Closing Holes

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
[email protected]
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:59 pm
Location: Nebraska

Once nesting has taken place, is it okay to close the unused entrances?
C.C.Martins
Posts: 3206
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
Location: Corpus Christi Tx
Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025:
HOSP: 26 Starlings: 20
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.

Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 36 PMCA excluder gourds, 4 natural gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025:
PMCA member

I wouldn't. Leave them be. If you get subadults, they need a place. Just my opinion.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
Thomas Maddox
Posts: 456
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 5:23 pm
Location: Sulphur, Louisiana

If you can keep out the HOSPS and Starlings, leave them open!
Martintown33
Posts: 1238
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

Agree with the Toms.. if you can keep the HOSPS and starlings out, I would leave them open ..
Good luck
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
RC Moser
Posts: 1545
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2003 3:25 am

Depends on how many PMs you have nesting? one or two I wouldn't PMs are are colony nesters and you would limit changes getting more or full housing. Course it you have no control over house sparrow or starlings you're going to struggle keeping them anyway cause IMO they will always be threat?
Post Reply