New to Purple Martins

[Martini]

Hello from South Alabama.. I am a new wannabe purple martin landlord. I have the S&K Bo9 Clinger 6 gourd rack with Clinger tunnels and porches. There are a lot of people around my area that have colonies. Some use houses, some with natural gourds and others with plastic gourds. I had 4 visitors yesterday around 11am. All adult males with full plumage. They sailed in one at a time checking out and landing on my gourds. They circled my house multiple times before flying out. They were there about 10 minutes total. I feel like they were probably trying to pick up some females. Thoughts? I work weekdays so I do not know if that is there first visit or it is something they have done before. I am hoping to pick up a pair but I know the later it gets the less chance I have this year since they were first spotted the end of January in my area. I hope everyone has a great season!

[C.C.Martins]

Hello from Texas! Man I hope you get some to stay. If there's a couple of colonies nearby they may just be looking it over while out and about. But you never know, if the local colonies are full they may very well be looking for homes.
Your best chance is the young birds, they don't have an established home yet.
Can play the dawn song, that will generate intrest. Control sparrows and starlings. Smear a bit of mud on the porches and entrances to make it look used.
Wish you all the luck!
Tom

[Thomas Maddox]

I agree with CC. Also, maybe throw in a small amount of pinestraw into some of the cavities. Like he said, play the Dawn Song. Check out the Song Bird magnet. Your odds seem definitely in your favor. Good luck !

[Martini]

Thank you both for your suggestions. I got the front and porches a little soiled and added a little pine straw. Nice and homey now. I’ll work on getting the dawn song playing. Does it help or hurt to play the chatter in the late afternoon or early evening?

[CTMartins]

Might do Tuesdays is lady's night with free LIVE meal worms and see if the ladies will come for the food then males are sure to follow. Seriously try to make yourself the stand out amongst all the other housing and offer a perk you never know. Why didn't I think of Martini doh !!! Well played there too.

[Martini]

Thanks CT, I'll see what I can do. As for my username, I figured everyone thought it was to dorky to use and that's why it was available

[C.C.Martins]

Thanks CT, I'll see what I can do. As for my username, I figured everyone thought it was to dorky to use and that's why it was available

Its a good one! My old dory username was: iheartbirds.....yep that sir is dorky. Kept it for years.

[Martini]

I had 3 more visitors today. An ASY male and ASY female. I could not tell if the third one was a SY male or female. The male stuck his head and half his body in all 6 gourds. They hung out for 10 minutes then flew around and landed again for another 20 minutes. It had been a couple weeks since the last visitors that I know of. Maybe some will stick around eventually but at least I got to ooooh and aww for a little while.

[C.C.Martins]

Thats awesome! Watch close at dusk to determine if they are spending the night...once they have figured out the entrances, they come in quick and fast.

[Jones4381]

very promising. An ASY male started my site in 2021 on May 07 ( thinking he was ousted from another colony)...I gave up 4 or 5 days earlier as another lost season (2nd)...He found a female a few days later and started it all. Hope you get a pair this season and keep the hope and doing what you're doing.

[Martini]

My wife hasn't seen any activity today. I was really hoping since he had his girlfriend with him they might stick around. At least I am getting visitors.

[Birdiegirl]

Very exciting Martini! Sounds like your setup has caught their interest- hope this is the start of your new colony

[Martini]

Well it seems to be a Sunday ritual now. I had two SY birds stop by and visit a little while yesterday morning. Maybe one day they will stick around

[CTMartins]

I had 3 more visitors today. An ASY male and ASY female. I could not tell if the third one was a SY male or female. The male stuck his head and half his body in all 6 gourds. They hung out for 10 minutes then flew around and landed again for another 20 minutes. It had been a couple weeks since the last visitors that I know of. Maybe some will stick around eventually but at least I got to ooooh and aww for a little while.

People thought Star Wars was too at one point. Look how that turned out.

[MJM]

If you have a lot of colonies around you, you'll get some to stay at some point. Like others said, make the place as attractive as you can. I live in a very similar situation and had martins the first year I put my houses out, and now 3 years later I have 30+ here.

[Martini]

Well the Sunday tradition continues as two SY Martins showed up yesterday. They landed on the gourds checking them out. I see no evidence of them staying or nest building. As I said in a previous post it could be happening on other days because I work weekdays but I've never seen it on Saturday.

[Martintown33]

Sounds like you’re getting some lookers, Martin… ditto the above advice and comments.. we’re here to help you.. I hope you get some to stay! Hoping for the best!
Good luck
Rob

[Martini]

Today has been a very active Martin day. I had a ASYM, ASYF and a SYM. They stayed around about an hour. The SYM has been numerous times since. I have yet to see one go all the way in a gourd. They only put about half a body length in there. Couple questions:

1) Since this is a new site and I am a newbie is this behavior leading up to a possible move in?
2) Is there any sign other than nest building to know they are moving in?
As I’m typing this all 3 have shown up again and hanging out.

[Martintown33]

Sounds like their investigating your site. They’re looking inside to investigate and decide if they feel it’s suitable housing. The males investigate to try to pick the best housing to attract females.. if you haven’t done so, add some pine needles to your compartments, spread a little mud around the entrances…. Basically try to give your housing a “lived in” look.. this encourages martins to investigate more closely.. it’s a good sign that they’re checking your site out, and keep returning.. it indicates they’re interested.. I hope they stay !
Good luck
Rob

[Martini]

I have pine straw in 4 of them and left 2 empty. I have also rubbed mud around the entrances and the porches. Today has definitely been different than the previous visits I’ve had. Hopefully they liked the setup.