Purple Martin Forum

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 (...

Margie,
I have left you a personal message.
Sharon

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 ...

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 ...

Linda,
Those are awesome and beautiful pictures of the Blue Bird. That really encourages me to take steps to help our other birds out besides the Martins (when they arrive). Thank you so much for sharing!
Sharon

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

I'm going to try and attach a couple of pictures of the snake.
Sharon

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

Dick,
I am a member also and haven't received mine. Just hang tight, it WILL arrive in TX.
Sharon

BEAUTIFUL picture Ron!
Sharon

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...

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...

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 ...