Purple Martin Forum

The martins in Minnesota have been hanging around at several roost sites for the past couple of weeks. One of them was winding down a week ago. The one nearest me, just north of St. Paul, in a reed bed in Bald Eagle Lake, was still very active this past weekend, but we are expecting those birds to h...

From the wording of your question, I picked up that you were concerned about putting your martin houses too close to human activity. Don't worry about that. Martins don't mind at all being close to people. Yesterday, we were busy putting up another house about 15 feet from one with the last remainin...

John,

Thanks a million for your detailed description and tips. I'm sure we would have gotten it up there somehow, but it will be a lot easier now!

Robbo, Ordinarily, I would agree with you. However, I have used Trio aluminum houses for a number of years. In each of the houses, we converted the 12 single compartments into double-compartment "suites" and have made wooden nest boxes for the interior nesting compartments. These boxes hav...

I recently bought a used Lonestar Goliad martin house - 3 floors, 12 compartments. Does anyone have a copy of the instructions explaining how to install it, especially how the winch works, how the cable attaches to the house, etc. We have the pole ready, with the ground socket cemented into the grou...

I entered a simple snapshot of Purple Martin hatchlings in an international photo competition last month. Please share in my excitement of having been among the top 8 winners in over 600 wildlife photo entries from all over the world. See my photo and the other medal winners at: http://www.pcms-phot...

I have a bluebird trail that I check at least weekly. Just like people, birds have different personalities, and some are more tolerant of our intrusions than others. Some females are so protective of their eggs/young that they won't leave the nest when I take the box down to check them. Others fly o...

Craig, Seeing a large group of martins on wires in late evening is exactly how the guys here in Minnesota were able to locate a very large roost in a reed bed on a nearby lake. They observed birds on the wires in late evening, then watched to see what direction they flew when they all left at dusk. ...

Have you looked at PMCA's roost map? There are quite a few possible roost sites in your state. You might find it fun to find and observe the roost site closest to where you live. They are listed by counties. PMCA has been encouraging PM landlords to find and report roost sites in their area. Keep in...

Peggy, Watch to see if they are singing the male song, with the crieeek ending. That is very helpful in ID-ing the sub males. Females never give that song ending. Louise Thanks for your suggestion! Yes, he is, indeed, a subadult male. This morning he is "crieeking" his little heart out! :...

Help me. I have had trouble in the past distinguishing between females and SY males. I've been studying the photos on this PMCA website. Up here in Minnesota, my ASY martins (7 pairs) are busy building nests, not having been here very long. There are not many eggs, yet, in these parts. Yesterday, 5 ...