Purple Martin Forum

Thanks for the replies. We a couple of nights in the low 20s but no frozen precip, thank goodness. Today is beautiful and I just saw my little guy at my gourds! So... maybe he is back to stay!!

I just wanted to know if anyone has ever known chimes to bother a Martin colony. We live on a large farm; therefore, I have no close neighbors. The beautiful chimes were given to me as memorial to my Mom who passed away this past December due to Covid. She was 99 years old. So when I hear them, I do...

I have placed wind chimes in my yard for the first time. I have seen my first scout but he has not returned for the past to days. Will the wind chimes keep the birds from returning to my colony?

I appreciate the suggestions. I wonder if fighting in the gourds might be the cause. I didn't realize they can turn on each other so violently until I saw the video on this site showing the fight between a parent bird and an intruding adult!! WOW!! As to nest checks, I'm at a disadvantage there. I d...

thank you. we all hate to lose any of them!

As I cleaned out my 32 Nature Line gourds this year, I found 2 dead adults in 2 different gourds. They had not made nests. The other 30 gourds had been occupied and had produced many fledglings. Last year, I changed all my gourds from round entrances to crescent entrances. I don't regret this decisi...

I do not have tunnels. I think the mud dam is what I'm seeing. Thanks

Thanks. I thought it was best to clean them completely, so thanks for affirming that. The dirt in the gourd is, indeed, dirt. They seem to make a mud type base. Some do it and some don't. I've noticed this over the years but last year, I had more gourds that had this type of nest. Thankfully, I no l...

Thanks. I thought it was best to clean them completely, so thanks for affirming that. The dirt in the gourd is, indeed, dirt. They seem to make a mud type base. Some do it and some don't. I've noticed this over the years but last year, I had more gourds that had this type of nest. Thankfully, I no l...

As I cleaned out half of my 30 Nature Line gourds yesterday, I noticed that each one had a layer of dirt on the floor of the cavity that, together with the nesting material, came up to the inside opening of the crescent entrance. I'm assuming this makes it easier for the birds to come and go. As I c...

I'm afraid a Martin or a fledgling might accidentally get caught in it. Anyone every have that happen?!?

I'm afraid a Martin or a fledgling might accidentally get caught in it. Anyone every have that happen?!?

Thank you. Your answer about the snakes' abilities to bypass the guards helps me better understand their capabilities. Sorry I can't provide a picture. My guard is made of 4-sided metal plates (I called flanges) which widen out as they angle down and away from the wooden pole. This provides a hollow...

I have metal flange snake guards with netting on each of my three poles. They flange out from the pole and the netting is within the flange. One of guards is about 3 1/2 feet off the ground and the other two are about 5 feet off the ground. Last year a snake was long enough to go over the 3 1/2 foot...

Thank you all for the great advice you gave when I posted under the subject "they are not staying." I was very concerned about my new SREH entrances. Your suggesting that I be patient paid off. They are back and they are staying!! The starlings are frustrated but they are not getting into ...

Thank you all for the great advice. Your suggesting that I be patient paid off. They are back and they are staying!! The starlings are frustrated but they are not getting into any gourds. When I changed my entrances before the season began, I did add porches onto many of the SREH entrances that I ha...

Thanks for the replies I hoped I would get!! I'll be patient and let nature take its course.

For many years, I have had a thriving colony of 30 Natureline gourds with round holes. However, each year more and more starlings took over gourds, killing several martins. This year I changed all entrances to crescent holes. Last week, 2 males and 1 female arrived at my site. This is the normal tim...

They did make crescent entrances years ago. I tried them and the Martins seemed resistant so I caved and put the round holes back on. Now I have no choice but to try them again because the starlings are taking over. I, too, need to do some repair work on them so next season, I'll reinforce the crack...

That's the response I was hoping to get! thanks