Purple Martin Forum

As usual, when the martins come to Port O'Connor, the weather is not very inviting. Wind gusts around 30 mph+ are finally subsiding. These birds are not my regulars because the gourds are full as well. They like perching here to get out of the wind since it is on protected south side. Time to go scr...

My regulars came in early tonight after a good day feeding. I came inside thinking the show was over. When I looked out the window a half hour later, martins were dropping out of the sky and elbowing their way into the established gourds. I counted around 37 that are definitely migrating through. So...

Thanks everyone for the comments; BirdyGirl and KathyF--I just hope I can do enough. MommaBruff, I did hear a few martins shouting "Joplin". Now I know what they were talking about DebA--it is nice to have trained martins. THey teach the others quickly. Hey, ANthony, did you notice the dec...

Thanks, Jim. I am getting ready to fill up the B & B tray and have to head home to your direction. I wish I could sit here all day and watch them. They are mesmerizing, even as sad as they are now. I sure hope all these fellows make it. Looks like another hard week ahead. In this pic, they still...

I counted 64 martins on the electric line in addition to these in the pics. Martins were out most of the day yesterday and came back hungry. I flipped 2 dozen eggs last evening. Have already flipped a doz. this AM and sent husband for more. It is heart-wrenching to see them tumble from roof line to ...

Just wanted to confirm what others are saying about the great weather day yesterday. I am not on the coast today but my husband, who is, called and said there were well over a hundred martins spending the night with ours. This is typical of their pattern of coming in mass numbers one day, and then g...

The weather was horrible for the martins on the coast this past week. I flipped many eggs and kept an eye out for hawks. One Coopers?? is actually sitting under the martin housing in the morning when I scare him off. He is persistent. These martins spend long hours gliding low over the pond. I wonde...

Hey John!! I am glad folks enjoyed the flycatcher. I figure you see quite a few in your neighborhood. They were always hopping around the cactus when we had a place down there. I didn't know they came this far north. I have to get a jump on martin season since I am off for the holidays. I will be ra...

Deck the halls in red!! While readying my martin houses, I had a vermillion flycatcher keeping me merry as he looked on.
Happy Holidays and a Prosperous Martin Season to all.

Hey, Sparky, I was having the very same discussion about my colony in Port O'Connor. End of Feb., there were some migrants staying overnight, but I have not seen any "sleepovers" since. I have about a dozen unoccupied gourds at this time which is pretty unusual. And, there seems to be a sh...

Hey John, I can empathize with you. Unfortunately for you, the high pressure zone that is causing the inferno for you moved from here last week. It got to be 105-6 on our shaded porch. We only have one nest left waiting to fledge. It really hurts one's lungs to breathe. I don't see how the martins c...

For a couple of seasons, shrieks have shared the martin's B & B tray eggs. Shrieks impale their food (insects, lizards, snakes) on thorns and twigs for later. I had to chuckle when I saw this in my cypress this morning. Notice how meticulously I cut the eggs into little squares for my martins. O...

I have seen lots of Martins starting to come into POC. There is a momentary break in the drizzle and rain, so hopefully they will get something to eat other than scrambled eggs. I have taken a couple of pics of them resting up for the next leg of their journey. Maybe you will recognize some of yours...

Hey John! I remember you telling me about your female and have looked for it at other colonies around here, but not yet spotted her. I took several pics of this one, so I will try to see if I have any with a band on it that I can zoom in on. If so, I will let you know. Thanks again for introducing u...

Melissa and TAmmy, it was not around very long, but other martins accepted it readily. It is too early for subbies here, so it is an adult. I think it was just hanging out here...no attempts to go into a gourd. Tonight there are a lot of transients packing in gourds before their trip northwood. I pr...

Thanks, A.P. I am glad, too. I have never seen one in real life before. It makes it hard to get anything done...all I want to do is watch it!

This fellow showed up to weather the wet weather. He sure made my day! I hope this guy stays, but I fear I must enjoy him as long as I can because I think he is just a visitor. Many show up at my door step for an egg handout on these rainy days. Hope he cheers you as well.

,,,other than I saw this while sitting on my deck watching my martins. I get a rare glimpse of nature on occasion that I find interesting. As I was counting my martins, I noticed out of the corner of my eye a dark image scurrying about on the pond shore. An egret ran over, speared it, smashed it on ...

Port O'Connor is having a tough season for the martins. Wind has been 25 mph since March. Only 1" of rain since Jan. I guess we are lucky compared to the good folks along the Mississippi R. A 6 hr. round trip to POC yields no bugs on the windshield...nothing flying. We have been scrambling at l...

Thanks, Linda. I have to admit that I have learned a lot from your posts Tim, I am sure this is one John Barrow's banding projects. I don't know how to get close enough to read numbers on bands. I don't have one of those spotting scopes. I am determined to get some readings on these birds' bands. An...