Purple Martin Forum

I inherited the same style house except it has 3 stories. I thought I read it was a Duracraft, but guess I was mistaken. I was able to enlarge the compartments with a 3" hole saw. Actually took it completely apart and did a full remodel so that I could use it with a winch system. Also added po...

Hi Tim, Cool find! That is indeed an old Trio, more specifically the DH-12 model. It was most likely made sometime in the 70s. Here's the original patent drawings for that model with those snap-out doors that was filed back in 68, by then Trio engineer (and true Master Jedi) Arthur Vail: https://pat...

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Hi Mark, You didn't assume wrong. See this article from Kathy Freeze - which includes a photo of an ASY female gathering green leaves, and mentions both males and females performing this in her writeup. This is another example of Martin behavior at one colony, not being the same as their behavior at...

Those tunnels look really good on that Heath Keith.
I've always admired your housing modifications - they are top notch.

Thanks Mark. Don't forget - you're a highly valued contributor as well! I agree. I hope all are staying safe and in good health. This whole COVID-19 situation is almost surreal. Rob S. - keep us posted. Don't be too hard on yourself. The use of round holes to initially attract a nesting pair, and th...

Indeed Lewis - that was Andrew in Kansas who had the heavy starling pressure on the colonies he manages in downtown Parsons, KS. I haven't seen him here in a while - I hope he is doing good. The Trio crescents just would not stop them, while many folks (me included) who have average starling pressur...

Osprey - no threat to the Martins.
They do love fish though!

Hi Randy,
Sorry to post again if you already saw this.
This has helped numerous folks:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160807020 ... cy-377.pdf

This has been a helpful reference for some:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160807020 ... cy-377.pdf

Awesome setup!
That photo of the baby Martins looking up at the baby Bluebird is too cute!

Michelle - congrats on your successful fledges!
Just curious - what kind of housing are you using?

My heart goes out to you Trishy. Your descriptions of what you and your birds have been dealing with really hit hard. The USFWS needs to do its job, and realize that there are some raptors (especially Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks) whose numbers have reached critical mass in many areas, and need ...

Hi RAMSMARTINS. Sorry for what you're dealing with. I have a few theories, as to why this happens. 1. The parenting hormone - prolactin (which is what dictates a bird's "parental investment" in a nesting cycle), starts to wane as the calendar gets closer to the latter part of summer. If th...

Lots of folks on here with a lot of experience. I've been hosting Martins for about 35 years. I scaled way back on entering in here on the forum, because other forum members who didn't happen to agree with what I stated based on my experience, would insult me, and say disrespectful things - even goi...

Cool idea! The only other time I've seen adjustable Excluders, was in a YouTube video posted some years, back longtime landlord Rick Cruz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh3j1g-vDw4 To go along with what Brad was saying, in the video you see Rick has his setup to where the plate can't go down any f...

I knew that.
From one Trio fan to another, I understood the method to your madness :-)

Good eye John. Kyler probably cut them at the same height that Nature House cuts them - 1/2" from the bottom. The main reason for this, is to provide enough structural integrity at the bottom of the door, to allow it to still be held securely by the floor clips. There's a good and bad to this. ...

I don't think there are any beetles and/or beetle larvae that are parasitic to birds.
If they're not bird parasitic, I'd just remove the ones you see and don't worry about it.
I definitely wouldn't apply anything like Sevin, unless you have a parasitic bug concern - like mites, blow flies, etc.

Hi Bumby, It's great to hear from you! That is a great looking design for a house! I'm really sorry you've had such a tough time with the hawks. There are a lot in similar situations. The Cooper's Hawk numbers alone have climbed at a staggering rate in recent years - especially in the greater Housto...