East Tennessee martins

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
jhcox
Posts: 801
Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
Location: tennesse
Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair

My name is James and I live in East TN in the little town of Heiskell. I have been try to start a new Martin colony it's been 3 years now. I finally saw my first Martin last Monday by Thursday there were 3 total. So far they have been looking they have went in the gourds a couple of times. We have a lot of tree with swallows in our area and they are not helping. To be so small they are very aggressive. I would really like to find a PM mentor in my area to help me get started but no luck so far. Any suggestions or help of any kind would be greatly appreciated. We are gone on vacation all this week and I really hated to leave when I am finally starting to see some Martin's. All I can do is hope that there still there when we return home . Again I would appreciate any assistance from fellow forum members.
Top
voyager
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat May 14, 2016 7:19 am
Location: Rhea Co. Tenn.

James, I live in Rhea Co. not too far from you. I might be of some help in getting you started; I will try anyway. Send me a reply when you get back from vacation this week. Hope your vacation was a good one. D.J.
Top
jhcox
Posts: 801
Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
Location: tennesse
Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair

Thank you voyager I would appreciate it very much. I am very excited about just finally seeing some Martins. I am not getting my hopes up that they will pair up and start a nest. But it's nice to see something besides tree swallows and house sparrows. So far I have had no trouble from starlings trying to get in there house or gourds. I have an S&K Martin house with 16 rooms and I have 16 gourds that I grew last year. I put pine needles in all their compartments and gourds per the PMCA. They said that they Martin's like to have nest material already in them. But again I appreciate all assistance that I can get from any Martin landlords. Thanks again Voyager.
Top
4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

You mentioned that you had a S&K 16 compartment Barn.
I assume that you have modified your S&K Barn to double compartments and closed off the attic space compartments. The attic space compartments get too hot in the summer and cannot have nest checks performed without removing the roof.
If not, then you need to quickly make your S&K Barn from a single compartment motel to a double compartment, honeymoon suite hotel. lol

The conversion will decrease the number of compartments in your S&K Barn to 6 double compartments. That seems like a bad idea but experienced landlords have proven that double compartments with the SREH crescents on your barn will have higher occupancy and success.
Although the classic article by Ken Kostka seems to apply just to Trio houses, the concept applies to any older design house.

https://www.purplemartin.org/uploads/me ... on-434.pdf

If you study your S&K Barn, you will find that the dividing coroplast (corrugated plastic) walls have pre-punched holes ready to make your house into double compartments. Use the 4 side by side and 2 front to back configuration (Figure 1 of the article) rather than the strictly front to back configuration (Figure 4) since the pole interferes with the straight through concept.
The martins visiting your site will like the double compartments better and will more likely stay and nest.
Mark
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Top
handyman315
Posts: 300
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 11:03 am
Location: SW Ohio
Martin Colony History: Colony established May 20, 2017 after three unsuccessful years. Persistent and aggressive Tree Swallows plagued the site, but beyond learning - and practicing - to control them, was the return in 2017 of a 2016-SY-M previously unable to find a mate. As a handsome ASY-M, he brought along two females and a swagger that soon put the Tree Swallow issue to rest. As the anchor pair, he and his mate hatched all six of their eggs into fat and healthy babies into what settled in to be a three-pair, flourishing new colony with up to 11 birds total, including 3 SY-M trouble makers.

Very informative reply 4th Gen Martin Fan; made those very changes to my S&K apartment barn, and they were rewarding and very easily done.

This is my third season and have gotten closer to a colony every year; "Dawnsong" and 2" mirrors in a few compartments have seemed to kick start some SY males . . . now to get the matched up pairs to stay. :-/

Good luck jhcox!
2023-42 Nests, 197 Eggs/Babies
2022-48 Nests Fledged 203
2021-43 Nests Fledged 185
2020-31 Nests Fledged 133, three early deaths due to cold & rain
2019-19 Nests Fledged 84
2018-11 Nests Fledged 48, ASY-M Arrived April 6, Despite Snow & Cold, Joined Soon by Mate & Two Adult Pairs
2017-3 Nests Fledged 13, FIRST-YEAR LANDLORD! Resident SY-M from 2016 Returned (as ASY-M) on May 20. At Least 11 Adult Residents
2016 Late-Arriving SYs, Resident Lone SY-M
2015-14 Many Visits
Top
jhcox
Posts: 801
Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
Location: tennesse
Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair

Sorry for the late reply. Thank you 4th gen martin fan. I'll look at modifying the house as long as I can do it with out destroying the S&K house. And I I will try the mirror idea as well. Thank you very much for the assistance. I hope one day after I become a PM land lord that I can assist others in getting started in my area. Thanks again.
Top
4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

James,
I have full confidence that you can remove the pre-perforated section to open up the respective dividing wall. Sometimes it is useful to cut any perforations which are not completely through the corrugated plastic.
You do not have to dis-assemble the house to do this job. Just make sure that you remove the correct sections for the double compartment layout (Figure 1).
The nesting compartment entrances must be blocked off. Down and dirty you can cover the entrances with duct tape both inside and outside to keep the adhesive away from the birds.
All above can be done in 30 mins.

I am not a fan of duct tape so my method is to block the nesting compartment and the attic space entrances with aluminum sheet stock. It takes longer but I don't have to worry about the sticky adhesive.
Mark.
Attachments
S&K Blocked Entrance, Outside.jpg
(197.28 KiB) Not downloaded yet
S&K Blocked Entrance, Inside.jpg
(449.69 KiB) Not downloaded yet
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Top
4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

James,
I had new SYs visiting my colony today. It is too early to give up this season!
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Top
jhcox
Posts: 801
Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
Location: tennesse
Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair

Thanks for all the ideas guys I can't wait to get home from vacation to see if the three martins I saw before I left are still hanging around and I will try those modifications on the S&K house. If don't Get any this year I'll just prepare for next year. And try to in prove my Martin housing. I'm growing some new gourds this year already. Thanks agian
Top
jhcox
Posts: 801
Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
Location: tennesse
Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair

Hey voyager I know you said you live in Rhea county maybe on day if your in the knoxville or oakridge area you could stop by and look at the martin housing I have and give me some advice as far as where it's place and set up.
Top
4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

James,
This S&K House is an example of the modification I am proposing to you.
The green pool noodle is cut to wedge and separate the levels with two entrances. It is easily removed to open the door flap.
The porch elevators and PVC arches were added to keep starlings from breaching the crescents. These additions were necessary because a small female starlings was breaching the crescents. At first, I verified that the crescents were not too tall using a Go/NoGo gauge as recommended by John Miller. The crescents were perfect at 1 3/16". Next I added the porch elevators but she was still able to breach. The porch elevators are 1/8" below the bottom of the crescents.
Finally I remembered the PVC arches that John Miller and Emil Pampell apply to the inside of the entrances to reduce wing entrapment. I remember that Lewis Scott and Tim Mangan apply PMCA Wing Entrapment Protectors to the outside of the SREH entrances.
I decided to adapt principles of the Lewis Modification to Conley II entrances to crescent entrances by combining slick porch elevators and outside PVC arches. Together these modifications stopped the small female starling from breaching the S&K crescents. Now starlings do not even hang around this house.
As a side note, I have not had any wing entrapments when the full Lewis Modification is applied to any entrance. Nor have I seen any martins have a problem negotiating this Lewis Modification to Crescents.
Mark.
Attachments
S K Modified House.JPG
S K Modified House.JPG (172.6 KiB) Viewed 9798 times
Last edited by 4th Gen Martin Fan on Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Top
4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

James,
I realized that you may need to check the crescent entrances on your S&K Barn.
The height at the top of the crescent arch must be at least 1 3/16" above the flat bottom of the crescent.
I have learned from John Miller that all entrances should be checked with a Go/NoGo gauge.
An example that I made following John Miller recommendations is attached. In this picture it is being applied to a Trio/Nature House crescent door. As you can see this entrance is exactly 1 3/16" tall.
Mark.
Attachments
Go NoGo Gauge with Crescent SREH.JPG
Go NoGo Gauge with Crescent SREH.JPG (54.83 KiB) Viewed 9796 times
Last edited by 4th Gen Martin Fan on Sat Jun 04, 2016 3:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Top
4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

James,
I added this attachment for a closer view at the Lewis Modification to Crescent Entrances.
I left the slick porch elevator 1/8" below the flat bottom of the crescent.
It is not apparent in this photo, but I would leave about 1/16" clearance between the bottom of the PVC arch and the top of the crescent entrance arch.
As John Miller mentioned in a post about his inside PVC arches, your finger can easily detect this distance around the arch.
I use either Lexel or Liquid Nails (LN-902 because it is UV light resistant) to bond the PVC arch to the plastic, metal or wood crescent entrance.
The 3" Schedule 40 PVC pipe in the attachment is Gray Non-Metallic Above Ground/Underground UV resistant PVC Electrical Conduit. It is not the thin wall PVC DWV which John Miller and Emil Pampell use because I could not find the thin wall 3" diameter at my local home improvement store. Most manufacturers recommend painting standard white PVC pipe exposed to UV light with a latex based white paint. I have not painted this Gray UV Resistant PVC Conduit and it is holding up well on the outside of the crescent entrance exposed to UV light. I suspect that the S&K house will deteriorate before this PVC pipe is a problem.
Mark.
Attachments
Lewis Mod to Crescent Entrance.JPG
Lewis Mod to Crescent Entrance.JPG (100.78 KiB) Viewed 9783 times
Last edited by 4th Gen Martin Fan on Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:10 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Top
jhcox
Posts: 801
Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
Location: tennesse
Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair

Thanks Mark for the advice and photos. We just got home from vacation yesterday and I haven't seen any Martin action so far but I did find that house sparrows have started nest in my S&K house and another set of Tree Swallows have started nest in the new set of gourds that I put up for the PM I saw just before leaving for vac. So as soon as I got home I checked and I dismantled the HS and TS nest. now I just have to figure out a way to get rid of them. thanks again James.
Top
jhcox
Posts: 801
Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
Location: tennesse
Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair

Mark ? I don't have to take all the corogated plastic out right just cut out along the line that you can see on the plastic. and do I need to put pine needles in both compartments or just in the far most compartment past the cut out? James.
Top
4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

James,
That is correct. You do not have to dismantle any of the house or remove any of the dividing walls to open up the house for double compartments. There are perforations in all of the dividing walls. You might be able to punch them out easily if the perforations are through and through the corrugated plastic. My experience is that they are not and so I help by cutting along the perforations with a thin sharp knife that does not have a blade and handle that is too long. The knife must be able to maneuver inside the compartment.
I only put pine needles in the far most ("nesting") compartment. But don't be surprised that the martins also put some nesting material in the "entry" compartment.
I am always surprised at the variety of nest that martins will do. Some nests are minimal and some are like Fort Knox!
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Top
4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

James,
I know that you are busy coming off of your vacation but I want to encourage you to make the changes ASAP.
I have a new SY pair in my personal colony this weekend. I see lots of ruckus around established colonies suggesting that SY migration is still happening. I firmly believe that there is still a chance for a new colony to get some SY pairs this season.
After the double compartment modification, I would be checking the crescent heights. You will find that the S&K crescent edges are slightly rough. I smooth the edge with 400 grit emory cloth or sandpaper. I check with a Go/NoGo gauge to make sure the top of the crescent height is at least 1 3/16" and not over 1 7/32".
You can get a digital caliper for under $30 at any home improvement center if you do not have one already. It obviously will work as well as the Go/NoGo gauge, a caliper is just not as fast.
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Top
4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

James,
I finally found a PMCA Forum topic which covers the need to check entrances made of plastic.
Senior Forum members with years of experience discuss the need to check entrances, especially made of plastic.
It would be worth perusing this discussion.

http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic ... ge#p257653

Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Top
jhcox
Posts: 801
Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
Location: tennesse
Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair

Hey Mark I plan on making the changes tomorrow. It's been raining on and off and on the last two days. In between the showers I just had enough time to set my repeating sparrow trap I made and to clean out HS & TS nest out of the S&K and a couple of gourds. I had one set of TS in a blue bird house and a pair in one of the gourds that I assisted in fledging a little early. They flew off ok then I cleaned both and filled the gourd with pine needles. I did at least see a purple of PM earlier today if only for a few seconds. James.
Top
4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

James,
All of that rain has already moved through West TN. Clear skies here. This week will be perfect for you.
I fixed crescent entrances at a fellow's T14 which were cut too tall and were allowing starlings in. I had blocked off those entrances to exclude the starlings until I could fix the crescents. That T14 is full of ASY pairs in the compartments that were okay. The open compartments will now provide for the SYs that are migrating through now.
If you have martins checking out your site, then you still have a chance. You must deal with the starlings & house sparrows so your site will be enticing to the timid SYs.
This time of the year should be as exciting to new colonies as earlier in the season. It is crazy for wannabees to give up now. Especially with late migration this season.
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Purple Martin Forum”