Purple Martin Forum

Interesting string. Question, playing devils advocate here for a moment on removing protection for one species of a native bird (American Coopers Hawk), Should we allow the shooting of martins if bee keepers perceive insectivores as the primary reason of their declining bee populations on their prop...

Thank you for taking the time to aid in this quest John Miller. What are your thoughts on times before these writings? Have Purple Martins ever lived in natural cavities in their current range being colony nesters? Is there any evidence of this? Could Native Americans been offering housing for 1000 ...

Sharing my 4 years experience on this subject has been quite different than most in here. I've had a pair of very large Red-Shouldered Hawks nesting on the property for the last 7 years with Martins the past 4. The property is 20 acres with pond and 2 open areas that I've purposely shrunk with tree ...

So cool. Have a wonderful season and congratulations!

Dang...that's pretty tough on your friend and reaffirms that anything can be taken from you in an instance. Happy for you sir on a great start to your season and best of luck. Would be curious to hear how your pal's season goes...hopefully he'll get some SY's that's been showing in TN and VA last fe...

Thanks guys. Went ahead and did all 60 at once...figured since the one's on the other rack were staring during the 1st rack...I'd let them get some of this next. 53 nest 30 leaves and 19 eggs in 6 thus far... kinda surprised me seeing eggs tbh...more the reason to begin the work of nest checks I sup...

nature's pruners no doubt. wish they were a wee bit quieter. Always enjoyed fishing with them too. I'm sure the Martins will appreciate the ample supply of food this season.

Bumping this thread on nest check question. Do you space out your nest checks with multiple racks or do them all in one day? 2 24 Gemini racks and 2 SK poles w 6 each. I was thinking of doing one 24 and one 6 on back to back days. Any experience on multiple rack owners on what they have found best f...

Good luck sir and wish I was in the area. Thank you for taking the time for others.

I'm not finding the specific reference right now, but Alexander Wilson, sometimes called the "father of American ornithology" references seeing native Americans hosting purple martins -- think he said Choctaw -- during his travels through the south -- probably Alabama area -- in the late ...

Shooting is option 1 for me but I'm a poor shot. Machete is option 2 if I only injured the bird with shot. I came from ringing necks on chickens and and an axe. Feel good about your feelings of compassion as that's a good thing but execution is the method I agree with in here if you desire hosting c...

Does anyone have any recommended resources on the relationships between various American natives and the Martin? It appears the history of human/PM interaction begins here but really no time lines or stories of real substance has been passed down. I've seen various drawings and one paragraph stories...

Wish I had more experience to bring to this conversation, Jones- but since you and I became landlords at the same time all I can offer is a guess, and support! Most of what I've read here and through other PMCA literature is that predation is the biggest reason behind colony collapse/abandonment/de...

I'm not expert by any stretch of the imagination but my gut instinct tells you me you probably won't notice much of a decline. I think if your martins were nestlings were wiped out by predation, then the adults would likely abandon the site. Studies show the amount of fledges that return to the sit...

430 is a good time, still broad daylight, soon it will get dark at 9pm! If it slips a day cuz of rain or wind really doesn't matter. Like alot of us, I try to not bother them too much...ill look all around, no martins...coast is clear! Go out bring it down and here they come! "Coast clear'...B...

3ish pm weekends for me Thomas. They seem to be away mostly at my place 2-5 or 6ish as the days get longer. After they hatch the feeding never seems to stop but although they seem to mind I enjoy watching the fuss tbh as I do the counts.... I found weekends work best for me, like you, work gets in t...

Excellent Earl, Nice catch and happy for Birdie!

I'd move away from the Bo9's based on these negative experiences you've lived. I'd replace with another gourd option that are not being occupied. Good luck Birdie and sorry for the losses. Nothing's fool proof as you know but twice is enough in my view.

I've given up on having any Purple Martins for this year. I've got House Wrens in the Martin Barn and although it's not what I want, at least they are native birds. I've got Chickadees in one Bluebird house and Bluebirds in the other, but last week I caught a Chicken / Rat Snake that had just swall...

It's always interesting to see which gourds are chosen. I have 6 types of gourds and 4 types of openings and it's always interesting to observe and see which gourd is taken. With the 6 excluder gourds and the modified/II, I witness their peering into but not going in early on but in the end get occu...