Purple Martin Forum

Well we finally saw our first pm scout today. It was a adult male single. made a lot of flyovers. He lit a few times checked out the gourds. We had our dawn song going all day. I supposed that was what attracted him to our site. We hope this is a start of more to come. Good luck to all Land Lords th...

Male and female came back this evening and piled in one of my new Excluder gourds and stayed the night. They were flying with a single male. He did not come down and eventually went on his way.I don't recall having our first pair stay the first night before. Wish it was always that easy.

Male and female came back this evening and piled in one of my new Excluder gourds and stayed the night. They were flying with a single male. He did not come down and eventually went on his way.I don't recall having our first pair stay the first night before. Wish it was always that easy.

Well we have broken the ice here in Baton Rouge,La a male and female arrived on our site around 7:am this morning. Very excited to see them, they were around 3 days behind last year but we are not complaining. They were curious about the gourds going in and out. They seemed to know their way around ...

s&k does have clinger entrances. $1.89ea so i ordered a dozen to try. thanks for the info.

where do you get those clinger entrances from? i have never seen them before.

Well sounds like they are getting close to me here in BR,La. I am ready and waiting for them. My birds are not quite as early as yours as I have another week to go. But who knows maybe they will be a little early this year. Have a good year.

Hi, I believe the clinger entrance you asked about refers to an entrance that has a plate attached to it below the entrance opening. The plate is for the martins to use for a tail prop to help them hang onto the opening. It also helps them with balance and to help them propel into the cavity opening...

Hi, I have found that with decoys and playing the dawn song cd it helps with attracting more P Martins. My birds don't seem to mind the decoys they even perch on them. As for hawks they are fooled often and hit on the decoys. Sure glad I have mine and I leave them up all season.

Gussiemike, I put a picture of this (above) on this forum on Jan 5 Emil, i saw the pic of your side boards on the entrance. I will try this on my gourds. I have some Troyer Horizontal gourds with oblong entrances and have had some starlings breach them in past years. Last year did not have a proble...

Any entrance that is 1-3/16 in tall, will keep out starlings if you modify it as follows: 1)put some 3/4in thick sides on the entrance about 1-7/8 inches or 2in apart. I use Lexel to fasten the sides. I use wood sides or pvc sides. I put the sides on the outside. They are harder to attach on the in...

Hi, I have had natureline gourds for several years. Mine are with the cresent entrance without any porches. My martins love them. No problem coming and going with them. My natureline gourds are some of the first to fill up with birds, and they are very productive as well. Meaning eggs are a plenty. ...

Well I think you are going to do just fine this year. I would be pumped up also if I had those new houses. Sounds like you needed to upgrade for safety reasons if nothing else. It is easy to fall off a ladder and get hurt. I think your neighbor is going to run is birds off because of the sparrows an...

Hey Bobby, I am still not sure why my numbers are in decline. Trees are not the problem and as far as hawks sure I have had my share of attacks but I don't i don't think that is it. I have 4 dummies on each of my 3 poles 8 gourds on each of them, Like you i can tell when they have paid a visit, dumm...

Hi Bobby, man sounds like you have been very busy expanding your site. Can't wait to seem some of your pics of the houses you have designed. Hope you and all of us have a great year.
gussiemike.

Man, what an awesome site all those birds on one house. Looks like you hit the mother load there. Are you expanding this year. Looks like you have lots of opportunity there. What a nice problem to have on first year all those birds. You can get plenty of help and advise on the forum. Welcome, Gussie...

Hi, I have been a landlord for 11 years now with some success. Only the last two years I have experienced a decline in my numbers here. I live right off of Millerville and I 12. I have learned a lot from the good people on this forum and I thank them for sharing their knowledge and experience about ...

Dave, I hope this will be your year as well. You seem determined. You have been trying since 2011 very commendable. It only takes one to start your colony. Much enjoyment to be had when they start coming. Keep us posted on your year. gussiemike.

Hi, I am in Baton Rouge, our martins usually arrive around early Feb. However with the weather like it has been we put up one of our three gourd racks. They could come early this year we hope. Looking and listing for them. Hope everyone has a great season.

Great news! Ready and waiting in Baton Rouge,La