Purple Martin Forum

Hey Mike. Yes it is fun. And you’re right. I have had so many visitors over the last few weeks when the babies were sticking their heads out. At first I was hoping it was a second wave looking for nesting spots, but soon figured out it was like a protective force keeping watch. This year has been a ...

I have 2 nests in two different houses, my old heath, and a new 3 story with 2 room compartments. Successfully laid and hatched eggs, and today both families are out and flying ! It’s a three ring circus out there. 9 babies and the parents. They are hilarious. Amazing that the can fly so well, but s...

Well I am between you and Ken, not even a mile from Ken. I have one pair staying overnight (for the last week or two), and maybe a single, but not sure if he stays. I’m hoping you two will have to put out the No Vacancy sign, and they can check in with me.

Spoke too soon! Have had visitors early this morning, and then before noon. One pair is going in and out of the house. Gone now, but I’m feeling better. There’s hope!

I’ve had the same experience, and I live in your neighborhood. Last week they were circling, two landed briefly and one spent the night. Nothing now for several days. I don’t even see any flying high above. Trying to be patient.

I’m very close to Ken’s home and saw his new setup..impressive!

Hi there, I live in your neighborhood, and yesterday put up a new house (2nd house) with 6 2-room nesting cavities and restricted entrances. Last year I had two nests with hatchlings in my original house, out of town for a few days and when I returned one nest was empty and mom and dad gone, the sec...

Got the gourd cleaned out and everything was soaking wet. I think the drain hole must have been clogged with nest material, the other 3 gourds have pine straw in them, but are dry. I’m thinking the wet nest did them in.

No babies on the ground. No history of predators. Haven’t cleaned the gourd out yet so no clues. Ants are gone, so I’ll try today.

I just walked out to take a look, and I’ve got 3 martins dive bombing and fussing at me. No nests or eggs that I know of. I’ll take a closer look later and see if there’s a nest I don’t know about. Ants and flies are gone.

Second year landlord with 2 pair this year. 4 eggs in one, which hatched and fledged. Second nest in a Heath gourd, I think 3 eggs and hatchlings. At the end of week one, we went out of town for 3 days, came back to dead babies and no martins. No way to know what happened, but we have had torrential...

Thanks for all the great info. Now I’ve got an afternoon project!

I bought Sevin Dust a couple days ago, now what do I do with it? This is my first year with nesting martins, one with eggs, one with eggs last time I looked (maybe hatched now?) and a couple more with what looks like nests in progress. Have a Heath house, so access is difficult. I was thinking maybe...

In Stuart West I have a small hawk keeping watch. (Cooper’s? Shinned??). A little worried about him. We plan to use a sling shot to discourage. So far no real problem, but no eggs or babies yet.

Thanks Ken, I most definitely will come take a look. Birds Choice has 2 room “suites”, I may look at that for next year. My post is telescopic, but after being up almost a year it’s almost impossible to move up or down. Spray lube and a strong husband help,?but I only put it down far enough that I c...

Well my heath was up too late last year. This is my first year with martins showing interest. They are small, I’ve learned a lot since I started and next year I’ll add a house with large compartments.

Thanks Dale. They did come back about an hour later, it sounded like one was still in the house singing, and soon the others showed up. They stayed about 10 minutes and left. No crows around when they were here. Too late to change houses this year. Next year I’ll add one of the two sections to a roo...

I had 4-6 males and females here all morning, in and out of nest boxes and singing like crazy. Then a couple crows started harassing them, flying close over and over. The martins pulled a full on attack, chasing them away, flying back to the house, then chasing them away. After the crows gave up, my...

Hi, I’m in Palm City too, have one spending the night (actually heard the dawn song out of an actual bird instead of DVD player this morning. ). Hope it sticks! My second year, first year got a late start and just had visitors.

Also, I was out of town for 3 days, so no Dawn Song during that time. And no idea of activity since Monday. I did put it on for about 30 minutes late yesterday afternoon.