Purple Martin Forum

Mine will last for one season only - next season I have to buy new. I leave it horizontal when it rains and place it facing up if weather is clear (I have easy access to it.) I have noticed it can last "ok" for a season, but then it eventually oxidizes... Every single one of mine did not w...

Hi Deb, I have a really terrible time dispatching them and I want to say THANK YOU for sharing the "squeeze method"!! (last year you posted about it, I think?) In addition to my own personal ethical challenges, I have colonies at schools and cannot go about doing much else in the sense of ...

Hi and welcome! As you read the posts you will notice that it is very normal for them to visit and move on. Sometimes they may already be at another colony next to you and are "investigating" or sometimes they need a place to rest on their way up north from you. You will also notice that i...

Hi! I was the one that said it plays the chatter. That was what I was told by the manufacturer's customer service, but it may be wrong. I am not sure if people who are not heavily involved with PM's truly realize the difference... Well, my apologies in advance if I provided wrong information - now I...

Hi Andy,
I use the Songbird Magnet, but it is indeed chatter only. It is so convenient. I am sure the best would be to play the dawn-song in the early hours though.

I can't help much with the other questions - I am all theory and no practice since I am still a wannabe! Good luck!
Thais

Just to answer the question about wireless - I did a lot of research about this for my school projects and here is what I found out: The first and easiest answer is: there are several excellent quality cameras if your wi-fi signal reaches your colony location. (~$100-200 bucks) Now, for most of us, ...

This is very interesting! I would really love to hear more/updates. I have hawks and owls and since site is at a school I cannot monitor closely/scare them off. This seems like a partial solution - it seems they would have more trouble reaching in or swooping to grab them.

If something happened, it was spread over large areas without one noticeable area of impact/fatalities because I am Brazilian and searched over news and "Brazilian internet" (in Portuguese) - there were no reports of birds found dead or anything like that. I think they are just late. I kno...

They are late to the Northeast too. But so is Spring... We have had cold and rainy season throughout the last weeks with the exception of one or two nice days. The buds and flowers are late too. Unlike last year that we got many sunny days, then they were all hit by terrible weather (and many died :...

Hi All, I am also still here and trying again! I am in Stamford, CT and the two active colonies next to me (1 mile away) have not see on martin yet!! They are indeed very late! Usually these colonies get at least a few by the first week of April! My main site (and highest hopes) is at my son's schoo...

Hi Becky! I have just shot you an email - I would be very interested in the gourds for the program I run at my sons' school (and I can drive to pick them up!)

Sincerely,
Thais
[email protected]
917-999-6793

I thought keeping housing up until they left back to Brazil was supposed to increase your chances on the following year? No? Just in case it may help for the following season, I only lower mine in September...
Best,
Thais

Wow - great pictures!
Sorry for your loss - it is the circle of life though... each species with their own role in it...
Hopefully many siblings will make it through and be back to your place next year!!
Best,
Thais

Hi firefighter, You might as well enjoy them at this point! This is a wonderful website about them: http://www.treeswallowprojects.com/ You can do nest checks and monitor them closely, just like martins. Then next year - they are very likely to return next year!! - get them to move to a gourd by its...

You have just about two weeks left for a chance this year, but with the level of activity you are getting, you might indeed get lucky! Leave set up until they fly back - you may get some investigating it indeed! And make sure to read all the guidance here on invasive sparrows/starlings, predator gua...

Hi, try again on the pic!
Nice to hear of your success!!
best,
Thais

Hi Larry, i was not saying you should not post - please do!
I think people should be informed about it - plus, as I mentioned, it is still incredible to see!!
thanks,
Thais

While I find it quite incredible to watch and recognize the obvious passion that went into getting to this mega-sized colony, I also am against such setup(s) and hope they will not become the martin community example. Even from a point of long term continuity of the colony... what will be of that co...

Oh, sorry, I see now that you have already re-positioned entrances, right? Ignore comment.

Maybe they are not comfortable with the entrances on the side like that? It does seem "less open/more crowded" the way the entrances kind of face each other (even with the alternating levels)... Just a thought...