Trying to Get a Colony Started

Guest · Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:24 am

I am hoping to get some help in getting a colony started here in Warner Robins, GA (Middle GA).

I have tried for 2 years to get one started. The first year I was late in putting up my house. Last year I put it out as soon I I heard there were scouts. I had sparrows come in and I could dissuade the durn things. Then some martins came in much later but I was still battling the sparrows and the sparrows pretty much dissuaded the martins. I was later told that I probably had the younger martins in and that I ought to consider putting out the house than when the scouts come.

Please let me know what I can do.

Thanks!

Emil Pampell-Tx · Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:12 am

Celia, you probably never will get martins if the sparrows are allowed to stay...In order to attract martins and keep them, it becomes necessary to try to trap or shoot every starling or sparrow that shows up at your place...It is completely legal to kill all of the sparrows and starlings, as they take the nests away from all of the native American birds such as martins, bluebirds, chickadees, tree swallows, etc..

There are many traps on the market, so if you can trap them, that may be the best way to go. The sparrows can whip and kill the martins so the martins leave..by the way I hate sparrows...smile

Since you had visiting martins, you should be able to keep them if you get rid of the sparrows..I must have killed 100 sparrows before they thinned down, now I hardly ever see a sparrow...it definitely is a requirement to kill the sparrows and starlings.

Guest · Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:25 am

How do I kill or trap the sparrows?

klcretired · Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:46 am

Celia,
We are glad that you are trying to do the right thing to protect the Martins.
Here is a Page on the pmca website on how to Eliminate the sparrow's , This is a Must if you want a Colony :

http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... Humane.htm

I hope this info helps you ,but you also need to shoot and trap all of the S&S's (Starlings & Sparrow's)in order to give your Martins a chance, if you don't eliminate all of those Trash Beaks you will never do very well on getting a colony established. Please Read all that you can in the pmca archives, and as far as traps , I have a S&S repeating trap that i bought from the pmca several year's ago That I highly recommend , it's simply great to use and works year round even when the martins are gone from your site, i placed my S&S repeating trap next to my Oak tree , you see Martins won't try and go into any houseing right up against any tree's and all the year's that i have had my trap up I have never caught a martin....I have only caught those "trash Beaks". Please read all that you can it will be helpful to you.

klcretired · Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:48 am

Oh and Celia, I forgot to mention that as a pmca member you get a discount on anything you buy.

Emil Pampell-Tx · Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:24 pm

Celia, there are basically 3 kinds of traps:

1) bait traps that you put on the ground an put milo or birdfood in the trap, they do in but cannot get out

2) a trap that you put into a house, and it will trap the sparrows. Those work good when the sparrows are building nests in houses. this kind of trap must fit the house that you buy, as some houses are built differently, and the trap will not fit.

3) a nestbox trap that stands alone. these also work only during the nesting season..there are several kind, individual traps that catch 1 bird, repeating traps that may catch several birds, etc.

If you would have some questions about them, feel free to ask..the pmca "shop" section above sells many kinds of traps..