Hello,
I was not successful in attracting Purple Martins this year but will try again next year. I live in Wisconsin and wonder if I should keep playing the day chatter??? When do I stop and take my housing down? Tony (from near Lena), are you out there and can you tell me (lost your address), or any others who are willing to help, have you answers for me?
Sincerely,
Marilyn G.
When do I take Martin housing down?
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Donnie Hurdt MN
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
- Location: North Prairie, MN
Marilyn, I dont have martins either,(this was my eleventh year trying) but I usually wait till around Labor Day to take all my housing down. I had visitors last week when I played Dawnsong in the afternoon after work but this week I havent seen a single martin. 
Might have to wait till next year to see a live one again. Good luck to you next year.
Might have to wait till next year to see a live one again. Good luck to you next year.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................
About 30 PMs enroute to a roost about 12 miles away, the "Daytime Chatter" CD (piped thru a Radio Shack Powerhorn speaker) attracted worked between 6 and 7:30 P.M. on 8/20. In pairs, trios, and a flock of 8, they circled and dived thru the treetops; even got 1 to land in a tall ash tree.
Last evening, the CD attracted and held a flock of 8 for over a half hour. 3 landed in a tree and 1 actually landed briefly on a "decoyed" Coates house (w/ Natureline gourd hanging beneath).
Plan to continue until the roost departs--probably another 10 days.
Perhaps the Daytime Chatter mimicked some sounds they found familiar at the roost?
Last evening, the CD attracted and held a flock of 8 for over a half hour. 3 landed in a tree and 1 actually landed briefly on a "decoyed" Coates house (w/ Natureline gourd hanging beneath).
Plan to continue until the roost departs--probably another 10 days.
Perhaps the Daytime Chatter mimicked some sounds they found familiar at the roost?
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Guest
Marilyn G., I leave my martin housing/gourds up all year long. I live on private property so I don't have to worry about a "home owners association" challenging me. The main thing is that you don't have any house sparrows or european starlings in your gourds that would prevent Purple Martins from taking up residency. I personally consider Purple Martin housing to be yard art, however, that is just my opinion.
As far as the playing the CD, I used to play it on scheduled time, but I just decided to play it 24 hours a day, until martins show up ofcourse. Once again, I live on private property, so there is no one that can challenge me on noise pollution.
You are not really out a lot of money to keep trying, so just keep trying. Eventually you should succeed.
As far as the playing the CD, I used to play it on scheduled time, but I just decided to play it 24 hours a day, until martins show up ofcourse. Once again, I live on private property, so there is no one that can challenge me on noise pollution.
You are not really out a lot of money to keep trying, so just keep trying. Eventually you should succeed.
Question/comment: I took my housing down probably a month after my one nest fledged. It had been a few weeks since my last visit, and I didn't want any S&Ss to get "comfy".
Did I make a mistake, and take it down too early?
Did I make a mistake, and take it down too early?
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Guest
TexasWhaler, I don't think you made a mistake. I think that is fine if you wanted to take it down then. I personally like to leave mine up for the few Purple Martins that my fly over and see it. Maybe they will remember it next year and come back. Either way, you are ok. I personally leave my Purple Martin housing/gourds up all year long. I know of a Purple Martin house in Tennessee that has been up for 30 years, it is hard fixed to the top of a wooden light pole (no light on it ofcourse) and requires a ladder for next checks. It has been in the same position for 30 years.
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Guest
Hello Fellow Martin People,
Thank you to all of you for your help and ideas, I will keep playing my Martin CD's and maybe be lucky enough to see some fly over or land( yippeeeeeeee!!!!! )
on my housing on their way south.
Again thanks,
Marilyn G.
Thank you to all of you for your help and ideas, I will keep playing my Martin CD's and maybe be lucky enough to see some fly over or land( yippeeeeeeee!!!!! )
on my housing on their way south.
Again thanks,
Marilyn G.
Marilyn,
I leave mine up year round.....I had 95% occupancy this year and leave it up just FOR the sparrows and starlings....so I can trap them and thin them as much as possible before the martins return and thus I have very little problem with S and S while the martins are here!
by the way....anyone w/in a 50 gallon of gas radius of Indiana have a trio castle they'd like removed
I leave mine up year round.....I had 95% occupancy this year and leave it up just FOR the sparrows and starlings....so I can trap them and thin them as much as possible before the martins return and thus I have very little problem with S and S while the martins are here!
by the way....anyone w/in a 50 gallon of gas radius of Indiana have a trio castle they'd like removed
2004 3pr 13 f 2005 18pr 80 f 2006 36 pr 138 f
2oo7 38 pr 176 f 2008 41 pr 154 f
2009 51 pr 209 f 2010 61 pr 247 f
2011 124E 122Y 55P so far
2 Sweet 16s SREH homemade
2 Trio Castles converted 24 into 12 w/porch dividers + SREH (for sale EOS )
1 towering "20" 76 total cavities
2oo7 38 pr 176 f 2008 41 pr 154 f
2009 51 pr 209 f 2010 61 pr 247 f
2011 124E 122Y 55P so far
2 Sweet 16s SREH homemade
2 Trio Castles converted 24 into 12 w/porch dividers + SREH (for sale EOS )
1 towering "20" 76 total cavities
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Donnie Hurdt MN
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
- Location: North Prairie, MN
jonkertb, you might spend less money on a new Trio Castle than buying 50 gallons of gas nowadays
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................
Ricluc,
I guess I like them because I was fortunate enough to get 2 of them very cheap and was successful with them. Also I live in a POA on a lake and I don't want many different kinds of houses up. I can get away with the nice neat castles.
I've modified them and have great occupancy rates....I've made them into double compartments w/added porch dividers and SREH. They are easy to raise and lower for monitoring and they give a good "concentration of housing per pole"
dhurdtMN
LOL I used the gallon figure to give a value to how far I'm able to travel!!!! I used to use a mile figure but with the price of gold these days!
Actually I'd be willing to travel a good ways as my two are full and I have room for two more that I think would fill if I could get them modified and up before next season!
I guess I like them because I was fortunate enough to get 2 of them very cheap and was successful with them. Also I live in a POA on a lake and I don't want many different kinds of houses up. I can get away with the nice neat castles.
I've modified them and have great occupancy rates....I've made them into double compartments w/added porch dividers and SREH. They are easy to raise and lower for monitoring and they give a good "concentration of housing per pole"
dhurdtMN
LOL I used the gallon figure to give a value to how far I'm able to travel!!!! I used to use a mile figure but with the price of gold these days!
Actually I'd be willing to travel a good ways as my two are full and I have room for two more that I think would fill if I could get them modified and up before next season!
2004 3pr 13 f 2005 18pr 80 f 2006 36 pr 138 f
2oo7 38 pr 176 f 2008 41 pr 154 f
2009 51 pr 209 f 2010 61 pr 247 f
2011 124E 122Y 55P so far
2 Sweet 16s SREH homemade
2 Trio Castles converted 24 into 12 w/porch dividers + SREH (for sale EOS )
1 towering "20" 76 total cavities
2oo7 38 pr 176 f 2008 41 pr 154 f
2009 51 pr 209 f 2010 61 pr 247 f
2011 124E 122Y 55P so far
2 Sweet 16s SREH homemade
2 Trio Castles converted 24 into 12 w/porch dividers + SREH (for sale EOS )
1 towering "20" 76 total cavities
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robndebby
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:25 pm
- Location: VIRGINIA/POWHATAN
- Martin Colony History: Established colony in 1990
We usually take our houses and gourds down around Labor Day. We feel they may last longer if not out all winter long. But I think it is your own personal choice. My neighbor a couple of fields over leaves hers up all year. Unfortunately, she is a single woman living out here in the country and not only do we have to take care of our Martin houses, we have to take care of hers too as she doesn't seem to "grasp" the concept of what to do with the Martins, she just likes the idea that she has them. At least with us here, her Martins are getting proper attention. But we did notice her house is beginning to deteriorate somewhat, but then she's had it up for about 6 years.
ROBNDEBBY
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Thank you robndebby for taking care of your neighbor's colony. I know of others who just put up the housing for the novelty of having a bird house and birds in it. They are completely oblivious of the drama that plays out in a Purple Martin colony and how sad it is when they are not protected from nest competitors and predators.robndebby wrote: she doesn't seem to "grasp" the concept of what to do with the Martins, she just likes the idea that she has them. At least with us here, her Martins are getting proper attention. But we did notice her house is beginning to deteriorate somewhat, but then she's had it up for about 6 years.
I would say, "Why don't you put up another house and let hers fall apart; then her birds can come to your house" - but, I don't want the martins at her house to have to suffer the losses required to get them to move. It's just too much for me...
Maybe you can convince her to take her house down when it becomes to rickety to safely house nesting martins. It would be better for them to come back one season and find it gone than to nest in it and have it fall apart on them.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
Hello To All,
It is so nice to still be receiving replies and help from all of you experienced Martin people. I hope next year I too can worry about Martin "renters" as I said this year just empty gourds and CD songs. But, I still enjoy hearing of everyones Martin happenings, looking at all the pictures and most of all, reading all the helpful hints! My husband asked me to post another question and when many of you read it, you will know why!! It is I who wants the Martins to come, not really his idea but here goes.
I was told a way to better sound proof the speaker horn is to wrap it in foam, place in a plastic bucket, (drill holes in the bucket for drainage) and thus play your Martin songs. My concern is, will the foam hold moisture and ruin the speaker after one season? Is there a certain type of foam? Does it muffle the songs? Any ideas for me for next year???
It is so nice to still be receiving replies and help from all of you experienced Martin people. I hope next year I too can worry about Martin "renters" as I said this year just empty gourds and CD songs. But, I still enjoy hearing of everyones Martin happenings, looking at all the pictures and most of all, reading all the helpful hints! My husband asked me to post another question and when many of you read it, you will know why!! It is I who wants the Martins to come, not really his idea but here goes.
I was told a way to better sound proof the speaker horn is to wrap it in foam, place in a plastic bucket, (drill holes in the bucket for drainage) and thus play your Martin songs. My concern is, will the foam hold moisture and ruin the speaker after one season? Is there a certain type of foam? Does it muffle the songs? Any ideas for me for next year???
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CUL Lou~Mich
Marilyn. Hmmm, I wonder if hubby is trying to sabotage your efforts. ha ha. Hopefully not though. Anyway, I'd be concerned for a couple of reasons. First, it seems the foam would muffle the sounds. I'd also be worried that the foam would soak up the rain, then release it back out as moisture, thus damaging the speaker. I'm not sure on either of these things, but just giving my outlook on the problem. CUL Lou
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Guest
Hello CUL LOU,
You may have a point, my husband does not enjoy the CD's as much as I do. I keep telling him real Martins will sound much better [img]
!! But, I believe I read about the bucket idea on the internet and wondered if there was some special way to do it. However, I too would think the foam would muffle the sound. Oh well, thanks for your ideas and thoughts.
Marilyn G.[/img]
You may have a point, my husband does not enjoy the CD's as much as I do. I keep telling him real Martins will sound much better [img]
!! But, I believe I read about the bucket idea on the internet and wondered if there was some special way to do it. However, I too would think the foam would muffle the sound. Oh well, thanks for your ideas and thoughts.Marilyn G.[/img]