Purple Martin Forum

Thank you both for the information. I was not prepared for such heat, especially when I was gone. Feel like I failed the birds, but I will learn from the experience and try to be a better landlord. What do they say, the silence is deafening. I sure miss their music.

I had two ASY pair with four 10-day old chicks each. Our family left for a camping trip last Wednesday. The forecast indicated that it would be low- to mid-90s with dewpoints in the mid-70s on Thursday and Friday and we would be gone until Sunday. Quite hot for Minnesota. I have Troyer horizontal go...

Thank you for the replies. These wonderful birds are always teaching me something! I guess I just had to ask the question - the final nestling just fledged. Mom had to coax it a little, but its first flight was successful. Also witnessed a vicious chase between an Eastern Kingbird and PM. Starting t...

First: What is the longest number of days young have stayed in the nest prior to fledging for some of you out there? I have an ASY pair with 3 young. Two of them flew yesterday for the first time on day 31. The third one has yet to leave the nest as of day 32. Still coming to the front to be fed, bu...

I've posted a few times indicating that it took me 9 years to have my first nesting pair in 2022. Had another lone nesting pair in 2023. Both years the pair laid 5 eggs and fledged 5 birds. I was hoping to have at least one more pair this year and to my delight I did. Had an ASY pair nest early and ...

For those veteran landlords and/or bird banders, is it unheard of/rare/common for the same male and female to mate from one year to the next given their high site fidelity? Curious if any have observed this. Thanks.

Todd

After 7 years, I finally had a nesting pair (SY male and SY female) in 2022. I am always looking at the progression of landlord's colonies on their posts and it seems as though almost all of them take off the second year. I was hoping for great things the second year (2023) and only had one nesting ...

After 8 years of no PMs, I had my first nesting pair (SY male and female) last year. I was beyond excited watching them and learning as they fledged 5. My anticipation was off the charts coming into this year as I replaced my mobile gourd rack with an aluminum pole and winch system. I'm thankful tha...

Thank you for your responses. Two hours after I posted this an SY pair showed up and is perched with the nesting pair atop the pole. We'll see if they hang around. I think I leave the dawn song alone. Thanks again.

I had my first nesting pair last year - a SY male and SY female. It was a very late spring this year in MN and I had an ASY male and ASY female show up on May 6th. They began building a nest on May 10th and continue to do so - I have yet to see them bring any leaves into the nest. I have had only on...

I closed the vents as we have had a rough stretch of weather. In my second year and only have one pair to date. They have started constructing a nest. Waiting for SYs to arrive for the year here in SW Minnesota. My question is - What temperature do you typically open the vents? FYI - I have vertical...

I have said over the past couple years that God created purple martins to work on my patience. This year has been no exception. We have had strange and difficult weather like so many others have described. I live in SW Minnesota and we had a pretty tough winter and a very late spring. After 8 unsucc...

I had four vertical gourds on a movable stand the past many years as I moved it around my yard in an effort to attract martins. Finally had a nesting pair so I am going to put up some permanent housing. Just looking for the opinions on the deluxe 12-unit rack and the 12-unit round rack. Any informat...

Thanks randyM for the information. I'm planning on leaving the ole rickety portable house up until labor day. Had a brief sighting of a pair last evening, but they didn't stay long and definitely no young of the year with them.

Not quite that bad, Tom. Used a ladder to get up in the loader. Unfortunately, I needed the loader to go about a foot higher and I was not willing to stand on anything in the loader as I value my health. Planning to mount something permanent with a winch system for next year. FYI, none of the young ...

They fledged!!! I was out and about so I only saw the last one fly off. It was very anti-climactic. Have not seen any sign of them the rest of the day. It will be interesting to see if they return at all given how late in the year it is. I'm cautiously optimistic about next year. I have had quite a ...

I did a nest check on July 1st and the first chick had just hatched so I am confident about July 1. That being said, I don't know when the remaining 4 hatched.

Thought I would give an update on my lone SY pair in SW Minnesota. Once again, my first pair after 8 years of no success. What a learning experience it has been. I'm on day 27 after first hatched bird and they are still looking out the gourd. None have fully emerged from the gourd yet. It seems as i...

I've posted a couple times in the last few weeks about my first nesting pair (SYs) after 8 dry years. Based on my nest checks and information from this website, I wrote the following down on my calendar: IMG_20220701_114743230.jpg Before we left for vacation on July 1st I did a quick nest check and ...

Thanks for all the information. It's kind of ironic as I've been waiting for martins for 8 years and now I have too many! I was so hoping they would pair up, but it is what it is.

I guess I can hope they return as ASYs next year.