Purple Martin Forum

First one arrived today 3/27/2019!

It is actually going to hit 70 today in Columbus. First day in the last 10 that is a decent temperature and not crazy windy. We also only have a few nests started. Funny, I was feeding my fish at the pond last evening and the Martins were diving on me thinking I was throwing scrambled eggs. So back ...

I fed my birds a total of three dozen scrambled eggs over the weekend. They seem to prefer the eggs over crickets. I have also read that the calorie and protein count is much higher with the eggs than crickets if you can train them to eat them. Problem is it gives the birds the runs and things get a...

I always tell newbies to consider the function of a Martin House to be like an Aircraft Carrier and not a Heli-pad. As they leave their compartments they loose a little altitude before accelerating to altitude. They need room to do this. Good Luck!

Good luck to you. It took two years for us to attract any. Had one nesting pair the first year any showed up.

I had another half dozen or so show up myself yesterday. The pace is finally picking up. They must love that strong South wind.

Congrats!!

That's the best news I have heard in awhile! It's been a really weird year. My birds arrived two weeks late, but but arrived in a group of seven. Have only gotten five more since. Had 48 pair last year and fledged 205. Looking forward to the influx for sure. Thank you for the update!

The sub-adult females seem to really like the ASY males. Hopefully he will find a girlfriend soon. We've got lots of tree swallows but no barnies as of yet.

How is everyone's Martin return going so far in Ohio? Were at only about 50% of our typical numbers for this time of year, and even though the weather hasn't been all that bad, the numbers are not growing. Haven't seen a single barn swallow either which is pretty strange. Just curious how everyone's...

Lots of nest building started this weekend here in Central Ohio. No eggs as of yet but they will be here shortly. Do have baby Blue Birds and tree swallows, so it won't be long.

My Martins have been eating between six and twelve scrambled eggs per day for the last two weeks. Last night they took a couple bites only. Finally they are getting some proper nourishment. Hope the warmer weather sticks around!

Did my fifth nest check of the season today and we have lost a dozen little ones in the last week of varying ages. By the looks of the deceased, most have died within the last 24 hours. Have a nest cam in one gourd, all were alive this morning and lost one this afternoon. We have had over 4 inches o...

Had a beautiful Male show up today and he really made his presence known. Have to get those scrambled eggs ready for the weekend!

Had five show up in Cenrtal Ohio today. Can't believe they traveled through that miserable day yesterday. Glad they are back!

My highlight was getting my once in a lifetime photo published on the cover of the Purple Martin Update Magazine!

Dave, glad you are in. Should be a fun day. We all talk and comment in this forum, will be nice to put faces with the names and visit a few colonies. If we could get at least four or five landlords to participate, it will be great. So come on folks, jump in here. Looking forward to the new aquainten...

Anybody interested in a Central Ohio Martin tour? My thought is we could pick a Saturday, have six or so landlords be involved, and travel from colony to colony during the day, and see all the different sites. Probably lots of ideas the us as individuals never thought of or tips that may help us all...

everything has looked great for me this year. i got 22 pair like 105 eggs. then things took a turn for the worst.in a week their was not a day i was not going out and finding a baby missing or dead on the ground. i had one pair with 7 eggs all 7 hatched. then i found one inside the bo11 close to th...

Funny you should ask. The couple across the street had Martins for years, then their colony slowly dwindled to nothing. At the time of the Buckeye fest, they hadn't had Martins for two years. They took Mary's advice on enlarging the compartments, and moved the houses to a more open ''flyway" in...