Okay folks, My mom has been a landlord for years and so have my aunt and uncle. This was my first season as a landlord and I had the privilege of hosting two females and one adult male... very happy about that.
However, the male was absolutely horrifyingly mean. I mean, he swooped with mouth agape to the point where I had to wear my riding helmet to feel safe. Everyone had problems with this Martin. Seriously - this bird was so aggressive, he even scared a couple of kids walking up to our house to get some water because they were stranded.
I only had one hatchling that did fledge successfully, but very late in the season. They stayed around for a few days and simply left at the beginning of August. Very disappointed they didn't stay.
Honestly, this dude was crude! How have you handled esp. aggressive martins when they circle and miss and then you can see him mustering for another pass - I mean coming really, really close!
Newbie "afraid" of her Male Purple Martin
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2026, 88 pair with 333 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
Being that this is the first year for your colony, the pair that took up residence were a SY pair. SY martins are second year martins that fledged just last season and have returned for the first time to nest and start a family. The SY male martins can be aggressive, so this was normal behavior for this young male. Try not to worry about it actually hurting you. It can be a little frightening when the come flying at you with mouth open, but he won't hurt you. Hang with it and within a year or two you will have a good colony. ot all martins are like this guy.
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
I had an ASY Male, a few years back, that was very mean too. He wouldn't let any other martins nest in HIS house. He would swoop at you, chase all other martins away, etc. He even bopped my Macaw on the head. After about 2 years of being "Mr. Mean" he settled down.
I doubt a Martin could hurt you. It's all scare tactic. They have a more soft beak, unlike say a Starling that has a hard beak, so even if a Martin would grab ahold of you it doesn't really hurt.
He was just doing what nature has told him to do & that is protect his nest & family.
Toy in PA
I doubt a Martin could hurt you. It's all scare tactic. They have a more soft beak, unlike say a Starling that has a hard beak, so even if a Martin would grab ahold of you it doesn't really hurt.
He was just doing what nature has told him to do & that is protect his nest & family.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
In the 50+ years that I can remember being around Purple Martins, I have never had one swoop me and actually touch me. I have felt the wind of their wings "swoosh" me on the top of my head but never touch me.
Of course, the activity still makes me duck.
This season, I forgot to look into a martin nest before I stuck my hand into the compartment. The ASY female was hunkered down sitting on her eggs. She lightly pecked my finger to tell me go away. Since I did not know she was there, I jumped back and just knew that a snake was in the compartment. When I looked back into the compartment, she was still sitting on her eggs and giving me the look that all men understand -- Don't mess with me buddy!
Mark.
Of course, the activity still makes me duck.
This season, I forgot to look into a martin nest before I stuck my hand into the compartment. The ASY female was hunkered down sitting on her eggs. She lightly pecked my finger to tell me go away. Since I did not know she was there, I jumped back and just knew that a snake was in the compartment. When I looked back into the compartment, she was still sitting on her eggs and giving me the look that all men understand -- Don't mess with me buddy!
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Last year, Ray Gingerich posted a couple of classic photos of his dive bomber.
For anyone that thought Martins could not make angry facial expressions, check out his photos
:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25654
For anyone that thought Martins could not make angry facial expressions, check out his photos
:http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25654
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Insectivore Villa
- Posts: 131
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 4:55 pm
- Location: Blenheim, Ontario
Try walking with your arms in the air. We have tree swallows swallows too and they are fearless. We have to draw straws to see who gets the mail since the TRES box is on route to the mailbox so with your arms up they will strafe your hands instead of your heads.
Henry W.
2015, 28 pair, 102 fledged
2016, 39 pair, 154 fledged
2017, 44 pair, 164 fledged
2018, 68 pair, 218 fledged
2015, 28 pair, 102 fledged
2016, 39 pair, 154 fledged
2017, 44 pair, 164 fledged
2018, 68 pair, 218 fledged
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eyeamtheman
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 3:21 pm
- Location: Quitman, La
- Martin Colony History: Super colony
Not gonna hurt you at all. Some are just more aggressive than others. They dive bomb me too, regardless of the fact that I provided them with a good home, keep the predators away, keep the bugs and mites off of them, and saved MANY of their lives during inclimate weather.....
Johnny
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Donnie Hurdt MN
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
- Location: North Prairie, MN
Last summer one of the nesting Tree Swallows in our yard would get so close to me that his wings would actually touch my hair. He was the main one along with a pair of aggressive Bluebirds that chased away the pair of subbie martins that were trying to stay.
PMCA member and Martin fanatic....
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
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DornCounty
- Posts: 2169
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
- Location: Rural SE Kansas
- Martin Colony History: .
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Trio-Jedi
This is actually an asset. A tough ole bird like this should be just suborn enough to keep your colony going. Soon you will have so many martins he won't want to spare his energy chasing you.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities