Try as I may I have been unable to get my Martins to accept supplemental feeding. I have tried for several years now. I'm not sure if they simply aren't hungry enough or it is something in my technique that is dissuading them. I am doing the standard plastic spoon flipping, and also placing crickets and mealworms on a feeding platform, but so far no luck at all. They follow the crickets with their eyes, but just won't take that first leap of faith. These same Martins readily accept egg shells off of the feeding platform during nesting season.
Am I missing something?
Hanover Bill.
Supplemental Feeding Frustration !!
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Hanover Bill
- Posts: 656
- Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 3:10 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Hanover Township
- Martin Colony History: 2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
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Larry A Kronemeyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 5:27 pm
- Location: Illinois/Millstadt
Keep trying.
If you don't have eggshells out right now, get some out there. Put some mealworms or crickets along with the eggshells. Don't over-do. You're getting them to the tray with the eggshells and it takes only one smart little female to gobble up a few mealworms to get the others to try it out. It's worth a try.
If you don't have eggshells out right now, get some out there. Put some mealworms or crickets along with the eggshells. Don't over-do. You're getting them to the tray with the eggshells and it takes only one smart little female to gobble up a few mealworms to get the others to try it out. It's worth a try.
Larry and Judy Kronemeyer
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 8 gourds(crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 8 gourds(crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
I'm sure yo have already heard this little info, but here it is again just in case. When flipping crickets, make sure you don't flick them right at the martin, rather about 15 feet out and 15 feet above where they are perched. Crickets just inside a compartment is another method in getting them to realize it is food. The egg shell trick is a great one.
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-=DKC=-
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2017 2:26 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
- Martin Colony History: ................
2019: 11 pairs
2018: 11 pairs - 43 fledged
2017: 4 pairs - 17 fledged
I tried flipping crickets last year and they just looked at me.
This year we had a few cold rainy days when they were staying in the gourds or sitting in the porches all day. I figured there must not be any bugs if they weren't leaving the gourds to hunt. To my surprise, it only took 5-10 crickets before the first one figured it out. And then they all started eating. Mine have been more receptive in the morning than afternoon.
They won't eat off my feeding station yet though.
This year we had a few cold rainy days when they were staying in the gourds or sitting in the porches all day. I figured there must not be any bugs if they weren't leaving the gourds to hunt. To my surprise, it only took 5-10 crickets before the first one figured it out. And then they all started eating. Mine have been more receptive in the morning than afternoon.
They won't eat off my feeding station yet though.
"If at first you don't succeed, keep on suckin' till you do succeed." - Curly Howard
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Hanover Bill
- Posts: 656
- Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 3:10 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Hanover Township
- Martin Colony History: 2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
Thanks to all for the good ideas and suggestions. I will keep trying. Definitely will get some egg shells out there to try to entice them. Thanks again.
Hanover Bill.
Hanover Bill.
2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
I am gonna put scrambled eggs in each gourd this evening and also tomorrow AM. It will frost tonight and there are very few bugs. I mowed all my grass (a bunch) and had hardly any insect., but the hard core resident barnies and TSs were there getting whatever bugs I could stir up. There were also a pair of ASY PMs in the hunt. They are good, but not equipped for low level aerobatics like the TS or Barnies. It is really strange watching a PM at eye level getting close as you mow out in the open spots, and even stranger when the ASY female lights and just rests on the grass. Very stressful spring.
2014 8 gourds, 3 pairs nested. Ended w/ 24 total
2015 24 gourds, 22 nests. Lotsa birds!
2016 24 gourds and good activity.
2017 32 SREH gourds. Great activity.
2018 40 SREH gourds. Good finish despite big storm damage. No more dangling gourds.
2019 56+ SREH gourds, all on 3/8 rods. Birds did very well.
2020 56 SREH gourds.
2015 24 gourds, 22 nests. Lotsa birds!
2016 24 gourds and good activity.
2017 32 SREH gourds. Great activity.
2018 40 SREH gourds. Good finish despite big storm damage. No more dangling gourds.
2019 56+ SREH gourds, all on 3/8 rods. Birds did very well.
2020 56 SREH gourds.
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JRow
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2017 2:23 pm
- Location: Eastern South Dakota
- Martin Colony History: 2017--super 24 gourd rack with a mix of Troyer horizontals and natural gourds
PMCA member
Hi Hanover Bill,
For whatever it’s worth, my experience is similar. I flip crickets several times a day. They just watch the cricket fly by and don’t attempt to catch it. I’ve flipped to them while they were perched on porches, electrical lines, and even flying low-checking me out. I also placed crickets on porches. It’s frustrating but, I continue to try.
I have a feeding platform at my colony. Unfortunately this group isn’t at my colony-my birds aren’t here yet so no easy way to try to use my colony to train them.
There are five martins that are on day 7 now with only a couple daily highs of 40 in the last week. I doubt they have fed at all and look horrible. I’d hate for them to die after surviving cold temps and two blizzards since arriving. One storm had high winds with gusts over 60 mph for nearly 24 hrs.
My advice to you is the same as what I keep telling myself: Keep trying-it won’t hurt to try again...maybe this time they will take a cricket!
Best to you and your noncompliant Martins-My bunch is also frustrating!
For whatever it’s worth, my experience is similar. I flip crickets several times a day. They just watch the cricket fly by and don’t attempt to catch it. I’ve flipped to them while they were perched on porches, electrical lines, and even flying low-checking me out. I also placed crickets on porches. It’s frustrating but, I continue to try.
I have a feeding platform at my colony. Unfortunately this group isn’t at my colony-my birds aren’t here yet so no easy way to try to use my colony to train them.
There are five martins that are on day 7 now with only a couple daily highs of 40 in the last week. I doubt they have fed at all and look horrible. I’d hate for them to die after surviving cold temps and two blizzards since arriving. One storm had high winds with gusts over 60 mph for nearly 24 hrs.
My advice to you is the same as what I keep telling myself: Keep trying-it won’t hurt to try again...maybe this time they will take a cricket!
Best to you and your noncompliant Martins-My bunch is also frustrating!
~Jen
2017-- 23 pair with 99 eggs: 81 hatched, 80 fledged.
PMCA member
2017-- 23 pair with 99 eggs: 81 hatched, 80 fledged.
PMCA member
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
I recall back in the day when I started trying to get martins to accept flipped crickets. It took about 40 minutes of non stop flipping before the first matin left the wire and caught a cricket. I quickly realized that I just spent a ton of money on crickets, so I reverted to flipping scrambled eggs, much cheaper. After the first one or two martins catch a flipped egg piece or cricket, the others are quick learners. On a side note to anyone supplement feeding scrambled eggs; it is very important when preparing the scrambled eggs, NOT TO USE OIL when cooking the eggs. Martins have a difficult time digesting oils.