Purple Martin Forum

I have been a landlord now for over twenty years. I have noticed each year the PM's coming to my site diminishing until the coup de gras last year (june 2013) I had one pair of ASY who were building a nest. I came home after work and saw a 4 coopers over the house and I haven't even seen a PM since....

Thanks Larry. Just last night my wife asked me where the martins went when they left here. My answer to her was that probably all the PM's from the Canadian Prairies went to a roost near a lake somewhere in northern Minnisota probably near Brainerd. I did not know the exact location. Thanks for the ...

That's great, thank you. Bill

I have been using a combination of wheat straw/stubble and cedar shavings for a few years. I screen them with a 1/2" mesh to get out the fine stuff. If the gourde is well vented it tends to stay nice and dry and if you are doing regular nest changes it isn't a problem. The importance to the hea...

What size mesh are you using?

I started in 1993 after buying a PM house at a garage sale. Iput up the house on May 10, 1993 and had my first martins within 10 minutes who stayed and my colony started. It was great. In 1997 I lost my entire colony when they returned on April 23 and the temperature was -20 degrees. I tried feeding...

Hi klcretired Good ideas. Waving arms and acting spazmodic sometimes works but the neighbors think ones lost it, especially at 6AM. I've used concussion noise from a blank pellet rifle, but have actually shot a pellet at a tin chimney which makes a loud wham and that works well too. I wonder if anyo...

What did you use to scare the hawks? Don't want to hurt them but just keep them away.

I spoke with Penny on the phone and she was a fabulous lady with excellent suggestions. Being able to talk with someone who has some experience is just so gratifying. I'll keep you updated on how the little guy makes out. Thank you

Thank you Linda. I had the same thing last year but it was a dislocated foot and it took me three days of rehabbing him and some homemade physio therapy and he flew away. And much to my absolute amazement he came back this year. This guy is a little more seriously injured. I think I have his leg set...

One of the fledglings fell being knocked off the house either by a king bird or other martin. I saw it happen and he went straight down. I went to pick him up to put him back up on the house but noticed that his left leg was dragging and obviously in trouble. I've called vets and a wildlife refuge w...

All four fledged, healthy and strong, great on the wing. Mom and dad brought them in for the night which was really great.

My wife lowered the house today and checked the entrance and tunnel and nothing was blocking the entrance. One fledged about an hour later this morning and flew around very actively for two hours before returning. The landing left a bit to be desired but eventually the young one got back into the go...

Thanks for the advice. I never thought of that because the parents go in and out freely several times per day with no difficulty at all.

We've got 4 young now at 32 days with mom and dad still actively feeding. I expected they would have fledged by now as all others in past years pretty much fledged on day 28. They are rotating positions at the entrance for food, appear really healthy. We've done nest changes and kept real good care ...

mine are due to fledge in 4 days and I have an ASY pair and a few subbies hanging around. They've been really helpful in chasing off the murder of crows and several varieties of hawks. More than likely scoping out new digs for next year. However, when the young fledge, these "hangers around&quo...

I must add that the horizontals leak at the seam where the tunnel entrance attaches. I sealed mine with some white silicone including the little pins that hold them in. Also at the top where the rod or bolt goes through to hang them need to be sealed as well otherwise water just runs in and adds to ...

That problem is caused by not enough ventilation. I had Troyer Horizontals which became foul, damp like a sauna, and the hatchlings were not healthy. They had deformed feathers and drooping tails and had much difficulty flying. I placed two 1/2" PVC elbows at the top so that the humidity from t...

In 1997 I lost my entire colony due to an extreme cold snap. They arrived on April 23 and the temperature dropped to -20 degrees. I was still new to the landlord thing having had a colony at that time for four years. I tried to feed them but they were not interested. The next morning they were all d...

All my PM's from my existing colony have disappeared due to the bad weather. I had pretty much given up. I noticed in one gourde an area hollowed out in the back like they like to do but never see any PM;s going in or out. I leveled the straw bedding and the next morning it was dug out again into a ...