Purple Martin Forum

I have the same pole as you and I had some sway in it as well. I read a tip from another post online about using butter knives where the poles come together. Just stick it in between the poles and it will prevent most of the moving around. I did that and I reduced the sway by more than 50%. I also ...

marcus wrote:When you enlarge cavities, you must close one of the entrances. On the pic, I can't see that you did.

Thank you!!! Call me dense but I am literally learning as I go. That would explain why I lost the ASY male. I have fixed this and hopefully I can start attracting again.

and just like that I learned a very valuable lesson... leave well enough alone.... I believe my eagerness to tamper with the house and "upgrade it" scared off the ASY male I had, I have not seen him after putting up the guards... I think I got in his way with attracting a female to his pla...

Please add about 2 gourds, it may attract more martins. Your house and pole are not strong enough to support more than about 2 gourds, the pole may bend in a thunderstorm if you add too many. I like the owl guards, that may help a lot yeah I had considered that and I'm glad you said that because I ...

Robbo wrote:Good one .

I would think it might be an land animal such as a coon. they are notorious for ripping body parts off of caged animals. I could very well be wrong though.

Usually small mods do not cause martins to leave. Do NOT change the orientation of the cavities, leave them so that the martins can find the cavity that they selected, changing the orientation may cause them to leave. what about adding these guards? I'm sorry I'm being super needy but i was so happ...

I have a question. I saw a topic similar to this but we never really received "expert" opinions... once a ASY male has selected your house, can you disturb them enough to turn them off from your site? I would imagine the answer is actually yes.... however what about making modifications to...

I'm a new landlord as well and just put up owl guards on my house. My ASY male literally landed on the house as I was doing it. I have heard that they will typically except modifications for protection within reason at the beginning of the season. I could be wrong but I would love to see other more ...

I made some additions to the house last night. I'm not 100% confident in it just yet and think I may add a piece right in the middle but I think with the double compartment and this I should be doing much better with predator protection. I stole this idea from someone on here and they used these for...

I would like to add that last night I was sitting out watching the ASY male and all of a sudden like 8 Purple Martins started circling the house. they all looked like SY females so I think Archer hit the nail right on the head. I had never seen so many of them in the sky at one time. two of them stu...

Your male is an adult, called ASY(after second year) will most likely attract a mate. The SY(second year, born last season) are now migrating into your area. The SY's find the ASY most attractive. If your ASY is committed to your location, you will most likely start a new colony. There's lots of th...

Just an update. The male is basically here to stay for now. He took the fake nests I built and arranged them his way and I saw him bring a female back. She didn't stay long but at least he is trying. So I know it's late in the season but I'm hoping he can work his magic and get one to stay.

Here is my update after my original post, I am sparrow free - the word must be out because after shooting a plethora of males and female sparrows, I have not seen another sparrow. Now, yesterday when I got home from work, I saw the gourd trap was down. I covered the hole with a plastic bag and out ...

The gourd the male chose faces away from my house, so that doesn't work well for me. I have 8 gourds and a barn. He chose a gourd that was unoccupied by my Martins. Came home 5 minutes ago to see a male hanging out in my barn. I'm hoping it's the same one (might not be) because he is no longer with...

Thanks!!!! As promised I have pictures... the male seems to just be visiting for now, but I hope he sticks around but haven't seen him today. I currently have not seen any real nesting activity so I think he is just curious. As you can tell I have some trees/shrubs near by that need a little trimmin...

pellet gun, scoped. I like it because it doesn't make as much noise and I live outside a major city so id rather not have the cops called on me constantly. so far its worked wonders..... I literally look out from my house and crack a window, rest the barrel aim and done... being inside the house als...

new person here but I battled the European sparrow for most of last year and most of the beginning of this year. I tried everything but nothing worked until I finally gave in an targeted the males. in one week I took out 15 of them. one week later I have my first Mature Male PM checking out my house...

Richmond va here. have my set up in place, had it up last year but the Sparrows took over... I tried my hardest to deter them, block their nesting areas, trap and relocate, etc.... had to move to more permanent solutions and for now I'm sparrow free. Set up: S&K tri telescopic pole with a 12 roo...