Purple Martin Forum

I have a question about the metal poles for my gourds. I have a neighbor who says they are like lightning rods. I was talking about leaving them up all year because It's getting difficult for me to put them up every year. Does anyone have some knowledge about this? I did have lightning strike one of...

I still have Martins also! Mostly adults!!

Last year an English Sparrow destroyed the eggs in one of my gourds! Do you see male English Sparrow around your gourds. If so, please get rid of them!

I use a Bird Magnet and I have been very satisfied with it. The first couple of years I just had it sitting in a chair on my deck, plugged into an outdoor receptacle. The sound can be adjusted and you can also adjust it to play all the time or you can adjust it to start playing at dawn and stop play...

Hi there!

I purchased the Bird Magnet my first year and played it all season. Did the same last year (using the same machine). I have stopped playing it this year because it seemed to bother our new puppy....but I will definitely use it again next year.

Omyakinback, I'm a little north of Bill and Kathy in Virginia. 2010 was my first year trying to attract PMs. I put my pole and gourds up on May 26th and got my first SY male on May 28th. So it's not too late. Don't give up! BTW, that first male returned in 2011 and this year also. This year I have u...

Wonderful news, Mike. Those first eggs and hatchlings are so exciting!

Wonderful news, Tom!!

Thanks so much guys for all the answers. This is the second day in a row of 40's temps and almost constant showers. I just purchased 100 crickets and I'm going to lower the rack and place them just inside the doors of the gourds. Tomorrow is supposed to be back in the high 50's and only 10% chance o...

I was on the Forum last week about the cold snap and feeding the martins. It seems I read 2 different opinions about when feeding should be done. One said when the temps are in the 40s, another said when temps are in the 50s feeding is necessary. Which is it, 40's or 50's? Or will they do ok for a c...

Laverne,
I can't imagine keeping track of all those birds. I have trouble keeping track of my 10 (I think)?

Do you have help with the nest checks?

Congratulations on all the great work. Enjoy!!

As of today, I have 8 Purple Martins - 3 pair ASYs (males and females) and 2 ASY males who still need mates. Last night I picked up 4 or 5 SYs. Don't know yet if they are staying around or paired up. This morning my phone rang and it was a neighbor calling to say that one of my Martins had a Starlin...

The decals that I mentioned earlier are $6.99 for a package of 8. I see six windows in you photos. The decals are 4x4 or 4x6. Just one on each window would work, but if you put 2 on each window, two packages of 8 would not be that expensive. You might also look for them cheaper on the web. Just do a...

You can purchase "Cling-on window decals". I'm not sure that's exactly what they are called, but they adhere to your windows and are visible to the birds but do not hamper your view. Here is one site on-line that offers them (not too expensive either!). http://www.wpines.com/WindowDecals/D...

Louise, thanks for the great suggestion. I will do just that - plug all gourd openings but 4 and put the crickets just inside the opening. Laverne, you have a great point also. I may be worrying and jumping the gun a bit. This week, so far, has been very blustery, but the temps have been over 50, ex...

I've read all the posting lately about tossing Crickets. It's in the 40s and very windy here in the Shenandoah Valley. I purchased some Crickets, froze and defrosted them and tried tossing them to my PMs. I have 4 male adults and 1 one female. If they are on the porches or perches they either fly aw...

Great new, Tammy! This is my third year. I've had martins in the two previous years, but not a one yet this year! Makes me sad!

Gobbler,

I even have a street sign now in my front yard saying "l". If they can read, that should help, huh? :-)

Gobbler T, I know how you feel this year. I've had PMs the last two years but not one has come to stay yet this year. Haven't even seen many lookers! It was mid-April last year, but since everyone seems to be getting their martins earlier this year, I'm feeling very downhearted and left out. Where a...

Last year my Martins attacked some baby bluebirds on the ground!! As much as I love my PMs, I hated to see that behaviour!! I suppose baby birds of all kinds are open to attack from larger birds. I don't see how any of them make it!! We have to protect them the best we can and let the good Lord do t...