Purple Martin Forum

This "sticky" forum post appears to have outdated links. I noticed that the links had the format "purplemartin.org/forum/..." and current forum pages appear to have a format like: "http://purplemartinforum.org/..." So I modified the link to the earlier thread which had ...

Thanks to some good input from some experts here, and a very attractive martin spot, I've finally attracted martins to a new T14! I suppose I can't take much credit. The folks at the local nature center thought that they had had some martins nesting in previous years. However, I didn't think anyone ...

So I thought I'd circle back with an update on how the TS protocol worked. I put up a BB house 30' from the T14/gourds and closed the PM housing. Stopped back after 4-5 days and the TS had taken to the BB box. They were actively nesting. I was seeing PM visitors in the area on nearby wires and the o...

Thank you for the input. Unfortunately, the old Heath box is on a "pivot-up" pole. So I'm locked into what the nature center has mounted up there this year. Hopefully some resilient birds choose to move into the T14 this year despite its more difficult SREHs. I will ask to make modificatio...

First a quick update: At the local nature center I've put up a new T14 with 4 gourds (all Conley II entrances) in an area a bit farther from human structures than "guideline". However, the area is ideal for feeding and there are occasional walkers past the new box (in addition to my long v...

Thanks for all the quick input. Flyin-Lowe, I did find that write-up in a sticky post after I asked my question. I know I had read something like that in the past. I guess nothing is fool-proof and the TS might be quite a problem. I just put up an alternate box and closed the housing. Fingers crosse...

Hi all. Just got a new box up (T14 w/ 4 gourds). Put it up with the T14 closed and just the gourds because there are tree swallows around. Checked today and sure enough, TS are taking material into one gourd. Options: A) Lower the box and close it all until they nest elsewhere? B) Let them finish th...

Thank you for the input Flyin-lowe

Hello. Unfortunately, I've moved to a property which is not conducive to martins. However, the local nature center in Michigan has very good locations and seems to be interested in an upgrade. I've learned that they do have a very dilapidated old-style barn house with insufficient cavity space, roun...

I hope I don't jinx it. Two mornings now I've got a SY-M and SY-F hanging out on/around one of my under-slung gourds beneath a T-14. This morning the male was dogfighting what I assumed to be another inquisitive male. This is surprisingly territorial behavior for a bird who's supposed to be very col...

Around my Collegeville PA site I had not heard a peep (other than my "music" from the Songbird Magnet) so far this year. Then all of a sudden yesterday there were 5 or 6, including adults, buzzing the tower and checking things out. Looks like I might have a pair hanging out today. I can te...

Hi all, I've had a T14 up for quite a while. Play the Songbird Magnet until my wife goes crazy. We had a visitor around Mother's day, which is about typical for us. Then nothing again. I had stopped the music. Yesterday I brought the box down to deal with a sparrow nest. When I brought the inserts b...

Thanks for sharing. What terrific images inside that white gourd! Good lighting (when the sun isn't reflecting on the entrance). But the sound is awesome! I configured the sound drivers on my computer to allow for recording to a file off of the audio card inputs. Then I went back through the 3 hour ...

So glad they are still around. Enjoying PMs is not supposed to be so stressful! I hope you get re-established this year.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. My hopes are fading, but I'll keep the music playing a bit longer. I intended to leave the house up so that youngsters might see it as they go to roost. One year I had a wren take up residence eventually and I didn't shoo it away. I figured it might as well hel...

What do you all think about the probability of getting SY's yet this year in PA? I get very depressed looking at my lonely house out there. I know that the season was late, but I've only seen two PMs at my site one morning. I've even killed other birds (S&S) to keep my house free for them. I don...

I just read your post again and you said "rectangular". I need to get new glasses or brush up on my geometry. I read 12-room green & white and just started to visualize my own first house. Hopefully you've got something better...for the house AND the pole. Sorry if I muddied the waters...

Flyin-lowe, If I were to guess, I'd say that your friend has a Heath hexagonal AH-12D. I got one of those from my wife for Christmas a few years ago. That's when I started getting into this. The pole which is commonly sold with that is a four section assembly of progressively smaller diameter pipe. ...

No, he doesn't have a band. It's a trick of the light or leg feathers higher up. The lighting was very low from the right (just after sunrise).

Still no birds here.

Unfortunately, they were just passing through. Why oh why won't any birds find my setup appealing. I guess there might be better options nearby.