GOOD NEWS FROM INDIANAPOLIS

Dan Drew · Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:11 pm

After months of "lurking" to "cure a computer addiction" (and other uninteresting reasons) I'm pleased to make the announcement that I did indeed successfully fledge TWO broods (@5) purple martins last year at my lakeside site, Mallard Lake, in Indianapolis.... AND... it now appears that at least some of them have survived the terrible hurricane season and returned.

A single adult male was seen (and heard) at my lakeside PM rack about 3:30 p.m. under clear sunny skies with a brisk wind from the WSW which had been blowing all day and temperature about 60. We have had recent severe weather and more is expected. I immediately opened all the gourds on my rack, which had been heretofore closed to prevent TS invasion. There were numerous martin sightings throughout the afternoon with frequent landings on my rig. Several times two or three were seen and heard circling overhead and obviously feeding over our lake. There are at least two adult males. About 5:30 p.m. my wife and son observed 4 (or more) martins obviously negotiating my p.m. rig and witnessed a brief skirmish with my "sentinel pair" of tree swallows who allowed an aggressive male martin to "take charge" of the rack. Based on their general demeanor, I DO BELIEVE (and hope) that these are "my martins" returning to reclaim their home.

The TS are abundant here, as some of you know! I have 10 TS sites around the lake. Almost all are "claimed" by TS who are already "paired up" and defending territory. It looks like it will be another awesome season for them again this year!

Unfortunately, the starlings are also abundant here. I have already trapped one and dispatched two with my LED. (Lead Emitting Device.) I hope I will find the time and make the right decisions to handle this horrible situation... with the same luck I had last year. Some Hoosiers might disagree, but I am convinced that the martins arrive at my location with a DEFINITE PREFERENCE FOR THE BIG ROUND HOLES. At the moment, I am offering only two such entrances in my array of gourds and the 12 room McKinnon Condo. I fear that by morning I might have to convert to 100% SREH's... and I expect this dilemma to be the "problem of the day" for several more days.

Wish me luck! ~~and good luck to all of you!

Dan Drew

JJ Jones · Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:40 am

Dan it is great to hear that your martins are back in town ! I know that you have went to great lengths to get them; just like me. Patience has a way of paying off. I currently have not had the starling problem in this area as in the past. I really don't have an answer for this. I also have gourds with the round style hole. The martins "when here" have a great time in them. However, if I notice that starlings would be a problem; I'll probably convert them. I'll just wait and see how it goes. My best to you and family.

JJ Jones

rickluc · Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:12 am

Go Dan Drew and JJ Jones, have a good season.

John Kendall · Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:38 pm

After 5 years of trying and seeing my house on a lake rejected, I found this website last year. I put out gourds, installed a timer and dawnsong, went to 6x12's and moved the house, only to have it rejected .
2 starlings were seen around the house and in and out and the PM's rejected it. I had SREH's overnighted and installed the afternoon of may 23. I had a trio of subbies move in the VERY NEXT DAY!

I left a couple of gourds open with round holes and one of these became a subbie roost. We don't have huge starling pressure on the lake, however, but, even so, PM's won't hang around at all. My biggest issue is sparrows because my hard-headed neighbor buys crummy milo bird seed from the grocery. So, I end up shooting her sparrows.