Arrival this week!

[LisaJ]

They came back!! On Monday, there was one and I was overjoyed! This was the latest my PMs showed up. Due to the freezing temperatures in Texas, they held up. Today is Friday with 10 lovely and loud birds! Music to my ears!! Already had to untangle 3 birds fighting over one apartment. They need caring Landlords and I PM’s!! Here’s to a great season!! Good luck, everyone!!
LisaJ

[C.C.Martins]

Fantastic news! Isn't it wonderful, all the drama of a martin colony. Cut from a set of Hallmark or Lifetime drama.

Sounds busy already, dont waste any time do they?

Hope your season is fantastic,
Tom

[Dave Reynolds]

…. Lisa. … Congratulations to you and your new arrivals.. The season has started for ya….

Dave

[LisaJ]

All,
Thrilled to wake up to morning songs! As of today, I have 12 PMs. No nest building yet. Still selecting mates. Damn Starlings showed up this morning already. Running them off, battle is on! I certainly won’t make it easy on them. They can’t fit through the crescent entrances! Mean, dumb bird.
It keeps me moving to run them off, my neighbors are used to “the bird lady”!
Enjoy a blessed day, friends!
LisaJ

[C.C.Martins]

They sound happy. So too their human.

Hate to say it but starlings can get into crescent openings, had one starling get in a crescent last year, and Rob just had one get into his crescent. There are smaller starlings.

Trap them, can set up a bird house with a big 2 inch hole within sight of the martin house. Put a van ert trap in it, they work wonderfully. They cannot resist that big hole.

Its just a matter of time.

Ps: in my humble opinion this is the very best nest box trap out there. Iv caught many many starlings and sparrows with it. Its pricy, why I suggested a simple bird house.
Should you go this route, paint it white and put big 2 inch black circles on the side.
https://www.purplemartin.org/shop/produ ... -box-trap/

Screenshot_20250302-123306_Samsung Internet.jpg

(290.52 KiB) Not downloaded yet

Tom

[LisaJ]

Thank you, Tom. I have not witnessed that, but I will take measures you recommended to trap those damn Starlings (official name). HOSPs have not been around yet, but know they are coming too.
Just now ran off my first hawk that landed on the fence. I’m sure I scared the poop out of him, but the battle is on! We had 83 mph winds the other day, so I bought tie down ratchet straps to stop the PM house from shaking so violently. It’s good now. TX weather has been nuts. The Starlings I see here are too fat, but are very persistent. Once I’ve run them off in the am, they go away. I’m that bird lady who is not beneath running out back to let them know I’m still here!
Thank you for loving PMs!!
LisaJ

[C.C.Martins]

Its like the tide with those starlings, when they find a home they are gone, then others start looking again.

Iv gotten a few with the pellet gun, just a few. Nothing in the traps yet. I whacked close to 100 off season. They love peanut flavored suet, so during the winter id put a block out and get em.
Seems to have worked, been quiet.

Glad you scared that hawk straight!

[LCM]

Ms Lisa, good evening. I am Linda from Many Louisiana. I’m on edge looking and anxiously awaiting for martins.
May I ask your geographical location?
I live near Toledo Bend Lake(20 miles) Louisiana side.