Hi there! I am trying to attract PM's for the first time. Both my grandparents and parents always had PM's. I have always loved these birds.
We got our house up this week and I have seen PM's at my house twice. However, sparrows are starting to take interest as well. I have been scaring them off as best I can. My husband is not here to "take care" of them at this time (military training). Should I get a pellet gun and do it myself or can they be scared off? (I have seen the martin there at the same time as the sparrows).
Should I not go outside when these first martins are checking out the house? Should I leave them alone to check the house out and not disturb them? I have 2 small children and need to know if they should play somewhere else while the PM's are checking us out?
Also, how long do martins take in deciding on a house? Will these martins pick us or more likely move on? I so want them to stay! What can I do to help them pick our house!!!
House sparrows are persistent and don't 'discourage' easily. You need to be just as persistent as they are. A pellet gun/rifle is prolly not needed, but that depends on what the range is. I use a cheap BB rifle with a Red Ball sight. The sight is zeroed to the range I shoot. Nice thing about using a BB instead of a pellet is the BB will bounce off the house, where the pellet will put a hole if not go completely through the house....Aluminum house. You didn't mention your house set-up. There are traps that can be used in some houses and there are also traps that can be used to capture sparrows, like the RBT(repeating bait trap). Those work very nicely.
It's great you have PMs checking out your house! Let them check everything out and once they become residents, they will get use to your presence. Hope all goes well for you Shannon!
Hi Shannon, welcome to the PM Forum. First of all, you must control the House Sparrows by shooting and trapping. Do what ever it takes to get rid of them. Secondly, Purple Martins are people orientated birds. They like to be where people are, as they are more protected from other Birds like Hawks, Owls, Sparrows and Starlings. The Martins checking out your house may stay and they may not, but your chances of keeping them is much greater if manage your houses and control the Sparrows. Go out and talk to them when they are around the housing, let them know that they are welcome!
Bob Buskas, Alberta, Canada (The Northern Sky's Colony) Supplimental feeding is the key during bad weather, but you must train them to feed ahead of time.
