Purple Martin Forum

Great points dave. The vertical wires seems to be a great solution, in that , as you said, it doesn’t allow the martins to perch in a vulnerable spot, while still protecting them from the hawk. I hope you and Brent get a break from the damn hawks! Gotta be really tough to go through that. I’m so gra...

Excellent! Congrats and great photos!
Rob

I use Vaseline on the bottom of the pole , from the ground on up to 3 feet above the ground. This keeps ground insects like ants etc, from climbing up the pole. Bleach and soap solution , 1:10 bleach to water will clean compartments. Then I spray avian liquidater solution on the compartment surfaces...

Brent, it’s possible that the martins are being preyed upon, taken to the ground , and eaten. Then a raccoon or opossum may be coming and scavenging what’s left, leaving just the wings.
Sorry this is happening..
Rob

Good luck to you northern landlords.. hope the weather warms up soon!
Rob

Sorry to hear this Brent. Definitely sucks. So far this season, in Laplace, I’m not having many hawk sitings at all, and no attacks that I know of, fortunately. I do have the fortune of having a pack of crows that hang out in a tree about 35 yards away, and several mockingbirds around. The hawks I h...

Conrad, I just buy a standard hanging fern from Home Depot. It comes in a hanging green plastic pot, I believe it’s 12 inches in diameter… I hang it under the patio.. the doves love nesting in them..
Good luck,
Rob

No expert on mourning doves either, but I’ve had them nest in hanging ferns under the patio several times. Of course , you can’t water the fern anymore after they nest in it, and it dies, but the doves seem to love nesting in the dried fern leaves.. it offers cover and comfort. I think hanging one f...

Birdman… I like the “that will soon change one way or another”… I feel the same way!
Rob

I buy from fluker farms. Very satisfied. 1inch crickets have always arrived next day, in great condition. No complaints with them..
Rob

Congrats kegger! Eggs already!
Rob

Thomabear.. good idea with the cube! I’m using bungee cords to hold the bundles of pine needles down to the B and B… should work ok… but you might have given me a new project!
Rob

Hi Molly.. congrats on your first martins! Looks like you’re definitely well on your way! The second photo is definitely a mix of asy males and females…
Enjoy your new family!
Rob

Thomabear. I’m planning to use my B and B for pine needles too, this year, for nest building .. I’m a little concerned about attracting hawks though, with them going to the same spot over and over again.. might make them an easy target.. when you did it last year, did you notice any problems with th...

Hi Brent, that’s a nice full nest for sure. I prefer when they build a good full nest, so I don’t have to disturb anything , when trying to beef up a thin nest.. things going well in southeast Louisiana for sure. Good amount of rain, but not too much… Martin numbers are really up this season! Most I...

Nice nest pics. Looks like mostly dried grass mixed in with some sticks. I’ve never seen them use dried grass, although, I know they’ll use whatever is handy. Is that dried grass? Great pics!
Rob

That’s insane! Lol
Rob

Agree thomabear… shooting from a stabile platform is key to accuracy, along with a quality rifle! Way to go Tom, 3 for 3, great start sir! So far this season, I’m 21 of 23, kills … shooting from my blind with a stabilizer … not 100% but I’ll take it.. thomabear is right Tom, you will take great grat...

Tom, congrats on the beeman! I almost bought one last season, but I had my gamo dialed in , was having great success, so just decided not to change things up. But they are great, well crafted guns. And you’re right, very quiet. I know you mentioned that being quiet was a must have , for your home si...

Yep Tom, definitely an evolutionary trait I would think. I bet they were using the sticks as reinforcement in the mud, before humans were using rebar in cement! At end of season clean out time, I’m always amazed at how solid and strong the dams are. It takes quite a bit of force to break them up. So...