Purple Martin Forum

Does anyone know of the location of the Dallas Roost this year. It has been a couple of years since I visited, but previously it was located at the bowling alley off of Northwest Hwy. Is it still there or has it moved?

Has anybody been to the Garland roost this year to see if it is active? If so, is it still at the bowling alley off of Northwest Hwy?

I perform nest checks about every 5 days. I feel you can keep better track of the progression of the hatchlings that way. Others may have different opinions.

They will make it. Wait until you see the babies for the first time. I prefer to do nest checks about every 5 days. You can better track the progression of the young that way. Others may have different tactics, but that works for me.

The more they see you they will know you are their friend. My housing is about 8' from my patio chairs and they have been so accustomed to me that I can climb a 8'foot ladder to put oyster shell and pine straw in the raised platform and they don't fly. I can shoot at a starling or sparrow and they j...

Hi Leslie, You are at the right place to learn about hosting martins. I was lucky enough to attract martins my first year, but once I attracted them I did not have a clue what to do. The people on this forum have educated me so much over the past 4 years. I currently have 9 compartments with 9 pair(...

I just bought one of the PMCA nest box traps. It is like a starling magnet. You may want to try it.

Starling Shooter.
Which one in the pmca shop are you talking about. Are you talking about the nestbox trap that resembles a bluebird house or a nestbox insert trap like the universal

I did not know that squirrels were a danger to martins. What do they do? I guess I just never though a squirrel as a predator..

Thanks Ray for your explanation.

Ray Do you hang the gourd w/ trap under your house or by itself somewhere?

Sounds like a nestbox trap purchase is in the future. thanks to all who replied. Ray.. could you explain your idea a little more I cannot picture it.

I have crescent openings, I have a baited trap with popcorn for starlings, I cannot shoot because of the close proximity of houses. But....I found a dead female due to a starling attack. She was attacked coming out of a crescent entry!!!!. The starling cannot get in, but it is harassing my small col...

I keep a raised platform full of pine straw for the martins during nest building. I have never seen a HOSP use it. They would rather use other materials like cigarette butts, yarn, feathers and well you get what I'm saying. As far as smashing their eggs inside the compartments, I would be careful wi...

That is about the same thing we had here in McKinney. Yesterday afternoon the weather was actually pretty nice, even the sun came out for about an hour, hopefully they were able to feed. And then, this morning it was about 45-50 degrees with little or no wind so I hope they were able to feed. I have...

Thanks for all the replies. I am pretty sure that the martins were able to feed yesterday morning prior to the cold front. Since the front came through it has been windy and in the upper 40's and supposed to stay that way until Monday with patches of rain mixed in. I will probably try to see if they...

Craig and Emil, Thanks I too have fed in the past by flipping crickets but it was much colder. I know this was a very general question and every situation is different. Craig, I will probably try feeding tomorrow as well. And just to make you both feel better, I did not order crickets either, and wi...

Is there a need to supplemental feed when the temps are in the upper 40's to low 50's. I know that an extended period of rain will have an impact on the ability to feed but I am not sure about the temperature. and........Are there signs to look for that will tell us landlords that they are hungry?

The male HOSP are abundant this year around my area. What is the best bait for a trap that will not attract desirable birds. And while I am asking how about starling bait as well.
Thanks in advance

It is a junco. Not a sparrow Please release it!!