Purple Martin Forum

Thanks everyone, looks like there have been other interesting but ineffective tactics out there. Mike, I was starting to wonder if taking the porches off too might make the idea work, but looks like they get in even with no porch! I think I'll be leaving things as they are. I don't want to make the ...

Thanks for the replies and comments, I thought I'd check to see if removing perches might be worth adding to my current methods of control. The traps and the shotgun work well, but I'd remove every perch off the housing if I thought it would help keep them dang sparrows out.

Anna

Thanks for the replies and comments, I thought I'd check to see if removing perches might be worth adding to my current methods of control. The traps and the shotgun work well, but I'd remove every perch off the housing if I thought it would help keep them dang sparrows out.

Anna

Last night I attended a webinar on Backyard Wildlife Managemet. All different types of wildlife were mentioned, including a short segment on purple martins. The presenter stated that house sparrows are a threat to purple martins, as we all know is true, because they compete for the housing. The cont...

Mine like shredded corn stalks and peices of the corn roots. Pretty coarse stuff. Some make shelves of mud along with the other materials. When it comes time to bring in green leaves, most are preferring pear tree leaves, while some like Willow or pieces of Maple leaves. This year there has been som...

Good Job Sam, wish I could say the same today. Too many other songbirds around with the House sparrows tonight so no good clear shot. Bummer, it always feels great to get one thats been bugging the martin houses. Maybe tomorrow.

Keep on getting after them!

Anna

If you have a bird book, look up white crowned and white throat sparrow.
Both have white stripes with black on their head.

Anna

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate the help. Tried the flipping thing today just to see if the birds would go for it. Nada, I think my crickets are too small for flipping, didn't get very good height. I'll have to try that again another time. I put plenty of crickets in each compartment a bit fart...

Thanks Kathy, By that I'm looking at about 4-5 days if I assume they won't be getting much other food. I might go broke if they don't start to eat eggs. I tried some when the first few showed up but they only ate the crickets, so I've just been giving them what they like. Maybe if I cut the egg up s...

Looks like eastern Wisconsin is in for a run of 30 and 40 degree temps, wind, and rain. Could go on for several days so I'm wondering about how many crickets might be needed to get the PMs through a week or so of this? I'm new to supplimental feeding, and I have 2000 crickets with about 12 birds. Th...

Hi Tom, I can hardly believe you had one come in Sunday! We had such nasty weather. I saw my first two today. It is a nice day so I hope they get settled in and decide to have some food. A little warm mellow weather for awhile would be good too. Have fun!

Anna

I am home with a nasty cold today so I was late getting up, but when I took the dog out there were two martins sitting on the housing! It is a little surprising to me because we have had some cold and stormy weather. I also was amazed because I have not seen any martins reported in Wisconsin on the ...

My humming birds are all still here, but Fall is going to set in soon, I expect them to be leaving anytime now.

Anna

Hi Robbo, I think Bob Buskas North Star House is the best house. I inherited mine from the previous owner of my residence, but if I was to choose on my own from everything available, I would choose this house. For our northern climate it offers deep compartments, the wood insulates against the cold ...

Hi all, I read other posts today and got inspired to post my results for 2010. The year turned out very well for the martins here also. Some do still come to the housing at night, but I think most have begun moving south. I had 14 ASY pairs nest, and they had 79 eggs. Every egg hatched. This a first...

Good work! So glad to hear your martins did so well. Them dang sparrows sure can drive ya nuts though. Go get em!!

Anna

Great Job Carl! Your martins did really well and I am so glad to hear it. Just goes to show that with a little help from us and a little help from mother nature, the martins can really have amazing success.

Anna

Hi Fred,

That was a pretty amazing video. Who would have thought spiders could get up and move though our atmosphere? I can say I have definately learned something new today. Thanks for sharing that.

Anna

Hi Robbo, yes that is a Ruby throat hummingbird. Its hard to get pictures of them because they move faster than I do. I get focused, and then they fly away, aghh. Dave, Wow, a great blue heron is huge. That must have been quite a sight seeing him on your housing. The reaction of your martins to it i...

Congratulations on your successful year with the Purple Martins! Good job with that snake too, eeew. I am real glad we don't have pole climbing, bird eating snakes in Wisconsin. Its one less thing to cause them trouble. The martins here did great this year even though 2009 was very bad with many you...