Purple Martin Forum

Can you not buy the pulley guide for the 3 in and replace bolts for shorter ones? Just a thought or make one if you can get the materials readily. True enough, good intentions aren't as rewarding as good actions. Good post. Hubert

My founding pairs 3 young left their gourd today. Two of them was this morning within 1 hour of each other. Both times the entire colony was flying about them and hollering, even hitting them on their back a few times. Landed on garage roof and on old shed roof. This evening about 7:45 my wife notic...

5% sevin dust and use less than 1/2 teaspoon. That will take care of your mites.

Lets call it luck as this is my 4th year trying and 2012 had 1 sy male claimed here for about 4 weeks but couldn't get a girl. I like to think he was the first asy here this year and managed to get himself a girl plus 9 other pair. Todays check I had 32 babies and 9 eggs left to hatch. The pond you ...

T-14 has 7 crescent and 7 clinger entrances and the gourds have 2 conleyII with tunnels and 3 excluderII with tunnels. Maybe I can show better picture. About too old for this computer stuff. Hubert

My experience with same issue. This is my first year as landlord after 4 yrs. trying. Last yr. I had 1 sy male for about 4 weeks but came by almost every day. I had all round holes . and this year I started out with a T-14 with sreh and 6 gourds with round holes . The first of April there was an asy...

Hi folks! Well. I lowered my top section down where the gourds were about 10 ft. off the ground. I drilled a 3/16 hole for the metal s&k pins in the section of pole and one in the bottom section for added security for the plastic button. Yes Bill, I too have been wet after a rain but only once. ...

Thanks for input Deb and scscriv. I purchased some metal pins that s&k started offering for buttons and will use them as backup. Wasn't sure how the birds would adapt to lowering one section but may try that. Thanks Hubert

Hi everyone! I have a question about a s&k tri pole. Has anyone ever drilled another hole in the pole to shorten and does it maintain its strength? We're suppose to have possible 60 mph gusts this afternoon and considered lowering some to help protect the 20 babies in four gourds. Thanks Hubert

Thanks for input Chickadee and John. Had no more eggs laid in #9 or #10 so since last were laid in #9 and had a good nest I put eggs out of #10 in there and blocked #10 hole. The eggs in #10 were in back corner on bare floor. I'll watch this evening to see how it goes. Hubert

Charles, Try going to pmca home and at bottom of page google (safer T-14 pole) and you should get several topics pertaining to this. Sent you a pm but don't know if you got it. You can get idea of offset winch and build to your liking. Again, lots of luck. Hubert

Thanks John: Next nesting activity I'll try to determine also I'll check nest tomorrow for according my dates she should be sitting as no egg would have been laid today. Thanks again. Hubert

Sir: Try http:/purplemartin.org/update/14(1)T-14pole.pdf. This is a plan I plan to install after season is over. But anything to slow the fall would be of help. I jist like the idea of an offset winch. Lots of luck. Hubert

Did nest check on may-23 and had 1 egg in #10 and today did nest check and had 2 eggs in #9 and 2 eggs in #10. I can see these 2 cavities from deck and looks like there is only one bird going in both places so don't know what's up, so maybe some of you have had similar thing? Hope to hear some input...

Congrats Tony, I wouldn't have made it as long as you. I checked my nest today and had 5 eggs in 1 and 1 in another so we're both happy. I live in the northeast corner of Fayette near walker county line and if you're ever in my neck of the woods look me up. I bet your birds can't look out without se...

Yvonne, I'm a first year land lord after trying for only 4 years and I know how difficult it is for us to see PMs making a change of entrances! I had 6 RH super gourds that 6 birds were using. The first pair was building their nest and I saw a starling looking in the gourds then flew to T-14 and tri...