Purple Martin Forum

has anyone had issues with finding dead scouts or subs after this bad weather in Ohio lately? I had 7 PM's that have been here a couple weeks or so, and now I found 4 dead in the housing and one on my lawn below the house that are dead. Is this definitely a weather thing since they haven't been able...

I have the pole guards on. I am just wondering about the hawk guards, and if it makes sense to put them on now.

thanks for your input

This is my first year in 12 years of waiting that I have purple martins nesting. I have two nests with eggs and one nest with babies. I have seen a sharp shinned hawk occationally, and I'm wondering if I should put the hawk guards on the gourds. I am worried that if I out them on that this will caus...

Thanks for the advise, I really appreciate it.

I have some birds that started to nest in my super gourds. I have purchased those hawk guards, and what I'm wondering is this: -- do I put these on after they lay eggs, or do I put them on at the beginning of the season next year? I don't want to cause a disruption in their flight pattern into the g...

Thank you, it's only taken me 11 years to get a pair to nest. Here's hoping everything goes well:)

Yes we do have sparrows in and out of my T-14 house that's 20 feet away, and we do have starlings in the area. I have only really seen starlings try to get in the T-14 (which have the starling prevention holes), but I never see them try to go into the gourds.

I have four super gourds with round holes. I have a pair of Martins that are nesting is the gourd. Here are my questions: 1. should the holes be converted while the new pair is nesting, or do I wait until next season to do it? 2, If I need to convert these, is there an adapter that I can use for the...

I still have the male show up and spend time at the T-14, but not as often as he had in the past two weeks. I have checked the two nesting boxes where I saw them, and there is the start of two nests, but no green leaves. I guess I'll have to wait it out. I haven't had a problem with sparrows or star...

I'm hoping that the seasoned PM landlords can help me with this question. I had a subadult male at my house everyday, for about 2.5 weeks. He was protecting the house and trying to attact females. It looked like he had found a female about a week ago, and I watched them starting to bring nesting mat...

Thanks!

This may be a dumb question, but is there any particular time to do nest checks? In the afternoon, evening, etc.?

Thanks in advance,

Dave

Thank you all for your vote of confidence! I'm a little Leary of checking the compartments just now, since I don't want to scare them off. However, the male has been here almost 2.5 weeks, so maybe he won't go anywhere.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Dave

I had reported previously that I had a subadult male that has been sticking around, and protecting the house. Now, I have noticed that he has a "friend." I observed them bringing material to the PM house. I'm trying not to get too excited, but this is a good thing right? I have been killin...

Maybe someone can answer this, because I'm curious about this. I have a subadult that is protecting the PM house from other birds. If he does this during the daytime, where does he go at night? I don't see him after 8:30 PM, and then in the morning he is back. Does anyone know the answer to this? Th...

Thanks for the input. The tree swallows are nesting in a Bluebird box, so I just have to deal with the sparrows. The male has been there everyday, and is working on trying to get the females to stay, but no success yet. I'm not sure if the SREH entrances are causing the problem, but the male gets th...

Thanks for the info. I was hoping that this was encouraging. I'm keeping a watch on the sparrows, but I work during the day, so this is going to be hard.

I have had a male subadult hanging arond my PM house for the last few days. He is chasing away other birds from the compartments (sparrows and tree swallows, etc.). What does that mean exactly? Is that a good sign? No females yet though.

thanks in advance.

Dave

Just curious if anyone else is seeing this in the Northern Ohio area. With all the rain and cold weather we have had, I'm curious to see if anyone is seeing any subadults in this area. It's been really weird, I usually see all kinds of barn swallows, hummingbirds, and PM's but I haven't seen one yet...

I just bought a T-14 and painted it white on the outside only. You want the natural cedar so that it deters some insects. Also, I bought the ceramic paint additive and used it. It is suppose to control the temperature of the inside of the house. Here is the link: http://www.hytechsales.com/insulatin...