Purple Martin Forum

Can anyone give me information concrinstalling hawk guards for S & K houses. :
Thanks

Brent, I use a live animal trap that I purchased from Tractor Supply. I have caught a number of rats using roasted peanuts as bait. The only drawback for some is that you have to dispatch them after capture, considering how much i hate rats it’s not a problem for me.

This morning I woke up to three Martins two males and one female checking out my houses. After I removed the blocks in the houses and gourds they spent an hour or so going in and out of the rooms.Late this evening they returned and settled in in for the night. Last summer I noticed that Martins avoi...

Crows seem to be a natural enemy of Coopers Hawks. After a group of Crows moved into my neighborhood the Hawk left .

Two weeks ago my daughters and I went tent camping at Arkabulter lake in North Mississippi. I came across a Purple Martin house with a colony of Martins . I eventually found two more houses . I don’t know who is responsible , but I appreciate their work. If anyone on this forum is involved , please...

Two weeks ago my daughters and I went tent camping at Arkabulter lake in North Mississippi. I came across a Purple Martin house with a colony of Martins . I eventually found two more houses . I don’t know who is responsible , but I appreciate their work. If anyone on this forum is involved , please ...

Happy the forum is back .

I’ve have noticed that the number of attacks by a Coopers Hawk were reduced when a group of Crows moved into the neighborhood last month. I don’t know if the two are natural enemies or not but I have witnessed the Crows harassing the hawk on several occasions.

Mike, I completely agree with you,. Killing or wounding the hawk never entirely my mind. I was hoping for ideas to deter the attacks. As it turned out, I’ve gone from 36 PM ‘s Saturday and Sunday more than double last years count, to six today . Until Sunday this hawk has been living in my neighborh...

Are there any steps that can be taken to stop hawk attacks? Yesterday I witnessed three separate attacks by a Cooper Hawk on my colony . I’m fully expecting that the PM’s to abandon my location and feel helpless to prevent any more attacks.

Starting Monday morning a single adult male perched on my S&K house , returning several times a day .As of today he has been joined by two more This is almost three weeks earlier than last year. I’m not sure if it means anything, but I’m happy they are back. DD30BF80-E77C-4634-B965-652A38E453FA....

I have an S&K barn and house both are four years old and holding up fine. I did repaint the barn this fall as it had faded, and I wanted to give a new look.

This year I have seen an explosion of Mississippi Kites. This morning I counted five circling over my neighborhood. A big change from last year when I sighted my first one. I suspect that deforestation in my area is the reason. Since they didn't bother the Martins, I enjoy watching and trying to pho...

I set up perches that extend about 20" from my S & K houses and shoot House Sparrows when they perch on them without damaging my houses.

Same here in Southaven MS. Last week had four females and two males flying around. This morning three more came buy. Not sure if they are returning to the old nest or if these are migrating, from further north, Nevertheless I'm going to leave my houses up until September,

I just finished a successful season; it was a big contrast from last year when my colony suddenly deserted their nests. This year I had five pairs,12 hatched and nine fledged. I owe a great deal to members of the forum for the advice I was given last summer, namely House Sparrow control, taking down...

I prefer to shoot them with my pellet rifle, but for those that are trapped I just break the necks It's unpleasant but necessary and humane.

After last year's disaster, I am hoping for a better year. I've addressed several hard lessons learned from last year. I am adding predator guards, a combination of DIY with bird netting and one purchased from PMCA. Aggressively trapping House Sparrows (there seems to be an unlimited number of them)...

Thanks, I really appreciate your advice

Following the advice of several members on this forum, I want to set up snake guards next spring. . I have three S & K tri- poles and cannot seem to find any guards online, and S & K does not sell any predator guards at all , I would appreciate any advice members have on this subject, especi...