Purple Martin Forum

Keep up the great work!

She's awesome! Thanks for sharing!

I hit one the other day between the eyes. I was aiming for his chest though, but hey, I got him. I loved your story and success!

I went ahead and bought the Troyer 8 gourd system summer deal. I added cooling caps and the predator guard. Time to dig out the shovel!

Thanks for the replies. I'm definitely getting the Troyer verticals with Conley entrances as this is what my other 4 gourds are. I want 12, but man the Troyer 8 sale is a good one. I'm going to look at that now!

I want a gourd rack, thinking of one with 12 arms. I found a good deal on one locally, but still open to other ideas. The local one is 10 feet tall with rope pulley. Not my first choice, but it appears to be well made and is cheap. I have decided to get Troyer verticals. I added 4 of them to my hous...

Doesn't look like a pm nest to me, but I definitely could be wrong. Definitely Doesn't look like a HOSP nest either. Keep watching, you'll find out!

Just got back from a short vacation in Galveston (actually Bolivar which is adjacent). I was surprised to see so many PM houses. Most were small colonies of 1-2 houses. Most of the houses were the S&K types. The others, I wasn't sure, but mostly 12-16 compartments with round holes. I saw very fe...

Thank you! I guess these HOSPS in the cities are used to people and eating human food scraps, so they gladly enter. I've had my trap out for days without any success, but after I caught the city bird, the 2 at my house were easy as it gets.

I like all of it!

Update: I took my ST1 trap to a local hardware store where HOSPS are abundant. With permission, I hid the trap in their parking lot and baited it with bread and crackers. Within 2 hours, I caught a female. I took her home, clipped her wings, and sat the trap at the base of my PM house. Within 3 hour...

Thanks for the replies. I have a winch on my Trendsetter house and really like it. A local place makes steel poles that comes with a rope pulley and it comes with a really good price that I'm thinking I can't pass up.

Thanks! I'll go that route. My biggest problem is getting a steady shot off. My gun is zeroed pretty well, but hard to get a stable shot off.

I've been bitten by a few trying to get them out of the netting. It really wasn't bad, now none have been more than 3 three feet or so.

I've seen a HOSP hanging around my PM house for a while now. I haven't been able to get a decent shot at it(I am thinking about getting a blind). I have 2 cavities where fledging should occur any day. Should I wait until they fledge to lower the house and set a trap or go ahead and do it now? I reme...

Congratulations! It's truly a privilege.

Thanks Rob! The system I'm looking at is 12 gourds. Hopefully, not too heavy!

I'm looking at a home made gourd rack-pole set up to possibly add next year. It says it has a rope pulley. Any of you dealt with such a set up? Thoughts? Thanks

Once the HOSPS lays its eggs, they can't say no and usually get caught within a few hours of setting it. I've put it up with fully made nests without eggs and never once caught one. Those rats are very smart.

Now that's awesome! Great job!