Accepted What Is

DelmaWhisenhunt · Mon May 28, 2012 6:27 am

I have accepted the fact no nesting martins at my site again, but still have those soaring over, lighting on highline wire across front yard, singing their special song. That is better than nothing. I have the sparrow trap set, but they shy away and have for days. I even put part of their nest in the trap. So will grab my cup of coffee, sit on the porch and watch whatever the performance might be on this Memorial Day. So many things to be thankful for and need to remember that always.

JL Murray · Mon May 28, 2012 8:20 am

DelmaWhisenhunt · Mon May 28, 2012 10:02 am

Yes there are many martins around and continue to visit the site in my front yard. So do the sparrows, an endless fight. Thanks for mentioning Iron Stob, I will be in that vicinity today. The Iron Stob is a real land mark so for as direction markers for those not as familiar as we are. Know you are well land marked or you wouldn't know about Iron Stob. My husband and I used to own the big house on North West corner across from the store. He wanted to move into the house ( the old one ), but I voted against the idea and we sold pretty soon after that. Of course he was always into buying and selling, but that is one place he continued to wish that we might have homesteaded.

DornCounty · Tue May 29, 2012 10:12 am

i've had new arrivals just the last couple days. in fact one making a nest.

~Ray~Gingerich · Tue May 29, 2012 10:54 am

Delma, why don't you get yourself a lightweight rope operated gourd rack, something you can easily raise and lower by yourself, maybe like the 14ft Deluxe rack with a 4 part pulley sold in the PMCA catalog, it should be easy to raise and lower. If it's still too heavy you could leave a few arms off. That way you can go out and handle the rack by yourself and keep those sparrows out etc.
I hate to see someone want martins so much and not get any, I was in your same situation myself a few short years ago, but hang in there anyway.

DelmaWhisenhunt · Tue May 29, 2012 12:34 pm

Ray, thanks for the suggestion, sure something for me to think about. Makes me ill almost to see martins come every day and the sparrows meet them head on immediately. This is the first year that I have failed to capture sparrows in the wire baited trap. So many martins in my area and frequent visitors to my located site. Sure can't complain about the interest.

DelmaWhisenhunt · Wed May 30, 2012 2:41 pm

Maybe its the heat, but last day or so not too many martins visiting around or maybe they have decided its sparrow land. I am still surprised that not one sparrow has ventured near the bait trap. I think they must be a different species of sparrows. Know one thing for sure, they can fill a nest in a couple of days with the worst looking mess . Storms moved in last night and supposed to be around again tonight and tomorrow. Maybe the cooler temps will help.

JohnT · Thu May 31, 2012 1:23 pm

DelmaWhisenhunt wrote:Ray, thanks for the suggestion, sure something for me to think about. Makes me ill almost to see martins come every day and the sparrows meet them head on immediately. This is the first year that I have failed to capture sparrows in the wire baited trap. So many martins in my area and frequent visitors to my located site. Sure can't complain about the interest.

I went through a dry spell catching sparrows, and started increasing my efforts at feeding them. I started spreading feed around the trap in a fairly large area. Caught 11 last night, and 14 a week or so ago. I'm over 100 for the year. A lot of feed gets their attention, and they keep coming back.