Purple Martin Forum

Hello all,
I have an 18 gourd colony and need to replace some caps.
I'm looking for some feedback on the vented gourd caps.
I would appreciate your experience with them.

Congrats!
Still waiting for mine.
1/17 first arrivals last year.

Congrats!
Still waiting for mine.
Got my first arrivals on 1/17 last year.

Congrats to all!
I had my first arrivals yesterday and
am looking forward to a good season.

Best wishes everyone!

Missed the site.
Glad you're back!

Jones4381 wrote: ↑

Mon May 22, 2023 11:22 am

Those were some devastating storms you folks had down there in S FL., great seeing this story turn into a positive one for you and the survivors! Life anew there.

Thanks Jones4381.
Most of the credit belongs to the martins though.

Muffen02 wrote: ↑

Sat May 20, 2023 12:55 pm

I’m so excited. I looked in one of my nest today and yay!!! My first 3 little ones.

Congrats to you!
Good looking hatchlings!

Some of you might have read my post about the injured female martin I found in my back yard after a very nasty storm last month. At that time, I had lost 23 baby martins. As days went by there were a few more. A week later as I looked at my 6 gourd rack I saw something hanging out of the crescent sh...

CTMartins wrote: ↑

Tue May 09, 2023 8:48 am

Very attractive elevated 12 bedroom 0 bath located in quite cul de sac.

Very clever! Well done.

Congrats Thomabear!

Great season for you.

Hello, We are still very new. We bought a cheap house last year and had 10 eggs laid. Five eggs hatched but all the babies did survive. They kept jumping out so we'd pick them up and put them back but eventually, they jumped out at night and predators got them. The other 5 eggs were abandoned. This...

Doug,
I just read your story and thoroughly enjoyed it. Wonderful relationship.
I'd never heard of a Purple Martin living so long. That is wonderful.
Congrats on his return this year and here's to you having an awesome season.

Regards,

You could use diatomaceous earth. It is safe for you and the birds. I had read that the diatomaceous earth causes lung irritation to babies and parents when the birds flap their wings inside the compartment. The wing movement gets the earth to float around and get inhaled by the birds. Conrad, Good...

Hi Stingray.. I too use very small amount of sevin under the nest and it works great for mite control. I’m just not sure that putting it on the porches is necessary. As you know, the martins use their feet to scratch and preen themselves. If the sevin is on their feet, then it will get on their fea...

Ladybug wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 18, 2023 2:04 pm

Last nights count= 7.
This A.M. 12+. = 5 are Females.
Makes A HAPPY DAY.
Sunny, Bright. T=51*. Awesome.

Congrats on your colony's growth!

I've been a martin landlord for 19 years. When I first started with the martins, I didn't know about the Sevin Dust and had an infestation with a few jumpers. Since then, I've used Sevin Dust and have had no issues with mites. I apply it under the nests when the season begins and again after eggs ar...

Good lord!!! Man, I saw that rain from heck, couldnt believe it. So sorry for those losses, incredible work bringing those chick back from the brink. I don't know if you could have saved more, honestly. Even early on. They need their adults. Yes we can feed them, but no way to sustain it. You did g...

Stingray, Wow- what a sad experience you've had. Weather is certainly the wild card, I guess we all just do what we can. I am so glad to read that you did not lose your entire colony- and that you can give the remaining birds the best shot possible. Had you not intervened, there certainly would hav...

Man stingray… that is a real tragedy… it has to be so hard to deal with. I feel for you… so very sorry for this… but that’s one of the biggest fears, an unexpected terrible storm.. I’m sure you’re doing the best you can.. I hope the survivors and the smaller gourd rack martins, have a great ending ...

Very sorry to hear about your injured female. I sure hope she makes it, and can return to her family.. It will be difficult for one parent to feed all 6, but you can assist by supplemental feeding the chicks, if they aren’t pinkies... small crickets soaked in pedialyte, will work for developing chi...