Purple Martin Forum

Congrats people! The season has begun and you've brought spring to those of us who have just received 6 inches of snow with more expected in a couple of days. Enjoy and thanks for the updates. Hope you have a great season.

Interesting, sounds like my 2023 season. Left 2nd week of July when they usually go another 3 weeks. It's alright though, all the young fledge successfully.

Nice thought but the videos buffered forever and I lost interest.

I could only wish my site was that opened. Yet, I once had 18 pair on a rack with 20 gourds but that was 2 years ago. They are declining as the neighbors trees are encroaching. I probably have just a few more seasons until the old ones are no longer around. Great luck to you!

House Wrens will pierce eggs as much as House Sparrows.

Thanks all. I placed a camera to watch and to livestream. I saw a Grackle check out the nest but I'm not sure if the robins will stay. Haven't seen them at the nest. I wasn't too concerned about the robins bothering the martins. My martins won't begin nest building until may and the young robins wou...

A Robin is building a nest on the arm of my gourd rack. I have about half a dozen Martins in residence. They are gone when she is building and she is long gone when they return. Robins have nested within 20 feet of the gourd rack in the past but now it's on the rack itself. I know Robins to be terri...

I use the clinger tunnels. Suggest using a porch or tunnel if you're going to add them.

Mike Scully (I believe) tested all SREH and all were breached by starlings. I've had starlings breach my clingers. Still better than round openings.

Congrats on the arrival. It's a cool "real feel" of 8 below here.

From the PMCA website:

https://www.purplemartin.org/purple-mar ... /timeline/

Thanks for your thoughts, CapanJack. I have a pair of Finches that have nested in my artificial Barn Swallow nest cup. They have eggs and it's going to be in the teens tonight. A second pair of HF's have been nest building in one of my gourds. Both, Martins and Finches, seem to ignore each other but...

It's late March and I have martins. I also have a pair of House Finches trying to nest. The martins are a month away from nest building. I'm not sure I want House Finches in the gourds. What do you think?

Very pleased to see you post. Hopefully, you'll have a special photo or two to share this season.
Congratulations!

Checking the weather in Galveston, you should be fine with high 40's low 50's. Cold to us, but not so much for Martins.

If you're only interested in reducing mosquitoes, check into attracting bats. Trees aren't such an issue in attracting bats as they are with Purple Martins.

If you enjoy birds, hosting Purple Martins is a great way to make a difference while enjoying birds.

Thanks for posting and congratulations!

Fun to see adults get so excited about our hobby.
Nice to see another Lawrencian on the forum. I live in the city and had 18 pair plus 2 male subs last season.

Hope you have a great season!

I think it was Mike Scully who tested all of the SREH and found they all could be breached. That's why they're called Starling Resistant Entry Holes and not Starling Proof. Had two pair breach mine last year. SREH is a good idea for Purple Martins but does nothing for woodpeckers, chickadees, bluebi...

Always great to hear when your birds return, congratulations and hope your season goes well.

No real snow, but wind chills -20 below. Folks can wait a few days.