Purple Martin Forum

Hello, Please note that your speaker does NOT have to be actually on your martin housing. I have founded three new colonies in NY and PA, all in extremely martin sparse areas. There had been no martins sighted anywhere near for years. The only way I attracted them was by very loud dawnsong playing. ...

Hello, I have established a second T-14 with four Troyer horizontal gourds , with 3 nesting pairs this season. This is in addition to my existing colony, details of which are below in my profile. For Martinwatch reporting purposes, I am interested in whether you consider this new house a separate co...

Thank you, that is reassuring. He flew while the house was still almost at the top, and never landed on the ground but took off on the wing. So hopefully he will do well...

Yes, looked like at least one of the parents were after it. None of my young had yet reached the fledge date, so I'm just assuming it was startled and took off. Although , like I say, I've never seen this before. I have a good aluminum pole and nice winch on my new T-14, so it lowers fairly quietly ...

Today I was lowering the house, and a fledgling took off, and flew strongly across the field and out of sight. This was 3 days before the calculated "earliest fledge date". This has never happened to me, actually I've never had any "jumpers" , so I'm interested in the chances of ...

I am interested in any thoughts on whether it is advantageous to provide a handful of nesting material in each compartment prior to the martins arrival in spring. So far I have cleaned out the compartments in fall, and just let them build their own nests the next spring with no material provided by ...

Hello Doug, great to hear you are doing well up there ! glad you survived the cold, wet start to the spring. Luckily for me here in the Laurel Highlands of Fayette County ( think Ohiopyle State Park, Fort Neccessity, Fallingwater, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort ) , my martins held off arriving until jus...

Larry, thanks for the helpful information.... regards, Peter

Thanks Mitch, helpful advice....

Mitch,
Do you have a recommendation as to which PCP air rifle and scope would be the best for my situation, shooting sparrows at about 20 yards.
thanks ! Peter

Thank you to all who responded , the information is very helpful. And I'm finding out how important the "artillery hold" is, just to let the gun recoil. makes a big difference in getting a tight pattern.

Being a newbie to airgunning, I’ve received some great advice lately on selecting the best pellet to use in my RWS Diana Model 34 . 177 I am only using it to shoot sparrows at about 20 yards, so need to focus on accuracy, not firepower. My question is whether with this particular gun , is it better ...

Thank you to all for the great advice ! much appreciated, Peter

Hello all, I need opinions on the best pellet to use in my air rifle. I am shooting sparrows at about 35 yards, so I mainly need accuracy, not firepower. I have an RWS 34 Diana .177 rifle, with a Hawke Vantage 3-9 x 40 AO Mil Dot IR scope. Opinions on what is the best pellet for this set up for spar...

OK, thanks to all for the good advice, I will look in to some protection... good luck to all ! Peter

Has anyone experienced martin loss from owls on Troyer horizontal gourds? I have several , with Conley II entrances, and so far have not had guards on them. My gut feeling is that they are safe without guards, but would be interested in feedback. Thanks ! Peter

Riding a wave of much awaited clear sunny weather, my martins finally returned today. Actually, I am glad they waited, as we have had brutally cold and snowy weather here at 2000 feet elevation in the Laurel Highlands of Fayette County, PA. Saturday was driving snow all day, and Saturday night reach...

Sue, great to hear your birds are returning! I'm about 25 miles northeast of you in Farmington, PA, Fayette County in the Laurel Highlands, not far from Ohiopyle State Park. Erected our T-14 today in the driving snow.... no tree swallows here yet even. But we are at about 2000 feet elevation, so thi...

Hello to all, In this my third year at this site, we attracted 8 nesting pairs, which laid a total of 34 eggs. Did my final nest check yesterday, and 20 young are successfully fledged . Despite regular nest checks and nest replacements, I lost quite a few nestlings, perhaps due to a lot of mites? An...

Mitch, maybe you've done it, but consider installing the Conley II replacement plates available from the PMCA on your T-14. I've had good luck with these, you will have no more trouble from starlings.
regards, Peter