Successful Hunt At Several Of Our Satellite Purple Martin Colonies

[Steve Kroenke]

Successful Hunt At Several Of Our Satellite Purple Martin Colonies

This morning February 16, 2020 Bob and I finished checking on three of five our satellite purple martin colonies in northwest Louisiana. Only a few martins were at two of the sites and none at another. It is still early so more martins should be arriving at these colonies soon.

Bob “discreetly” shoots house sparrows and starlings that may be around the housing. He uses an Aguila Colibri powderless bullet in a single shot 22 rifle that makes hardly any noise! The range is short and velocity low, but silent and deadly at around 20 yards or less and sometimes farther.

During this hunt, he shot and killed at least four male sparrows and one female and hit another male that flew off. He shot a male starling that was flapping his wings and hollering for a lady friend! He didn’t get the lady but something a little hotter! He dropped like a rock to the ground! The starling was perched on top of one our multi-purpose poles with two of Bob’s aluminum houses. Bob did hit another male starling at around 30 yards and some feathers were knocked out but the starling flew off. So a successful hunt this morning.

At my personal martin colony I believe I have over 30 martins in right now and they are in 15 of my 17 systems: two Trendsetters and 15 gourd racks. Two gourd racks don’t have any martins at this time that I can determine.

[James Strickland FL]

Seem like a good hunt Steve.

[stan kostka]

Hi Steve, Bob using iron sights or a scope ?

Stan

[Steve Kroenke]

James,

Yes, a good hunt. On one of our visits several years ago, Bob eliminated at least 10 house sparrows and two starlings in one morning! It looked like it was "raining sparrows" off the houses! I think Bob enjoys hunting sparrows and starlings as much as deer hunting!

Steve

Stan,

Bob uses a scope on that rifle. Just an inexpensive one I think. But it does the job.

Steve