Purple Martin Forum

Martins like being around people so turn the music up and be sociable.

That's Super Gourds in the picture.

Trap him: http://purplemartin.org/shop/product_in ... b05e9caee0

Starting in January I will place a spar-o-door trap in my trio with all of the other doors closed. I think I trapped around 2 dozen HS by February 29 when my Martins showed up. I removed the trap and opened up all of the doors and so for the Trio and gourds are sparrow free.

Thanks for the link. Just order 6 caps.

My Troyer gourd caps need replacing and I see where PMCA sells a Heavy-Duty replacement caps in this years catalog. Does anyone use these caps? I noticed they are not listed with online shopping.

Go to Wally World and look in the kitchen supply section. I think I have seen plastic cutting boards that would be thin enough to work if you can cut them to the right size.

There are plans here for a repeating sparrow trap

http://chuckspurplemartinpage.com/

A blue bird will fit. I have had to release several from this trap door so be careful.

There are plans here for a repeating Starling trap

http://chuckspurplemartinpage.com/

Yes the first picture is a Shiny Cowbird. I downloaded it from yahoo. The second picture, a common gackle also down loaded from yahoo, has the yellow eyes like the bird at my feeder.

Thanks Craigmo. Thats exactly what it is a Common Grackle. I knew someone here could help me. I miss identified. Here is a picture of a Comon Grackle:

here's a picutre

I'v had what appears to be a Shiny cowbird, male. hanging around my feeder for the past week and he seems to be scoping out my Martin Housing. I've read where this breed is a nest parasite that lays one egg in the nest of other birds. I haven't seen the female. What is the best course of action with...

Here ya go:
http://www.gamowhisper.com/

Have you also noticed how fat and healthy the Hawks are this year. They love Starlings. They are much easier to catch than Martins.

Do you trap and kill sparrows or just pull their nest?

How to build a repeating sparrow trap. There are 3 parts to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBPqxLlCgrI

Shiner, if that's a trio house you have, I used a Spare-o-door which is made for the Trio. I guess I trapped all of the HS in my neighborhood a year before last because I didn't have any last year. The HS love it and Martins can't fit through the hole. It's a great device.

My martins finally arrived today after being three weeks late. I guess all that global warming held them up this year. They are fighting over the rooms in the house and the gourds. Good luck to everyone this year.