Purple Martin Forum

Indeed GREAT news if you had visitors so soon after putting it up! So that indicates they found you!!! They'll be baaaakkkkk! Here's my brief story of encouragement to you: I moved from Houston to Florida and last year was my first year trying to attract Martins here in Miami...like you I was wonder...

Thanks Dave...you too have a wonderful 2018!
Happy Birding

Oh Sharon...I so hope they DO come back!!!! Those birdies are Sooooo weird! I've been trying for 30 years to get a great big colony and it has NEVER happened! I've had a pair or two one year, then none the next, then a pair, then none on and off since 1987 when I put up my first house in Deer Park (...

Congratulations Jody! You've done a great job with your martins! Good luck with getting your babies in the air! BMF :) Beautiful!!! I started last year; put up a 12 unit metal martin house...some visitors but no takers. Tried again this year...One pair and a single male frequented at the start of t...

Thanks Tim! Did you ever get any to stay at your home sight this year after your original martin left? I didn't even see a Martin at my home, but with everything else going on, I didn't really try very hard. Maybe next year? The martins love the satellite sight. It's perfect I think. The lake is ri...

Beautiful!!! I started last year; put up a 12 unit metal martin house...some visitors but no takers. Tried again this year...One pair and a single male frequented at the start of the season, spent a few nights and left for good...never came back :-( I blame a security lightpost that sits about 15 fe...

Running out of Rooms?!?! Well Ed, that's a good problem to have! I've been after Martins for almost 30 years and have NEVER had that problem; in fact I have many vacancies if you'd like to send some my way... WAY DOWN SOUTH :) I would only add as seasons and time goes by; possibly stay with what you...

Nice, Kyler!!!
I've heard gourds is the way to go, but I like the looks of the houses so much better that I've been sticking to houses. (I know it's not for me but for them), but I have to give houses a try and see how it works out.

Well...I think I finally lured a few Martins!!!!!! I have a pair and a spare. One full grown male staying in one of the slots opposite where the pair is roosting. For about a week and a half now, they have been spending the night, then they come and go, usually early in the morning and again around ...

Well....I've been waiting and waiting for the little critters for three weeks now and NOTHING in sight. This should be my first full year in Miami, FL. I had some visitors towards the end of the season last year, so I was really optimistic about my brand new house and location (right in front of a l...

Got my first visits yesterday Feb. 3rd
Had two adult males perched on the house for a few minutes; flew around a few more minutes and disappeared...
This is my first year at this location...hoping for the best!!!

Thanks Rodger... I had both types, (wood and metal) houses in Texas for all those years, with very little luck (never did try gourds). Here in Fl. the minute we moved I ordered a brand new two story metal house (at the end of this past season) and I put it up just as soon as I got it and to my surpr...

Thanks Taxidermy Lady!
I NEED all the luck I can get!!!
Never have had more than 3 pair (in TX) and I started doing this in 1987!!!!!

My first year in Miami, Florida, so.....my house is going up first week of January (used to have to wait until March in Texas)! Can't wait to see if I can attract at least one pair this being my first full season here! Put the house up last June and had a couple of visitors, I'm keeping my fingers c...

So sorry to hear about your Dad...mine is 88 and doing pretty good but we're always leery to answer the phone when is him calling, thinking something is wrong. Lost Mom last year and it was very hard for all specially him. Like you, NO MARTINS this year; I put up the house REALLY LATE but...had a fe...

I have read somewhere that sprinkling a bit of sulfur in the nest itself will kill mites and not harm the birds or babies. I wonder if also dusting the nest with Sevin Dust will kill bugs and not affect the birds.

I believe leaving it up for possible tenants next year is a good idea as long as there are Martins still around, but once they're gone then the idea of sparrows and starlings taking over makes sense too; so I will be taking it down and storing it for safekeeping possibly in mid to late July although...

Yeah, I'm with you...I think I'll leave it up another couple of weeks to make sure no more birds are around, (I haven't seen any for a couple of weeks now) then I'll store it in the garage until January. I hear the time to set it back up here in Miami is around the first of the year, so I'll have it...

I was wondering if it would be better to take down my new house and store it until January? Is that what y'all do? or do you leave them out all year and just clean it before they arrive??? I imagine those of you with lots and lots of houses and gourds have to just leave everything as is until next y...

Great to hear about your colony and how it has grown...Send some my way!!! I just put up my house just to see how it would do, even if it is really time to vacate, but since I am new to the area, I just wanted to test the waters sort of speak. I had questioned if there were even Martins in Miami, fo...