So Excited

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DelmaWhisenhunt
Posts: 778
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:17 am
Location: Idabel, OK

The last two or three days martins are coming often, sometimes lighting\on the house for moments. Of course two pesky sparrows are always on the scene. I keep the trap baited, but they never seem to pay any attention to it. Martins are on the highline near by often. My spirits have been lifted, even if I never get nesters. It is getting a bit late. I'll welcome them for whatever time they come.
Delma Whisenhunt
Idabel, OK
Martin Lover
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Carlton
Posts: 1959
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.

I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.


At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.

At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.

Good luck Delma! I do not think it is too late. It is late but not too late.

Try scotch taping a white feather in the trap and see if the helps get those pesky sparrows to go in there.
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lcline85
Posts: 192
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:22 pm
Location: Stuarts Draft, VA

Good Luck getting them to stay! I just had my first visitor today and I am just going crazy!
2nd Year trying to attract martins! Wish me luck!
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Sue P
Posts: 395
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:10 pm
Location: Morgantown, WV

Delma, try baiting the trap with feathers and bread crumbs. Maybe that will help catch the ornery little HOSP's.

Sue P
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rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

Search post from Kathy F, she is the resident expert on trapping the rat birds. IMO
I hope you get your martins. Good luck.
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
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parkerdes
Posts: 417
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:41 pm
Location: TEXAS/Weatherford

Delma, I just had another 2 SY males show up at my site this week so it's definitely not too late for you in OK! I just hope they can find a female so they won't keep trying to steal my resident females away from their mates! So far...I've been lucky that they haven't done any damage to the residents' eggs or babies!
I had my first 2 SY reports in early May when I was desperately trying to get my site started for 6 long years but again...it's worth the wait!
Good luck!
Take Care!!
Lila

2009--1 ASY & 1 SY Pair
2010--6 Pairs
2011--11 Successful Pairs + 1 Late Pair that lost their brood to heat!
2012--18 ASY Pairs & 1 SY Pair---104 eggs so far! 1 SY nest lost to infanticide! :o(
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Dan Clodfelter
Posts: 62
Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2007 2:25 pm
Location: Indiana/Brazil

Have you ever tried putting a live sparrow inside the bait trap and using him as a decoy ? If your bait trap doesnt have a live holding cage in one end then try making one in one end. If you cant get a live sparrow i'm sure you can ask a young boy around the area to get you a live one and transport it to your property as a decoy .
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DelmaWhisenhunt
Posts: 778
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:17 am
Location: Idabel, OK

Yes, just wish I could get that live sparrow in the trap. They do make a wonderful decoy. These little dudes must be different species, I have had the trap set a week and not one yet. Most times by the second day I would have two or three in the holding cage. Martins continue to visit and for that I am excited. I may ask a neighbor boy if he would like to do some target practice and hope he has fun and be successful.
Delma Whisenhunt
Idabel, OK
Martin Lover
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Sam Harris
Posts: 280
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:23 am
Location: Oklahoma/Choctaw & Tinker AFB

Is the trap a sparrow-door, they work pretty well for the trio houses. I have even used a glue trap once. I haven't seen too many sparrows this year, but have had some starlings come around lately.
Sam
Choctaw, OK


2010...1 pair/5 eggs/5 fledged
2011...2pair/9 eggs/7 fledged
2012...5 pair/28 eggs/25 fledged
2013...12 pair/62 eggs/51 fledged
2014...15 pair/85 eggs/55 fledged
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Sue P
Posts: 395
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:10 pm
Location: Morgantown, WV

Sam, what is a glue trap, and how does it work? Would it work in a T-14? I have a very persistant starling. Just one. (probably two since she laid an egg yesterday). I put a box trap in the T-14 along with her egg and some of the nesting material, but she has avoided it. She hasn't been back since yesterday morning that I have seen, but assume she will come back. I'd like to open some of the rest of the T-14 --- but don't want to catch a martin.

Any suggestions?

Sue P
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