Purple Martin Forum

Mother nature is dishing it out once again in Western PA. (as usual) Since mid March temperatures have been too cold for my lone Martin Buddy to feed, so he has relied on my services for the most part. Finally another male joined him on the 25th and we had a few borderline days for them to feed. A s...

Yesterday evening about 7:15 Buddy swooped in for the night. But low and behold a second Martin was in the sky celebrating his arrival. He checked out his gourd on the top of the neighboring Gemini Rack and then took to the sky and called out loudly and fed until almost dark. So Buddy is no longer a...

It's been a rough week for Martins in Western PA. A solid week of cold temperatures. We have had lows in the teens a few times with highs in the 30s. Good old Buddy is doing fine but he's been here solo in this cold for way too long. He's like a pet to me and my wife at this point. He has gotten use...

Sugarcreek, It's easy to tell them apart when there is only one there for a few weeks and he always returns to the same gourd and rack. lol Then there are the few others that arrive next to their particular spots. one on the front of the T-14 that keeps 2 females, and one aggressive one to the front...

I bumped this thread up because this was the year "Buddy" first made his appearance at my site as a SY sub adult. The '"dethroning" occurred in the same gourd he has faithfully returned to each year. (It's got a SE facing pond view) Thought some might find it interesting because ...

This morning Buddy is quiet but appears healthy. He ate a good dozen crickets early this morning. Weather was in the upper 20s but sunny. Today we should have sunshine and almost 50 here. Low of 35 so the next few days will be mild then warmer. I attached a photo of him this morning sitting on his s...

Well good old Buddy ate a bunch of crickets in the snow and heavy NW winds today. Thought I saw him yesterday in the rain but couldn't confirm as I had to leave for the day. A whistle and a knock on his post today brought him out to celebrate another arrival. He almost touched my hand as he flew all...

Took me 28 years and I may have a more suitable location. The weather up in your area tends to kill off populations of Martins before they can really get going. With that said anything is possible. I had a rough go of it but now with supplemental feeding folks in my area can get them in their first ...

Thinking the John Dailey version may have a funnel on the cap that runs down into a large cavity lol

Up here in the north it seems the ventilation to prevent condensation and dampness is the main need for venting and these vented caps are very helpful. A Troyer horizontal gets real bad up here if it's not vented well. So 2 elbows in the back and a vented cap are on all mine. I have bought several e...

I too use the Daisy 880 and 901 guns for sparrows and starlings.. Either the basic scope or a better one will do. 5-6 pumps at 10-20 yards does the trick. Use the H&N Barracuda in my opinion for precise accuracy. I rarely miss once sighted in. Not to loud either. Same lack of success and long te...

ASY --- but spent the prior summer trying to attract a female at my site. Just couldn't get one to stay as a SY.

Yes I have used them. The good thing about them is they provide a bit more space inside the chamber as they are much thinner than the heavy wood ones. They are also durable and can last many years. I think they are well worth purchasing. They are a bit slippery so something to add traction by the en...

Thanks for your replies. I have gone through almost 7000 crickets amd about 10lbs of freeze dried mealworms this year. Lost a minimal amount of birds earlier in the season compared to other sites which had heavy losses. I mix mealworms with Nekton II powder to boost nutrition. I have written about t...

Remember when you would drive the highway and the front of your car would get splattered with insects? Remember when you would have to take your summer meal indoors because of bugs landing on your food? Well in PA right now that is not a problem. The problem is there are not enough insects for the M...

Seems most in the area here have a similar problem with Robins protecting the feeder. I have two that are a PIA at the bed and breakfast. They especially don't let the bluebirds near the feeder. Seems eventually everyone gets what they need to eat however. It's impossible to keep a hundred hungry Ma...

Just when you think you will have a non-kill year in this area it strikes..... By Wednesday the accumulation of days of 40 degree weather and cold rain and snow will take it's toll once again. Seems every year this happens. It appeared this year we would escape it. February was better weather for Ma...

Buddy sure is popular. Thanks all. He spent most of the day resting up in his gourd yesterday. I had to knock on the pole to get him out to eat. temperature never made it to 50 degrees. I would never have known he was there had I not witnessed him coming in. This morning I went out after the cold ra...

Yes that gloomy feeling is completely gone!

Thinking you all helped to wish him back again! Amazing bird!

Well... better late then never! It was 36 degrees out this morning but I still put the jacket and hat on and had coffee out on the porch anyway. Was thinking Buddy still may have a chance to come in this year. Yesterday was a great day to migrate. Just about the time I was thinking it was March 24th...