Purple Martin Forum

I have one male sparrow that is very stubborn - I can't trap him at all. He is too smart. I have emptied his nest out of my Purple Martin T14 house numerous times and continue to check - the last couple days there was none, but he keeps sharing the perch with the Purple Martins; they do not seem to...

It makes you wonder though doesn't it? One of the neat things about these guys, mysteries that keep us like a moth to a candle. Ones we can be sure about, banded, unique markings, or calls there is little doubt, but we do watch just about everything they do like hawks. Those that seem familiar, we f...

Great! Hope they all fill up, nice picture!

The pics didn't go, its difficult on here, has to be so many mb. Difficult to say if you need to intercede. Some wing entrapment occurs when fighting, they get hopelessly stuck. Most of the time, its just a fight. Iv only broken up two. I think what flyin lowe is alluding to is a Wing Entrapment Pro...

Dang! You guys are neck and neck. Nail em! Spare o doors are gold, pure gold. Take good care of it. Even if you don't have a trio house, its easy enough to knock together a bird house and hang the spare o door on it...can make it moveable too. This set up is near our gourd rack, two trap gourds and ...

Phil that is one pretty lady!!! Oh wow! Very unique. Boy, hope she comes back for you. Wouldn't it be interesting if her chicks get that trait?
Too pretty. That's neat!

Sounds like a subbie Phil, even the younger ASYs act like subbies don't they? You know I was looking yesterday for him! Him and the one with the white spot. Have not been able to put eyes on the one eyed guy or spot boy yet. But heck if he did make it, he may be at my neighbors. He is hustling and b...

Tangled in what? Wing entrapment? Please let us know what you mean.

Its a good problem to have Lisa...running out of room that is. If its just fighting, its all normal. Let them Duke it out. They have to go through it.

It can take a while, a long while. Our public site birds didnt eat for at least 4 days when the cold blasted us. It still took a whole lot of flipping. Its worth it!

Martins were back early, lots of showing homes and carrying on. Figured some females had arrived, so got the binos just to watch and well one has purple spots and that unshaved look about him. Trouble is brewing already, he inspected an upper gourd occupied by one of our first birds. He's gonna get ...

Sherry,
You could smear a bit of mud around the entrance too.

They really aren't in a big rush when they get home, they look, do some passes and disappear sometimes.

Congrats!!! It is exciting, wonderful really.

It is a common theme it seems, early returns. I wonder what egg laying will be like...early or on time?

Sounds like your going to have a wonderful time planning the new pole and watch it fill!

Guess it depends on your pole type and house. And your comfort level. Its always windy in corpus, and I rarely raise them all the way up. Keeps me from raising and lowering all the time. I will lower at 45mph gusts and over, half way even a bit lower if necessary. Martins do not miss a beat. Hope th...

Good, glad she is back. Yeah, she will be a loner for a bit but not long.
Well like I always say, early is on time...on time is late.

With that pellet gun, you will have no worries knocking back the sparrows.

Ok, well its a good martin rich area, coupled with your experience should put you on the map. A mis managed house could work in your favor. Definitely worth a visit if you can make it, you will find out quickly if there is any real intrest.
Hope you get your martins this season!
Tom

Have you looked at the scout arrival study for your area? Should be pretty good for martins. Yeah the mockers get me too, martin songs when expecting them, now they are incorporating HOSP in their calls. Drives me nuts.

Hope you see some action soon, never know...ASY pair started my colony.
Tom

Congrats Doug! Without a doubt, an incredible journey and incredible bird.

He is in a good place, a real country gentleman!
Tom

Tend to agree with you, a migrating through martin wouldn't make passes like that would they? Boy that would be early! Hope she does return, sounds like weather is going to cooperate.
Good timing on your part to be there!

Oh man. I thought I got up to mischief!!!! That is funny!!! Oh wow, now that is thoughtful and meticulous...and just a good kid project until dad gets home...
Boy, I don't mess with the red ones, noooooooo. Nope.

Good one!

Yes, agree its a wonderful trap, works great. I had a friend tell me he played a joke on his wife with one of those...his buddy caught a bunch, so they brought them over and stuffed 15 in the middle holding cell of her trap and watched to see what she did when she came home, she couldn't believe it!...