Gone are the good/easy old PM days, and never to return

[SE Wisc hopefull]

After too many years, I finally adjusted my setup and location. Then got super busy trapping and shooting HOSPs (42 in final count), while also chasing off Tree Swallows to alternate housing/location. Well, finally small success. 3 pairs and several single male SYs. My dad enjoyed coming up and watching the activity last summer.

He recalled that in his younger days, his father would raise the house late April and lower in the fall. No muss, and no fuss. It was the same on nearly every farm and the competition was really about who could build the most elaborate house. Some even building houses to look like capital buildings or such. Having a PM house was as common as a red barn and all filled to capacity.

When i travel thru the state now, it is so rare to see a PM house on a farm and 90% are junk sparrow houses. Sad, but I think too few are interested in the work it would take.

Anyways, for my Dad's birthday i built him a cedar house based on a T-14 design (build for $80 in cedar fence boards) with attached gourds. The only condition is that he needed to manage the HOSPs otherwise it would be pointless. He took me up on it and has trapped his first set of HOSPs outside his new house ... hoping he can attract some PMs this year. He has a great location, no HOSPs right now, and decoy and dawn song in action. We shall see.

Times change, but I'm a little jealous of those times and being able to see PMs on every farm.

[Mstan]

Great pic, nice set up. I hope your Dad has a prosperous Martin season.

[SSMartin]

House and gourds look great. Awesome gift for your father I hope it brings him many years of enjoyment.

[Phil01]

That pic looks familiar?? lol Great post and story Rob! Beautiful, well built house! Keep us posted on your dad’s progress throughout the season sir! I hope he fills up with Martins this year!

Good luck my friend!
Phil

[Jones4381]

After too many years, I finally adjusted my setup and location. Then got super busy trapping and shooting HOSPs (42 in final count), while also chasing off Tree Swallows to alternate housing/location. Well, finally small success. 3 pairs and several single male SYs. My dad enjoyed coming up and watching the activity last summer.

He recalled that in his younger days, his father would raise the house late April and lower in the fall. No muss, and no fuss. It was the same on nearly every farm and the competition was really about who could build the most elaborate house. Some even building houses to look like capital buildings or such. Having a PM house was as common as a red barn and all filled to capacity.

When i travel thru the state now, it is so rare to see a PM house on a farm and 90% are junk sparrow houses. Sad, but I think too few are interested in the work it would take.

Anyways, for my Dad's birthday i built him a cedar house based on a T-14 design (build for $80 in cedar fence boards) with attached gourds. The only condition is that he needed to manage the HOSPs otherwise it would be pointless. He took me up on it and has trapped his first set of HOSPs outside his new house ... hoping he can attract some PMs this year. He has a great location, no HOSPs right now, and decoy and dawn song in action. We shall see.

Times change, but I'm a little jealous of those times and being able to see PMs on every farm.

I love the reflective quality of your post and thank you for sharing the goodness of the photo and this story in every aspect, as it resonated deeply with my memories and beliefs on this topic. We should take heart in knowing that change is always happening and I believe it's important from this perspective, we recognize the good times of old but also harness this history and use it as a tool to educate others of the harm (that the previous generations did unwittingly) when they introduced invasive species into our native ecosystems (to not make similar mistakes). When we look around and see these mistakes of past incursions of invasive species being introduced, believing it to be good or accidental, like Bradford pears, Starlings, Chinese privet, Chinese fire bush, English Ivy, Tree of Heaven, HOSP's, FL Pythons in the everglades, Cut Sew....the list almost seems endless of terrible ideas that effect and destroy native ecosystems and species...but thus is the way of evolution on a small planet that gets smaller every day...perhaps its no one's fault but just the evolving of all species on this little spec of a planet.

Everyone on this site should take comfort in knowing we do for the Martins and not for ourselves...It's my alma matters moto; "Not self but others"...you my fellow PM Enthusiast (and all others that post in here) on this site are living just that motto! Keep it up, Well done, and enjoy the solace of observing this magical species...that brings about reflection, joy, satisfaction, frustration, and concern...It's a great hobby and noble cause! Once again our intentions are good and noble...we'll see what future generations have to say about us.

[SE Wisc hopefull]

I think the enjoyment is increased by the effort. Plus, us newbies get to make new acquaintances as we learn proper techniques.

Jones you sound like a Ferrum grad - lol but then again maybe other schools have that motto.

Phil - hope your enjoying shrimp fest. Enjoy a shrimp taco for the rest of us

[Phil01]

Jones,
Great, well written post as always. You should be a poet sir!
Rob,
Coming this weekend, gonna put a hurting on some shrimp and spend a bunch of money at the booths. (Well my wife will) lol Keep checking those Zillow listings..

Phil

[Jones4381]

I think the enjoyment is increased by the effort. Plus, us newbies get to make new acquaintances as we learn proper techniques.

Jones you sound like a Ferrum grad - lol but then again maybe other schools have that motto.

Phil - hope your enjoying shrimp fest. Enjoy a shrimp taco for the rest of us

Class of 91' Go Panthers!! You know Ferrum?

[Jones4381]

Jones,
Great, well written post as always. You should be a poet sir!
Rob,
Coming this weekend, gonna put a hurting on some shrimp and spend a bunch of money at the booths. (Well my wife will) lol Keep checking those Zillow listings..

Phil

My English is terrible but my desire is great to effectively communicate Thanks Phil. I do actually write poetry, mostly, when I'm in really dark places...haven't written in a few years now as the creative side really comes out during those times of loss or despair....I don't understand why but if ones listens to lyrics (truely listens) they hear the emotion...no feel the emotion the artist is expressing...I enjoy the times I don't hear this as 'ignorance is truly bliss' as they say...I imagine many of us know the awakening that occurs inside when we're in our vulnerable state and only then are we truely free to express our don't care who or what thinks of the place we can only go to briefly...uggg..getting to deep... just should have said thank you for the kindness of your reply. Peace...gotta hop a plane out of Chicago as the beat goes on...looking forward to my first nest checks later this week and simple pleasures...those are the best.

[Jones4381]

A crane popped into my head reflecting on the day and thinking about my pond back home with the emergence of filimintanious algea so I decided to chase it down the rabbit hole somewhere 30,000 feet up flying over KY or IN last night and this emerged lol... Phil...I appreciate the awakening...first writing in over 2 years. Going to add this one to my secret book of over 100 unpublished ones... Call it "Cranes Lair". 3rd draft and may change it some more...typically I finish with them when my mind moves on to something else...
Finishing touches this morning at dawn with a cup of joe...I think she's ready for the world...I hope the world is not to harsh.



Motionless it stares when it appears.
Oh little fish please don't dare, to live you must remain aware.
You'll be eaten if your ventures pushes you to dare.
Entering a Cranes lair proves we never really care.

Oh I wish to be so alive like you little fish
that cannot express any fear.
Fear is the cage that never reveals
but when unlocked, will always show our sage.

So rush on, swim towards Mr. Crane
with its purposeful elongated snare
Boast little fish as your end draws near.

Swim for your brother, make proud your forgotten mother
Time forever grows short, it never resorts
so there is no reason now or ever to abort. O' my little one.

The Crane observes us all, hovering to report
He represents only one law and has no other cohorts
His blank stare will never offer us a cheer
It only confirms within us our Mother Nature
knows all and can offer comfort and is sincere.


Rod April 29th, 2025.

[SE Wisc hopefull]

Jones, you are a poet ... nice. Also, I know a little about Ferrum ... had a daughter graduate up the road at Liberty.

[WI/MI Border]

Great job on the build. You are a craftsman. You are a great son as well. If you can share where you saw the building plan that'd be super.

I built an XPS foam, eight unit house and upon installation (by myself) I managed to have it drop about 15' onto a nearby chain link fence. It mostly survived but I need to do some repairs (roof aluminum sheet metal on the XPS) and get help installing next time.

I think I'll go the cedar fence post method next time.

Tim

[SE Wisc hopefull]

Tim,

I used the attached video as my jumping off point. I built 2 so far, and a few of the changes I made were to run each board thru a table saw to get a better glue edge, use wood rails instead of dowels, and a porches and entrances on the doors. I also went with 10 apartments and pitched roof.

I don't have any plans, but happy to create some rough plans or talk you thru it if your interested ... my cell is 847-644-3236

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i6KhYex3iE Easy Homemade Cedar Purple Martin House #1 by Hugo Boom

Rob

[Jones4381]

Nice work Rob and excellent you tube video. Liberty is an amazing school and congrats on your daughter going there! I wasn't smart enough back then...They called it Liberty Baptist during my days and wasn't near the size of today.

[WI/MI Border]

Thanks Rob. I'll check that video series out.

XPS house is repaired and erected. Morning song playing. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Tim