacks by ...
- Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:54 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: There is a purple martin nest above the entrance to my house
- Replies: 10
- Views: 12389
Itzelm, I live up in Georgetown and we have a lot of barn swallows here. Right now there are four nests under the eaves of our house in various places. Lanell is right when she says just leave them alone. They do quite well on their own. They are darling birds. They get used to people coming and goi...
- Fri May 26, 2006 9:29 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: CONGRATULATIONS EMIL
- Replies: 18
- Views: 13824
- Thu May 18, 2006 11:48 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Have you seen this at your site?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 4153
- Fri May 12, 2006 9:21 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Snake invasion-Martins left but still pass by: Please help
- Replies: 10
- Views: 7387
Our first year we had only a house. Although we had many visitors, none stayed. The second year we added four gourds on the bottom of the house and had a lot more activity. The one pair that stayed chose a gourd. This year they are also in the gourds. So far none in the house. I'm thinking I may add...
- Thu May 11, 2006 8:09 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Snake invasion-Martins left but still pass by: Please help
- Replies: 10
- Views: 7387
Markjohn, I am so very sorry about your loss. It is devastating to lose your martins like that. I lost my one and only nest of six 10 day old babies and their mother last year to a rat snake. It was our second year trying and our first to have martins. So I know what you are feeling right now. All I...
- Thu May 11, 2006 10:00 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Not Martins - Barn Swallows
- Replies: 19
- Views: 15911
We have two nests of the adorable Barn Swallows currently at our home. In all honesty, we did nothing to attract them so I can only tell you what they are attracted to. Our house (along with several others in the area) has a tall, large covered front and back porch made out of TX limestone (typical ...