Purple Martin Forum

Welcome to the most satisfying and rewarding hobby as a martin landlord. I wish you all the luck in the world. We tried for 15 years without success and decided to move three gourd racks about 130 feet to a new location approximately 20 feet away from the house with the first rack and the others sta...

Hello, I just received a call from a gentleman down in Dothan Alabama who has a very healthy Martin baby that was found on the ground and the other martins have departed several days ago. We are looking for someone that still has prefledged martins in the Dothan, Enterprise, Troy area of Southeast A...

Thank you so much for your input Toy. Everything you said makes a lot of sense.

I took a Red Tail hawk to a wildlife sanctuary and rehab facility last weekend. They had a HY Martin that had been turned in in early July that evidently was left behind for some reason. The HY had not fledged completely and was found on the ground. Not enough space to tell the entire story, but the...

Hope you are able to post some pics of your site soon so we can help. Good luck

Doug, great informative post and the follow on posts were outstanding also. I thank everyone for the effort keeping the birds alive in that terrible weather. Doug, are you just using a regular whistle like the referee's use? Thanks

Glad you are trapping hosp but you need to euthanize them. Trapping and relocating does not help the problem. Read the thread down below about disposing of trapped sparrows. Good Luck

I have made many changes over the years but always added housing after the martins arrived. Any removals would be done before the next years arrival. I would not feel comfortable removing housing while the martins are in residence. The logic I received on this forum was that the birds would have tim...

Seems like I have read negative comments here about using DE for martins. I have always used 1/4 tsp of seven under the nest with good results. Maybe somebody will chime in on using DE. Good Luck

That is a very nice house. I too am confident that martins prefer very close proximity to buildings with human activity. Good luck

Very good observations, hello Sharon. After over ten years, decided to move all housing to within 25 feet from a vacant house on the property. I spend many hours in and around the house. That very year they started staying and increasing in numbers every year. In my opinion, the martins like housing...

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My bluebirds coexist very well with the martins. Neve seen one go into Martin housing but they perch on the perch rods all year long. When I flip crickets the bluebirds are quick to get all crickets that the martins miss.

I am in Alabama and mine were right on time. Saw several in Alabama reporting several weeks early. Good luck to you this year

He has been reporting since 2005 consistently. Although several weeks early, these strong south winds could have helped. I had one show up 2 weeks early years ago.

Les, I appreciate you concern and dedication. I agree with Archer. Better to get rid of the housing than endanger the birds. They will find the new housing at the golf course. Good luck and please let us know how it works out. It would be better yet to get the housing moved before they arrive back.

Thanks Mike, just email me at [email protected] and I will forward the necessary costs. Thank You

Good Morning Mike, very nice setup at the schools and what a wonderful experience for the students. I would sure like to have 24 of those owl guards for my gemini pole if you have any left. Please email me at [email protected] Thank you so very much

Sorry to hear that news Sharon. You do have a good attitude and they will come to your site soon. Just keep that good attitude. Once they do settle in, your colony will begin. It took my father 16 years and now we have a very good colony every year.

I sure hate to hear about the snakes as they can ruin a colony. I use the aluminum cylinder predator guards along with the snake netting. I use the netting below and above the predator guard. I usually catch 4 to 6 chicken snakes per year. Had one negotiate the bottom netting, came up the predator g...