Purple Martin Forum

Sounds crazy...but can you get them at night? I mean use a ladder, reach up and grab them while its dark?

Lisa,
Sounds upbeat and positive! Great start!

I too had not seen one in 2 weeks, come home and one is singing from the house...he slipped up and paused a sec too long. Beetlejuice!!!!!!!!

Alls good, uploading pictures here can be a pain sometimes.

Even during winter and after martins have left I put up nest box traps next to a suet feeder, the young ones jump right in.
Let us know how it goes!
Best,
Tom

It looks good! Should work just fine.
Don't worry about not realizing the danger they pose, your ready now with a great trap that will rake them in.
Is this one baited? Maybe I read that wrong. Anyway they cannot resist inspecting those cavities.
Good hunting!
Tom

Brent,
Try to cement it in their brain. Keep offering food, even if just for a few times.a week. They do remember.

Well done and hope that owl quits its $hit.

Off season is a good time to get them. Should give it a try, the ST1 and the ground trap together are deadly. You will find the season a tad quieter. A blind is like a good scope sir, you need one. It doesn't need to be enclosed like a traditional hunting blind. Mine is in a corner under our back ov...

Thomas, What are your favorite trapping strategies during off season and winter? My second favorite is having a sparrow in the ground trap and catch as many fledges with millet as I can mop up. My all time favorite is positioning the ground trap so I can cover and shoot them off of it. Then I hang a...

Hahahaha! 2-fers! Great, thats just great, the van ert is a wonderful trap. You are really whacking them back. Trap in ernest now, they are looking for homes.
There are some gotta ways, every season. Don't think you will be losing many, your doing great!

So they got trapped in the side compartmens, went to the middle then somehow got past that flap and into an open one right? Check that spring on the little door. Worse case you could just jam that door, I bought replacement parts last year for that door but never figured out how to fix it when it co...

Mstan, Im glad, its always a worry. Any time, its what we do and hope your season and those to follow are great ones. You are very welcome sir. Seth, Its critical for them at 3 days. Some signs to look for are droopy wings, droopy as in it seems like they are too heavy to carry...not just staying wa...

Update: Got the pair. Think what did him in was the female got caught first. She was interested in the nest material, plastic, cotton balls and the white feathers added to the trap. I added some foam cut to fit the trip mechanisms loop and stuck the white feathers into it...she went for that. Her ma...

I'm helping a budding colony in town, we set up 6 excluder gourds in dec, within sight of a non managed trio that has martins every year, for years and years. Im planning on stealing those birds. Anyway, low and behold they showed up last Saturday..to be attacked by the resident house sparrow pair. ...

Needs some advise on supplemental feeding. I am located in Farmington Mo. Friday I believe my colony of 30 plus martins had about a 2-3 hr window to feed. Sat and Sunday will be light rain with temps in the mid 40s. Monday it will be sunny with temps in the high 50s. I am undecided if I should buys...

Yes it is scary. Hey C.C., do you have the cage around your housing? I’m very interested in doing something for the next season for sure. Whether it will be a hawk cage or owl cage or both. Rob, you plan on a hawk cage, right? I hope to do something. Had a hawk attack yesterday. It flew in and hit ...

Holy smokes Brent! There are cages that can be put up, wire 2 x 3 inch square, some openings nearest the entrances can be widened. Can make it so it will go up and down. Have to close the top as well tho. Man thats scary! Saw and heard one this morning on a light pole near the house, they are huge!

Yummmmmmm! Blizzards!!!!!

Please let us know!

Laura, Hope it goes well! If the Temps are mild, and there are a few breaks in the rain all will be fine. Your martins may very well just sit out in it. If your going to give it a shot, day two and certinally day 3 are good days to give them a try. And yes, they come for food in the rain just fine. ...

Hard to avoid, you may have an avian ally in those crows, they may not tolerate the hawk one bit. Hope they nest cose by?

GHO is a top predator, something to keep in mind however it sounds like it has alot to choose from food wise and may not be a bother.

Good numbers! One very surprised chickadee im sure!!

I sack and whack, its over very fast.

I leave them for the opossum that comes around, used to throw frozen and thawed the sparrows in a near by pond, turtles love them. suppose you could ask around and see if raptor rehabbers need them.

Great news!!! I'd keep playing it.