Purple Martin Forum

Thanks to everyone for suggestions to tackle small starlings issue. They are so determined. Anxious to try, will up date later.

Small starlings trying to take over. Located in city limits so illegal for fire arms. Any suggestions welcomed for getting rid of the pest. Lucky to have about 20 martins but afraid they will lose the battle.

Noticed today that the small black starlings are cleaning out nesting material that sparrows have taken in the nest. My first time to observe this trick. Captured 4 brown back sparrows which seems to be real warriors . Weather has been cold and raining so my Martin start up has been slow. Hoping for...

Has been a real joy this year. Time has come, know they will be leaving any day. Summer is here, temp in the 90’s. Sure will miss my routine sitting on the front porch with a cup of coffee, front row viewing of a real performance. Fewer Starlings than ever before, good luck trapping sparrows. Will b...

Such a good year for me thus far, but beginning to wonder if the Martins are getting ready to leave. Seems they are gathering and flying with chattering constantly. Last year they left near end of July as it became hot, but thus far we have not had hot temps, just lots of rain. I guess to sum it up,...

Thanks for the information you shared. Helps to better understand the behavior of the Martins. Maybe I have become more observant, but noticing the war behavior. Mostly among the Martin family, but toward the sparrows and blue birds. Almost afraid to mention Starlings. Thus far I have not seen one b...

Question has arisen. Usually do they pair up male and female ? Or does the male claim several females ? Do they trifle on each other ?

So proud of my Martins. At this time I think I have at least 8 or 10. Yes, the sparrows are still contenders. I hired a young man to destroy all sparrow nest, today one of them spent the day trying to get back in a cavity that was filled with eggs . They may contend that someone is exercising the ab...

Don’t expect any visitors before end of Feb. or early March , but it’s exciting to already have news they are navigating. Love purple Martin time. Even makes mowing the lawn a less headache. So will be getting my houses up in the next two or three weeks. Before they left last August I told them to b...

Felt sad ! Had taken the houses down a week ago. No martins around for days, so thought it was farewell for the season. Was sitting on porch early yesterday, began to hear martins, looking up spotted 5 or 6 soaring over area where houses had been located. They kept soaring for maybe 30 minutes, 1 li...

One of the shows I enjoyed most was to watch the martins dive at squirrels if they crossed the yard near martin houses. Of course the squirrels most times just stopped and threw their tail over their back and try to get to a tree. The martins would soar closely over head if I went near, but I never ...

This has been my best year yet. Three houses up and so many martins could not get a count. Must have been at least 8 or 10 pair. When I mowed the lawn they followed by several in a group. Know they enjoyed the bugs I stirred up for them. I think they will leave soon, it’s so hot and all little ones ...

Most likely as suggested, they are building nest. Notice sometimes they fly to edge of street where dried material is found, dried grass and leaves , also small gravel from pavement. As I recall they don’t build much nest. Can’t be said for the sparrows, they can cram a nest full in short time. I ha...

I am seeing some unusual behavior of the martins that I don’t recall seeing before. Often they fly to the ground around the houses, and also light in a tree located a few feet away. I had put some sun flower seeds out for the other birds. Will the martins sometimes eat food like the other birds ? I ...

Thanks for your information and suggestion to hang the gourds on the house. I like the idea and my son seemed to like the idea, also. He has an ideal location and for two or three years had martins unit a storm came, toppling the house, and several baby martins were killed. He then built the marvelo...

My son plans to use gourds next year and the question has arisen, normally will more than one pair nest in a single gourd? He built a motel for the martins, proper nest size, insulated, composition roof, and they said, no thank you. So he plans to take the house down and replace with an array of gou...

More of these beautiful birds every day. As best I can observe must have at least 10 or 12 nesting pairs. They actually drove the Blue Birds back to their property and giving the sparrows a real battle. Mother’s Day visit away for a few days and must say, will miss my martins. Some of my friends thi...

I am thrilled, more martins this time than I have ever had. A new experience to observe, too. The Blue Birds had virtually claimed the smaller Martin house. As of yesterday the martins became defensive and today they have moved in and the Blue Birds have moved back to their housing on a near by fenc...

Martins are here today by several at a time, busy going in and out, more than I have seen this season and a little comedy to make the show even better. I moved the sparrow trap to within 4 or 5 feet of the Martin houses. When the squirrels come to invade the trap, the martins swoop and the squirrels...

One battle after the other in behalf of our Purple Martin friends. First the sparrows, then starlings, next came the squirrels and now Blue Birds. I have two houses for the Blue Birds about 20 or 30 feet from Martin houses. Even tho they are located in these houses they delight in flying to Martin h...