Purple Martin Forum

Sad to say my birds are on their way South, left 7/26.. They left a little earlier than last year. All in all a good year same number of pairs (5) as last year. Soo quiet!
Grundy Center, Iowa

I have 8 THGs . All have vents that I installed. Purchase a 3/4 inch PVC street ell, 3/4 inch plug and a tube of silicone calking. On the back side towards the top of the gourd drill a 1 inch hole, dope the street ell with the calking and screw it in to the1inch hole. if you have a Troyer catalog he...

Thanks, Henry I will check out photobucket.
Jerry

What is the largest image sizes that can be posted?
Jerry

Trying to insert the trip wire into the hole of the entrance tunnel. Does anyone have a simple method to instal the wire into the hole? Preparing to eliminate some HS as the season ends.

Jerry

I guess I should read my message before posting! I ment to say ,no bodies, and I misspelled Louise should know how to spell it cause it was my mothers name

Thanks to all of you for the advise! All of the babies are gone and the parents seem to be gone. There are still birds in the area and land on the house . I hope the young survive somehow! I cut the grass today and there were bodies or other signs. I hope that I have the opportunity to use the learn...

Young birds about 25-26 days old. Had heavy rain this morning. Decided to do nest check. Nest and birds was exmtreamly wet, decided to transfer birds into clean and dry gourd and place in same location, both are Troyer horizontal with Conley II entrances. When I lowered the nest I had a jumper, caug...

Carlo,
Thanks, I do have a trap and just set it and baited it with white bread. I placed about 25' from the pole next to my asparagus patch where the HS visit quite a lot. Pic is the 5 I hope fledge soon so the HS does no harm.

Thanks,
Jerry

Tim,
Thanks for the link. I enjoyed your photos. I have several of my Y but need to reduce their size so I can post.

Jerry

Hi Tim,

Where did you post your pictures?

Jerry

Thanks for your input and suggestion. I plan to leave the HS nest alone until the PM chicks fledge and then set my traps. It does look like, as you mentioned, that the HS are this years fledgelings and have flocked together.

Jerry

I have 5 feathered-out young babies which I guess to be at least 20-22 days old. this is my first success at having a pair and having young PM. My site consists of a T-14 (with Troyer tunnels) and 4 Troyer Horizontals gourds all with Conley II entrance. My site has been invaded by a flock 6+ HS's wh...

Thanks for your input. Did nest check and found mites. Nest was fine babies were fine and growing., I put 1/4 test.,of seven in the nest.mthe mites were on the outside of the gourd lid. Did not see many inside. Since this is my successful hatch I am some what over protrctive.

Is it possible to replace a gourd with a different (clean) one. I want be prepared since my gourds are not vented. Babies are three weeks old temp and humity are almost equal 90 degrees. It would be easier to swap gourd than replace the nest, I could also replace with a ventilated gourd. Thanks for ...

I repurposed mu old T-14 wooden pole. Made my own hub and added brownie pans attached wil 1 inch al angle.

Dave,
Here is a picture of my prototype hub. I use shop scraps, 3/4 " cedar, 3" aluminum angle and 1/4" plastic. I plan to attach 1" aluminum angle for the support arms. Will use for a feeder, ouster shell, this year gourds next year if required(optimistic).

Jerry

Dave,
Thanks I might try to develop a two piece ,clam shell, hub. I will post my results when finished. Good idea about the Teflon.
Regards,
Jerry

David,
I have a similar situation except I am installing an Aluminun pole for my T 14. I plan on using my wood pole for gourds. My question! How did yo make your hub? And is it in two pieces if not how did you get on your pole.? Thanks for your post!

Jerry

No snakes and no feathers. The only culprit in the area could be a wren who has nest about 100 ft from my T14. I am not able to see the house were the nest is. My house is on the North side of the site and of course the martins decided to nest on the South side. Thanks for the response to both of you.