Purple Martin Forum

had a male visit this morning, brief but it was a visit, hopeful more to come

Its my 2nd year, however year one was a flop as I got martins (sub adults) and while 2 pair stayed for several weeks, by end of june they were not mating nor any eggs. Not sure what happened but going at it again.

I got a 6 plastic gourd bundle at Tractor Supply with the exluder entries. I got my own aluminum stock and built a three tier colony with 2 gourds per tier. They entries face opposite directions to allow easy flight paths for each nesting pair. The starlings cant get in, but occasionally in the begi...

I saw a high flier today Thursday 03/07 over Georgetown, Texas. Got my Dawn Song blaring and my gourds up

They hang around most of the mid morning playing and singing. In the evening they head about 25 miles south to the "Roost" in Austin at highlands mall with the other Central Texas Martins waiting for the right time to migrate. Love my Gourds!

Well i have watched them gather, nest, breed, feed, socialize and now under the full moon of July 12th narry a martin returned to roost tonight. Being in Central Texas, they are ready to return to South and Central America. They will start to gather in Austin by the thousands. Until next year! New M...

Huge flocks of Martins suppose to begin mid July in Austin. Do any locals have plans to go see them near the ole Highlands mall @ the Wells Fargo Bank?

I have no clue, in fact i have a similar story. i have a bluebird box up on a 7 ft pole inte side yard overlooking open spaces that they prefer. I had a couple take up residence in March and were in and out and protection the box from sparrows and Starlings. i thought for sure they would nest as the...

Last week a SY male with female showed up at my gourds that have two pair of ASY's. Funny thing is I had a pair of sparrows attempting to build in one of my gourds and i had pulled the nest 2 or three times but as you know they are relentless. Well today the SY took the sparrows gourd from them. I w...

VA man and Chuck4, thanks for the info on the tunnels that S&K make for the 9 inch gourd. I will be ordering and putting on for next season. I have three pair of martins (first time) nesting and do not want to disturb them this year. That will keep those pesky Starling at a distance. I learn so ...

I have a 6 gourd set up, and have my first year martins, 3 pair! So i am very happy about that. I use the S&K 9 ingourd with the SREH, and cling plate vs porches. Martins come and go freely with the cling plates. That's a new concept for me but it works. I like it because the Starlings, while th...

I have a single pair that has hung around for 2 days straight and the female has been on the ground getting nesting material and returning to the same gourd with some frequency. Mr. Martin comes and goes from the gourd but doesnt seem to be as engaged about getting nesting material as the female. Go...

I am hangin in there, it was just so great to see two pairs hanging around for a full day, spend the night and be around the next morning. They didn't return the second night. I will continue to play the dawnsong every early am to get some attention. hopefully will attract some 1st year birds. They ...

I am trying to start a colony with 6 S&K 9 inch gourd rack with SREH , clinger plates and rain covers. On 3/30 (Sunday) I played the dawnsong cd and within 45 minutes several showed up both males and females. They went in and out of the gourds , sat on the pole perches , sang , played circled al...

Thanks to many on the Forum, I now have two pair that might just stay. I have 6 S & K 9 inch gourds with SREH and originally fit with porches and rain covers. The starlings and sparrows were trying to make a go of the apartment in the sky. Sparrows getting the best of the set up. I havent had an...

what is a repeater trap and where can i see one? Looked on PMCA shop and do not find.

OK, so i hear most dont like glue traps. I have S&K 9 inch gourd and i cannot find on the PMCA shop a "in gourd trap" that works for the S&K 9 inch gourd (SREH). Does anybody have any experience with what will work here? Says it will only work on super gourds Full Size Martin Gourd...

Has anybody tried glue traps in nesting sparrow boxes or gourds?
I need a non-shooting method to eradicate nesting sparrows in a SREH Gourd.
Advice please.

Well I have ordered the Dawn Song CD and cant wait to play. Ordered it Friday, hope it comes in soon so I can lure some floaters in this spring with my new set up. I have been trying for three years now. I had a bad house before, the compartements were too small and would only get the lone travelers...

Oh Man, you veteran landlords are teaching me a lot. I have gourds with porches as seen in the attached picture. Then Jose showed me a picture of his SK 9 inch gourd set up with cling plates. Eureka! never thought about cling plates, I am so.... a newbie... Can anyone comment on thier experience wit...