What a difference a day makes! (FINALLY!)

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Caps would work.
I used PVC plugs because they are ready made and did not require any trimming or sanding to work. Plus I mounted the 90 degree elbows so close to my house that a cap would not work for me.
Mark.

[MamaBruff]

Mark, I hope you are as good of a Martin forecaster as Doug M is a weather prognosticator!

Mark and Bern, I remember seeing Tim M using wine corks for vent plugs. Somebody, either him or John M had posted some pics a while back.

[KathyF]

Mary, there is a message in my "outbox" in reply to a message you sent me awhile back....I think this means you haven't seen it yet...can you check your messages please and let me know? Just want to make sure something's not broken.

[KathyF]

Mark - 4th Gen martin fan - you have a private message also, regarding another you left me about starling problems with your sister's colony....

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Mary,
The wine corks might work for the plugs, but I like to find ready to go items for easy, fast solutions.
I chose to use PVC plugs that are available already.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_22679-1815-4490 ... facetInfo=

These plugs fit inside the 3/4" PVC elbows that I use for vents.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_317768-1815-410 ... facetInfo=

Sometimes you have to select through the plugs to find ones that fit easily and not too snug. Others might sand the tight ones down a little but I am too lazy (hopefully not lazy but rather smart )
Any home improvement center or hardware store will have them.
Mark.

[MamaBruff]

Mark,
I had used the Lasco elbows at Lowe's that were threaded male on one end and female on the other. I got the male threaded plugs to fit in my installed elbows. All ready in place to do their duty. THEN I saw the post where they discussed putting screens over the vents to discourage wasps. This pic I saw of Tim M's gourds showed a wine cork (possibly shortened) poked into the vent elbow from the inside, and he had taped screen material over the outlet with white elec tape. I thought, "Dang, why didn't I think of that!" All he has to do is pull the corks when the weather starts warming. A person could to do a search to find this thread; I think it was posted by John Miller.

KathyF,
I have ck'd through everything, but not finding your PM to me.. darn! Please re-send if possible!

[Roymg]

Yesterday was a gloomy, grumpy day, with a winter's blast...



And today, I'm on top of the world! Daddy's Home!





The arrival and interaction was totally different this time!
Mister came in slowly soaring, circling and landed on a perch; chirping and announcing his arrival... gurgling and clicking, a very vocal fellow! I watched him from the window and snapped a few pics. He went in one of the compartments, and stayed a LONG time doing his inspection, then back out to proclaim his approval. When I went out on the patio, he chirped at me and flew right over my head as I called and waved to him; he arced, dipped, and zoomed, putting on a nice air and music show. Once he was high overhead, I dropped the house and got busy opening the rest of the compartments and gourds... And he dive bombed, scolding me, "Aaack!" several times as I was working. Silly bird!

He left for several minutes, and returned with a second ASYM, but #2 would not land. Mister was obviously recruiting, trying to show him a nice THG... And now he is off doing whatever Purple Martins do whenever they come home... And so it finally begins! My heart is soaring!

Nice house.... I'm going to have to try some of the gourds for the overspill. I counted 21 oveniters that seem to be permanent. The Lone Ranger is a female and is causing some problems with the female homeowners and the males who stand-by their birds. Next year I'll add a gourd or two. My house is a 12 hole unit.

[MamaBruff]

Thanks Roy; I still have my ASYM "Romeo" but his love affair with the glamour gal fell through. She left with the second ASY pair. I suspect they were migrants. But Romeo is busy recruiting, and he is here every night. He had a new gal in here today, and later showed up with 4 other ASYMs. Birds are still coming in here in the heartland, later than normal. I expect to see my birds from last year very soon. All in good time. Have a wonderful season!

[avesrun]

hi mary. it must be great just to have the"boys" around to watch even if for only for a few days. I've convinced myself that Martin landlord work is well worth the effort. as a second-year wanna be, if I could be guaranteed Martins every spring like you're having and for that amount of time I'm happy! don't get me wrong, the nesters I wanted badly. but I am very grateful anytime I get to see a purple martin.good luck with your "boy" romeo and all the pals and gals surely to follow. My visitor boy "Roy" hasn't shown up this a.m. as of yet.
tim

[MamaBruff]

Tim, I am hoping and sending positive thoughts that 2014 will be "your" year. So many variables in play. Visitors indicate something "right" that interests them... Cheers!

[Roymg]

Tim, I am hoping and sending positive thoughts that 2014 will be "your" year. So many variables in play. Visitors indicate something "right" that interests them... Cheers!

I think the cool weather is holding some of them back from getting to yalls areas. I do noticed that they are late getting started laying eggs. Right now after a couple weeks after starting nest building they are still at it. The weather has been cool here too so maybe now they will get down to business. It's been 2 months since they arrived and they usually stay at the
house until mid July. After they leave here they start a large rookery at the ends of Lake Pontchartrian Causeway and I once went to see them come in at dusk. They were in the thousands. They stay underneath the bridge. Quite a site that was.

[pmlover]

im so glad for you sweet mama
dick

[MamaBruff]

Roy,
Thank you for the update from the south. Confirms it's a slow year. Darn.

Dick,
Thanks for the encouragement. It is a blessing.