Purple Martin Forum

I'm in WV and about two weeks ago they made it back to our neck of the woods and I too love listening to them (although the wife is less excited when they land on our gutters at 3am)

We put up our # 6 gourd rack in 2014 to attempt a PM colony and a pair of TS took one of the gourds and we let them stay since we hadn't seen any PM at all. In 2015 I put the gourds up a bit early and I believe the same pair of TS took one of the gourds over but that year I noticed they chased off o...

Thanks for all the replies. So far I have not done a thing, just watching the swallows. I did notice that our bluebirds have been perched next to the TS above the gourds and the TS didn't seem to care, is that b/c there are no eggs yet? I don't have a shepherds hook at the moment but when I get one ...

so, we noticed a tree swallow hanging out on the perch for hours off and on this morning. Then he takes off and he returns with a Mrs. and she flies right into a gourd and he again begins to hang out. At this point we have not even seen a purple martin here in West Virginia, do I let this swallow pa...

If you have the extra cash, you could purchase a air rifle like this one used in the video http://tedsholdover.com/fx-bobcat-25-shooting-pest-birds/ I do not own this air gun as I don't have the "extra cash" or the "need" as I am a brand new hopeful landlord with zero PMs. The gu...

Thanks for all the encouragement, we're looking forward to trying this process, we enjoy the hummingbirds, whippoorwills, bluebirds etc...so much! In NJ, I only got my first hummingbird 2 years ago after trying for about 7 yrs. In WV we are about 1hr southwest of Winchester VA, outside a small town ...

First thing I would do is remove all the high grass around your rack..and put a predator guard on your pole..Is your rack at least 75/100 ft from those pine trees? If you are going to be away, is your gourds SREH? ( starling resistant holes). I'd leave one or two holes open until you see a Martin. ...

Hello All, I'm a newbie attempting my first year at attracting PMs to my place in WV. I already set up a six gourd starter pole I made my first rookie mistake and opened up the gourds assuming the scouts would take a look see. :oops: and I thought I thoroughly researched this little venture. I want ...