Purple Martin Forum

Two Purple Martins at Shady Point, Ok. 2/25/18 Don Strickland

Four new arrivals Feb 27, 2016, at Shady Point, Oklahoma. Don Strickland. Couldn't get on the report arrival page.

I had just about lost hope. Only had 8 birds, but today the population has more than doubled..... :-)
Hope everyone has the same experience...

I live pretty close to GregB and I think he is right. Just a very few at my place.

Saw one flying overhead just minutes ago, checking out the area.
Looked like a Male.
Don

Nothing ventured, Nothing gained, and you'll never know for sure until you give it a shot.
Just my humble opinion.....

Connie, I removed two aluminum houses. They were getting too hot and the babies were jumping. Sad sight to go out and find 3 or 4 dead, so I took down the aluminum houses. I tried to remodel to make them cooler but that didn't work. I'd rather have fewer Martins than have to witness the death of the...

I enjoyed the story Randall. Now it's time to get out the saw and build one for your Dad....
Don

Dan G..
The one Dorn has is the same basic design as the three I use year around. They really work very well....I modified mine so they are super sensitive. I caught a Tiny Carolina Wren last year...(Emphasizing Sensitivity)...
Don

Trapped my first Starling yesterday. First catch since November.
Don

Yep Delma, Time flies when you're having fun or "GETTING OLD"...
I hope you have a successful Purple Martin 2015.
Don

I have BB boxes on the same pole as Martin house....About three feet below bottom of martin house....They raised young in it last season. Several other BB boxes on individual poles scattered around also. I don't know if they would nest in the same house that martins use. I have 6 boxes with BB size ...

Mine stay. I've had 6 or 8 hanging around.
Don

It seems unusual that Sparrows would be checking out possible nesting sites this early, but.....Trapped 4 and Maraudered 1 today.
Don

Hundreds of Starlings down here but they are pretty savvy about my place. When they are close enough for a shot gun, they are all perched on the cable tower and I can't shoot at them.
So far this year I have eliminated 128 Starlings/Sparrows. Trapping and shooting.
Don

Did some thinning and some modifications, so I'm playing the waiting game but I hope they wait till March to come back home...Last year there was snow on the houses when they arrived. Best of luck to everyone???
Don

Dave
I did more searching and I too think it is a yellow rumped warbler. I had never seen one before. Unfortunately, I mistakenly thought it was a sparrow.
Don

Resembles a sparrow, but has a patch of yellow feathers on the rump.
Don

Annie, I use shooting bags front and back to steady my aim. The front bag has an elevation adjustment. I bought the bags at Midwayusa. I also have my shooting station set up on a table on the back porch. I spend a lot of time out there so the scum birds are not alarmed by seeing me. When shooting fr...

Yes Conrad. I was at the same place as Jim in the beginning. I wasted the price of a Marauder on springers and scopes, so counting the waste and finally getting a Marauder, mine was really expensive. I do understand being on a tight budget though, because I am on a tight one.
Don