Purple Martin Forum

Martins started showing up Nashville roost. Went down Friday evening and estimate Around 60,000 martins so far. Was amazing to see. Been playing tape in evening as quite a few fly over house toward roost. (117 counted in hour tonight and that’s just ones I saw). Been playing tape and quite a few com...

No luck this year. I did manage to get tree swallows to nest away from my Martin pole by setting up a gourd on other side of yard. Bluebirds continue to use existing boxes so no problems with them trying to get into housing. Martins from nearby colony have been over the house the past two days. Have...

Still hoping for a late arrival. Continue to play tape. Got the tree swallows away from my Martin housing by setting up a gourd on the other side of the property where they are now nesting.

Not giving up hope yet but know it’s a slim chance

Thanks for replies. Will keep fingers crossed

Established sites near me have had martins now for several weeks. Is it to late at this point of possible martins at my new site in middle Tennessee? Still playing tape but no luck yet

Yep have closed the housing off and do have a box setup for Tree Swallows near the site. I went from 1 pair this morning to 3 pairs at lunchtime. Looks like some have been driven off and the remaining pair is checking the neighbors old martin housing where the tree pair nested last year. Keeping fin...

Answered my own question after further reading

See typo. Tree swallows are checking housing

Just came home and pair of swallows checking gourds. Lowered my gourds. No martins yet, first year, scouts arrived in area only so far. Should I block my gourds for a few days? I have nest boxes suitable for tree swallows that are available. A pair of trees nested in my neighbors old Martin house la...

Will give it a try. Thanks

Well just walked outside and tree swallow was circling the gourds. Dang it

Have been checking nearby established sites by my house for arrival of martins in Nashville. Nothing so far. I have been playing recording for about 2 weeks now from 430 am till noon. I had two (of 8) gourds open but tree swallows that nested in neighbors martin house last year (he had no martins) h...

Checking past eBird reports looks like early March is about time for first birds to show up. Have a couple of nearby locations that are ongoing nest sites show a little later As a new site when should I start playing dawn song? With snow on the ground have been using time to trap starlings coming to...

Awesome........just put out tray feeder... hoping. A few reports in Tennessee so far. Number of Siskin's crazy this year. Over 30 this morning at my feeders

Thanks will check it out

I have a few sk Bo9s and was wondering if anyone mounted Troyer Tunnel with Collar on this gourd? What modifications did you make? Looks like it might work.

Ok thanks for info. Thinking I will just hang a few gourds off it then and continue to look for a heavier pole. If nothing else will at least have something up for martins in spring until I save my coin for maybe 3x3 pole for wood house

Picked up 13 ft piece of 1-1/2 schd 40 black pipe today. The price was right, free, so couldn’t turn it down. I am building 2x3 boxes basically T-6. Out of pine. Plan was to hang the boxes with probably 4 gourds underneath My question is will this pole be able to handle the weight or would I be bett...

Well decided the route I will take with goal to having first attempt housing up for spring. Am going to offer both gourds and hosing to see if I and get some interest. So to that means am building a T6 and from it will hang a few Troyer vertical gourds and see what happens. Have finished the basic b...

Nice......are those the S&k tunnels. Actually since my first try at martins thinking I may only build the 2 - 3 room units and add gourds...save weight seeing mostly gourd setups close to me. Went to Amish area today one family had a T-18 setup