Purple Martin Forum

Hi Susan

I do have a picture but I cannot get it loaded. If you want to send me your number and I can text you a picture.

Sandy A.

Hi Brent When we put in a pole we put the pvc over the bottom pole section 5’, 6” pvc before we add the 2nd section of the pole. You will have to put the rope cleat or cable above the pvc for lowering. We have the 2” square pole 16 unit gourd rack. There will be some extra space between the pole and...

Hi Brent
I live in central Texas and we used to get rat snakes constantly stuck in the netting. So we decided to put 5’ of pvc pipe on all our poles never had a problem with any ground predator after that. Works great!
Good luck this season!
Sandy

Thanks for the reply Whippy I sent you an email. Lockhart Taylor —-this place was always a great place for Martins. I hate that we are moving but things are changing in our quiet town. Makes me sad. You may get an overload of MARTINS this year. I have been sick and just went out to feed my dog and s...

Those are all great ideas that I will need to look into.
I definitely want it to be someone who will put up the effort to protect and enjoy the martins.
Gosh if the Purple Martins fly around the yard for a week looking for their homes that will break my heart.

That’s a good idea Tom. Thank you. I did not even think of it.

This is such a difficult time for me this year. I have been a Martin landlord for more than 25 years, last year I had 92 pair. We have sold our place and are having to move. I will not be hosting Purple Martins this year. I have so much housing and poles I do not know what to do with it all. I will ...

After a 3 hour rest my lady made a safe freedom flight back into the colony yay

Hello I need some advice and opinions. I have a large colony with 86 pair. This morning I found an adult female martin on the ground she had been malled by numerous males. She cannot fly. I have put her in a safe spot and let her rest for about an hour and half and she still cannot fly. I put some c...

Hi Alfie I live in Maxwell, between Lockhart and San Marcos. I have been a landlord for over 20 years my first Martin showed up last year on February 8. I had 88 pairs last year it was a good year. Good luck to you sounds like you have a good start with the sparrow traps and owl guards. You may need...

Hi Sparky--- I am in Maxwell close to Lockhart and I have close to 50 martins. Yesterday I noticed a couple of males taking leaves off the ground into their gourds. I still have gourds available. Most of them arrived in February which was very early for me to have that many so soon. Hopefully you wi...

Hey Robin--I am sorry to hear about your martin. :cry: We have shrikes in our yard and yes they will attack the martins. We have never lost any adult martins to them but we lost mockingbird babies, field sparrow babies and a couple of martin babies that were pushed out of the gourds and were not abl...

Hi Barry-- I plan on purchasing one this year. I hope it works. I have a Great Horned Owl that will get any martins that stay on the proch or fledgings that refuse to return to the nest and roost overnight in the trees. I cannot answer it now but by the end of this season I will know for sure. Hopef...

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers. We are slowly getting everything back on track. We will soon start rebuilding a house. As far as the Purple Martins, well they are arriving daily I am up to 12 or 13 already. :eek: Just crazy I don't think I have ever had so many so early. Of course the...

Yeah Peggy glad she is not alone anymore. :grin: Maybe you will have more by next week. Just in the last week I have had 12 more arrive, they have been singing and pairing up and fighting for spots already. I cannot believe it. I don't think I have ever had this many by February 17. Hope you have an...

Steve, Thanks for your kind words, I now you had bad weather last year that caused you some trouble. Its amazing how it seems we have such a drought and then get all the rain at once. Hope things are going well for you this year you deserve it. Kathy, Laverne and Dave, Thank you for your thoughts an...

I must say that our sweet lady brightened my day today with her arrival and chirping, more then I thought could happen. Tuesday night while the storms were happening we lost our whole roof and a place to live after receiving more then 9 inches of rain and about 4 inches of rain in our house after th...

Hi Linda---take good care of your 1 pair and 6 eggs and you will have plenty more in the years to come. :) If you ever have problems just ask for help someone on here will give you the correct advice. I still have 253 babies that are alive, so I have to look at the good. Lost another fledging last n...

Hi Chriscreole-- The volunteer at the wildlife center was clueless about Purple Martins which was scary. You are doing the right thing by putting them back in the nest. They will not fledge from the ground or will the parents feed them on the ground. I had to take 5 more fledgings to them this morni...

Hi Sheryle, I felt the exact same way yesterday....So many jumpers 8 in the last few days. I have hand feed the just feathered ones they will readily take the crickets and scrambled eggs. I have had 5 that were about 4 to 5 days from being able to successfully fledge that would not eat from me, so I...