Purple Martin Forum

We have had 2 PMs taken by a hawk already this season! We try to go out every evening if we can because it comes in the morning AND each evening ---- it knows the routine of the Martins!! I am so disgusted! And, to top it off...on the other side of our home, we feed the birds and have a TON of "...

Thank you for all of the suggestions...I definitely like to know what works and what does not. Will definitely be using netting from what I have been reading on here. Also the square predator guard right below our PM house has very sharp edges...this was purchased at our local WBU store and is made ...

Am not going to cut the bucket in half and make all those adjustments with seams, screws, etc. We found a large 5 gal smooth bucket and only plan to make a hole in the center with no seams at all...will cut off all ridges around the neck and any handles...we plan to slip the bucket over the pole (up...

http://chuckspurplemartinpage.com/predgard.htm

Also, view the website on the link above...it should show all the steps how this was made. These large buckets come smooth without rings on them, just need to shop around for those. (See photo for baffle breach)

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I am going to try this in conjunction with the other measures I use...netting for snakes and a square of metal mesh at the top (see photo). This bucket is very wide and all the handles are cut off. We have a metal baffle we bought on this site, but I just saw photos posted of a large snake making it...

I think you have to look more at whether the entrance holes on the new house are different than your old house. Other than that, the martins will probably be very glad for the "upgrade."

Connie, you are just a little north of us...yours should be on the way soon!

Ours were right on time this year...same for the last 2 years or so.

http://chuckspurplemartinpage.com/predgard.htmm

This link above is to a website that has what appears to be a good, inexpensive, and easy idea for making a predator baffle. Am going to try it this weekend. Just FYI...

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The pair was still on the porch at dawn...we quickly removed the wooden house and put up the trusty Coates Suites. All morning the Martins have been going in and out and sitting on the porches! They are relieved...and so are we! We plan to make adjustments to the wooden house and put it up later wit...

Well, unfortunately, an adult pair and 1 adult male tried and could not make it into the house tonight...it is now dark and they are just sitting on the porches...we plan to take the house down in the morning and replace it with our Coates Suites until we can adjust the entrance holes. It was heartb...

No, Emil, I cannot take credit for the quilt...but, in my defense, I can sew some.

Thank you for the positive responses ... my husband is humbled! Yes, 6 compartments -- suites with screws to hold the front panels that flip up for nest checks/cleaning. Lots of perches. It is painted the color of our house and has the same roof pitch too. Made from cedar. Looks great from the road!...

Well, they arrived this morning! Have not seen them enter yet...fingers crossed!!

Look what landed today in Jeanerette, Louisiana!! Really hoping they can enter my new house! (My husband built it for my Christmas present!) Ours usually arrive around SuperBowl time...they did not miss by much this year.

Wow!! Thank you all for the quick and informational responses!! Will take them under advisement. BTW, still waiting for 1st arrivals here in Jeanerette, Louisiana. They arrived around Super Bowl Sunday the last 2 years, but nothing yet.

Hi! My husband and I have had much success using a Coates Suites (aluminum) house for a few years now. For Christmas this year, my husband surprised me with a beautiful cedar house he built himself -- with the crescent SREH. All seems great, except I have 1 question...what is the maximum DEPTH of th...

Well, I was so excited to have 3 adult males and 1 female show up about a week or so ago...but, then we had several nights of 25, 27 degree weather with rain/wind. I had never attempted feeding scrambled eggs before, but I decided to try it ---- was unsure if they needed it, but thought I would try....

Loggerhead Shrikes are predator birds and are bad news! Their nickname is "the butcher bird." They are known for killing small birds and rodents and stabbing the dead onto branches to come back again and again to feed on it. They are very aggressive in winter. We always try to deter them f...

Just checking in for 2011 from Jeanerette, Louisiana. Anyone having arrivals in our state yet? Last year, our 1st scout arrived Super Bowl night! Have our suites up and ready with pine needles. Will keep you posted.

Annette Landry