Purple Martin Forum

I had a house sparrow come over from a farm and nest in box that tree swallows take each year.I have been throwing out h.s. nest and eggs each time they nest.I check this box each month because its 19 miles away.I don't want too let the h.s. fledge.Next time I will needle person h.s. eggs let nest i...

About 2 weeks ago at 8 p. m. I walked under the Martin gourd rack.There was a male Martin chirping softly in the gourd. If I can hear a Martin in the gourd Im sure a great horned owl can hear the chirping 100 maybe even 200 yards away. He doesnt know when too shut up.Something like me. Good day.

I agree with the Old Wildlife Biologist.

I have tried for about 30 years to get barn owls. I have a Martin colony close too the barn. If I got barn owls I would put up owl guards on the gourds. Barn owls are more endangered than martins.

Some one mentioned that h.s. male has a stronger urge to nest than too food sources.I put up a nest box trap in barn several times .More than enough time to trap them. Not even 1 time did I catch a h.s.

I agree with you bird brain that I won't catch all the house sparrows. I could ask the farmer I have bird housing on to shoot house sparrows with bird shoot. Its too dangerous house a 22.

I have caught less sparrows each year. There still a few around that Im not catching. There the ones causing the problem.

Sparrows aren't controlled on a farm 200 yards away. I think these house sparrows cause a problem why Im not getting bluebirds. I hope they don't start hitting my martins. We can't control other people. Appreciate any help.

Would clutter in repeating sparrow trap help attract h.s. more than just feed?

Gray fox would like to try brunt dogs trap.

I am making sense. If I am talking about coexist do you think I won't to kill them. Im not going to attract them to kill . I guess it doesn't really matter .Ive tried for about thirty years to get them my chances aren't good.There endangered.The great horned owl is the one I would kill if I was in f...

I open barn owl box every year trying to get them.

Dave T would like to try brunt dogs trap?

adult house sparrows most of the time avoid the traps.There the ones killing blue birds and tree swallows. So far they haven't attacked the nesting martins.

Is there a chance they can coexist?

Even a few house sparrows around are destroying blue birds and tree swallows and keeping them from nesting. Here at home I can maintain total control. I don't have cattle feed etc. around. No other buildings like the farmer has at the martin and blue bird tree swallow location up the road. I would l...

I see barn owls eat a small number of birds. If a Martin colony were close they probably would hit the Martins because thats the close and most available food. Nature adapts too the situation. Barn owl numbers are down and its a shame. I have martins and it took me 29 years to get them.I would be pu...

I have been trying too attract barn owls for about 30 years in our barn. I hear its some what like purple martins. Its up too them.Any suggestions?

A great horned owl probably couldn't reach back far enough to pull martins out of the nest . The owl could shake house or gourd all he wants he isn't going to get martins if they would stay put. Simple to us unfortunately not martins. I question if a Martin can't see out of gourd or even stationary ...

I had 44 martins fledge at my home site this year. Im in my 3rd year. Maybe thats some of the reason it took me 29 years to get martins. I had tree swallow interference . Now the bluebirds take a box 25 feet from the Martin rack. It seems the tree swallows wont the Martin rack. If they can't have it...