Purple Martin Forum

English House Sparrows are pretty much a sure thing. It's a constant battle to keep them down to an acceptable level and out of Purple Martin (and Eastern Bluebird) housing. I use box and repeating traps, scoped air rifles for HOSP that will hold still and a 20 gauge shotgun for those I missed with ...

I don't know when to expect GCF in Oklahoma but they tend to arrive with the swallows here in Virginia. Makes sense since they're all insectivores. I'm surprised they took over a bluebird box. Instructions call for a 1 3/4 entry hold for Great Crested Flycatchers. The only time I succeeded in attrac...

Each year, my first arrivals get a bit earlier. I actually wish they'd wait a couple of weeks longer for the weather to improve. I may be feeding if the long range forecast for next week is accurate. This is the earliest I've ever had Martins. Six showed up at once where I only saw a couple of early...

For me, it's too early to be putting up snake netting. Rat snakes are lethargic in the cool weather They're hunting rodents around buildings and wood piles after basking in the sun to warm their cold-blooded bodies. They will generally avoid closely mowed open areas where they're subject to predatio...

The skeleton and workmanship look great. What kind of pole and raising system did you choose? Do you have pictures of your house as it's mounted and raised?

Hi, Nanette,

Last of mine fledged Sunday. Still getting lots of visitors and a small group spends the night each night. Not sure if they're my birds or travelers.

Still one pair with young at my place plus a family group that came back to roost tonight. Won't be long before the last of mind depart.

My site is similar, with a corn/bean field on two sides of my property. Martins seem to love it. Slivers of corn stalk are their primary nest material at my place.

Kelly, your Barnies won't spend the night on a shelf. Their nest will probably be almost complete before a bird spends the night. You can learn a lot at http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/per/b4.htm in addition to the usual bird ID sites.

Take care,

Tree

See http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47546 for an inexpensive but adequate system. The output is composite video so you need a VCR with an RCA input jack. I bought one when it was on sale for 1/3 off to try to modify into a nestcam. It won't focus in close enough for ...

For anyone who doesn't have Excel on their computer, check out OpenOffice.org. This is open source software that is similar to Microsoft Office. ... save the Project Martinwatch file to your computer, then open the Open Office spreadsheet. Go under file, open, and select the Project Martinwatch fil...

Missouri Conservationist? http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2006/03/10.htm

Jack, that happens when some of us embed large images from another site into a post. It avoids the size restrictions on photos attached from within the forum. We can post larger, higher quality photos but it does mess up the forum's format a bit. Take care, Tree

Hi, Jeanne, With a budget of 'under $500,' don't limit yourself. Here are my opinions. First, get to know binoculars. If there's a birding club or group around, drop in on a field trip. Ask to look through the binoculars others use. Sombody carrying Swarovski? Try them! Amazing! Swarovskis fit perfe...

Although she won't remove snakes from nets or euthanize trapped House Sparrows, my wife is there for nest checks and helps setting up the rigs every spring. Cleaning and maintenance are my chores.

I read .. we should put some white pine needles in our bluebird houses for our overwintering bluebird friends. ...wondering what everyone thought. Glenn, providing some insulating bedding and plugging vent holes/spaces provides a roosting place in cold inclement weather. See http://www.bestofbbml.a...

I never had the good fortune to see a large Purple Martin roost. I do know that a hundred or so mostly HY Martins make a racket at night. The noise varied from relatively quiet cackles to the whole tree filled with sound, then quieting down again. Personally, I liked the Martins' sounds but I can un...

Hello forum people! I just was wondering if anybody would have pictures of their house and nest compartments at the end of the season. I was thinking if I could copy what it looked like after the season I might be able to make a martin think martins nested here. Ann, try getting a couple of used ne...

Or you're getting visitors on their way south from colonies farther north, Carl. Either way, isn't it great to see them for a bit longer? I still have two active nests, one due to fledge about now and the other due on 2 or 3 August. Then it's going to get way too quiet around here. I expect small gr...

Add my condolences for your loss, Jayne. Glad to hear your Martin colony had a good year. If records show that nests are well past the expected fledge date, I would lower the housing and check things out. I had parents feed fledglings in my housing. The youngsters fledged but kept coming back. This ...