Purple Martin Forum

Thats great to hear, Im in central Ind. hope they are here soon.

It has cooled off here again. So far six adult males have been back for a little over a week and no girls yet, this year is strange.

According to the Scout report it looks like the Scouts are through the state. What I dont understand is I thought Martins were suppost to return to thier nesting site each year. Last year I had eight pair raising thirty-eight young and also some Subies hanging around.This year I dont have the first ...

For the last two days I have found eggs with holes in them below my gourds. I finally seen who is causing the damage, a little wren has now broke three martin eggs and I am afraid it will be all out war on him.

I have a ASY female that keeps diving at me when I am anywhere in the yard. She has no eggs or young to protect yet. I thought martins liked people around.

Dose anyone know when egg laying starts in Indiana ? Thanks.

Well I finally have birds showing up. I have a ASY pair that have been her e for three days and the last two nights have stayed in the same natrual gourd. I also have had eight ASY males coming in and checking out the housing, I think they are from the amish farm. I hope this is the start of a new c...

Yes the weather here in Indiana has been bad for martins. I live around several Amish farms and they all have T-14s with gourds and thier martins are back. I have the same setup 2 T-14s with gourds and 2 gourd racks and have not seen one martin at my site this year. This was a new site last year and...

Jeff I just put up a 16' tall 3" square 1/8" thick steel pole with gusets welded on the bottom 8" square plate and bolted to a concrete pad. I love it and the pole only cost $55. I used the Hazer system for the house mount that you can find plans on the internet. My T14s are around 10...

We have no Martins yet this year but decided to put houses up half way in anticipation. I went from 2" round holes to Crescents 1/4" off porch on my T14s this year. I looked out this morning and two starlings were trying to enter and to my surprise they could not get in. They kept sliding ...

Can anyone tell me why the crescent holes have to be a half inch above the porch on my T14, thanks for any help.

Well here it is over half way through May and still no Martins.
I have done everything by the book, Dawn Song, decoys and two different house and gourd locations.
I am a mile from amish and thier one house is full.
Trying to understand.
I have just about give up for this year.

Hey steve send some of those SY up to Indiana.

I have two T-14s and two gourd racks.I did have a few ASY males checking the place out but I think they were from the Amish farm a mile away. I was not sure on my house location so I decided to move One T-14 and gourd rack to give them a option. Now I have not seen them for two weeks. Still hoping f...

My site is new and didnt expect this adult male to visit let alone try and get in one of my T14 homes. I had it closed waiting for SY birds and he shows up two times that I know of.
First will he come back ? Was he wanting to make this home ?
My houses are now open.
Thanks.

Gene I built One out of pine and one out of poplar, the poplar is very heavy. I use one coat of oil based primer and two coats of oil based paint.
From now on I will use pine it is far cheaper.

I am trying to attract Martins for the first time. I have two T-14 with gourds on them and two gourd racks 12 each. The gourds are open but my t-14 are still closed. The Amish that live near me have thier martins back. I am using decoys and playing the dawn song and have not seen much activity other...