Purple Martin Forum

the birds (3) circled and landed at 0830 march 6, 2016. I opened some housing. I expect them back later? I am waiting for password to post it on the site. The new season has started for me. Lev

I fixed their breakfast before mine this morning and they are still going to the feeder. I may have to serve lunch but that is ok too, I don't mind. Also lots of nest building and green leaves being carried in, last egg count was 154 eggs and 1 structure not checked yet. It looks to be clearing up a...

hi

May be a good time to try some eggs, I micro wave them, cut them into 1/4" pieces and put them on a feeding platform. I started feeding yesterday morning and they have not slowed down yet, they pretty much have set around for the last 2 plus days.

Hi all -- eggs in Villa Ridge, Mo. Done nest check today, 5 eggs in 4 nests and 74 nests in progress, more look promising. Does not look like I will have much room for subs this year. Good luck to all. Lev

Hi all -- done a nest check today, everything looks fine.. Counted 57 nests with green leaves and about 33 more nests probable. The good news in there are 13 eggs total in 4 nests, looks like a good start.. I have only lost one male so far looked like a starling or weaver killed a male in a horizont...

I appreciate all the comments on the t14 and I enjoyed the time spent building it. (I assume you are talking about the one in the avatar) That one is also my favorite, I refer to it as my t30( 18 rooms and 12 horizontal gourds) The addition of the fencing material became necessary because of the coo...

way to go, hope the gates are open for all. My birds have been gone (feeding) most of the day, counted 9 this morning. They left with a request to bring guests back. Lev

I have gained 5 more martins in the last 2 hours, finally some males. Had to open more rooms because they want to see everything. Lots of chatter now that males are here, the 2 females I had since March 13 were really quite.
The snow here is almost gone and the temperature is 59 1/2 trying for 60.

I took some pictures to share what 12+ inches of snow looks like while its happening. I did learn you can not flip crickets and expect the martins to see it unless you place it with in 2 foot in front of her, usually I lead them 10 to 15 feet in front of their flight path on clear days. I have been ...

A big thanks to the Griggsville group for the martin fest this past weekend. I did not see anybody NOT having a good time, great vendors, sponsors, and speakers. A very good trip up hwy 61 and 54 (from Mo.) and back down hwy 79. (great river road). thanks again, Leverett and Margaret PS This morning...

My 1st attempt at pictures. After trying many attempts to foil hawks and owls this is this years solution. Hope it works better that the last 2 years of seeing coopers take adult and young martins of the porches.

http://s1076.photobucket.com/albums/w457/Levs_bucket/

Nest building has also started here, also saw green leaves going in. Lots of activity going on here today with the fighting and moving around. More birds coming in, between 30 and 40 now, I will need to open more housing soon. Lev

I do not believe anybody will be left out with returning birds, with you on one side and me on the other of the ski resort I'm sure their birds will show. I think the older the colony's are the earlier the birds show up because the birds themselves are older. The newer colony's will just have to be ...

Good to hear your birds are moving in. My first bird broke my arrival record by 1 day this year. She showed up the 11th. I am up to @ 25 to 30 birds now and about 1/2 the housing open, kinda hard to count the way there are moving around. Also they have to learn to negotiate wire cages this year, rea...

I have to go with the folks on the Benjamin Marauder and pyramid air, after lots of years with different pellet gun types (including springer and pump ups) I bought the marauder and air pump. zeroed in at 50 YARDS with an 8 to 24 power Leapers scope, I am impressed with the results, the weak link is...

Hang in there is good advice, I had 2 more show up yesterday just down the road from you folks. Puts me at 4 females and 1 male.

Hi John
Good to see your report, I'm sure they will be in stl soon. I have been with 3 females since the 11th, 1 male was here but did not stay. (or has not came back) Lev

Tree swallows in central east (Villa Ridge) Missouri, early this am I observed a pair of tree swallows checking the housing. I usually reserve a house for them by keeping the entrance closed until they are here, this is the 1st year they were ahead of the martins. What I saw later was at another bb ...

Well it took a while but I finally got thru edit and moved my pin back to my location, was about 5 miles off??? You have to sign in google, upper right hand corner to select edit and then work out the choices you want to do.

I did build a t14 with guard rails, while I was doing it I kept thinking it would be nice to have a set of tinker toys, so the finished product did look a little like them, they do help with fall out and jumpers. Later I put the vertical rods on the porches for night time owl protection., they also ...