Purple Martin Forum

Purple Martin Colony Folks in Central Oklahoma: ' It has been a number of years since being present at the Oklahoma City PM Roost. In fact, I do not know the current location. Can someone in and around the Oklahoma City area advise where the PM Roost is located? Would appreciate it someonel could po...

Just before sunset. Lone female.

I have a Trendsetter 18 which I have used for the past 12 years or more. There is one compartment that I have constantly had trouble with wing entrapment. It is a compartment in which the PM will enter and turn right to enter the nest. I cannot tell you how many females I have lost trying to enter t...

Interesting concerning the Mockingbirds. I have a Trendsetter in which I installed excluder holes - in fact my two Trio's and T-14 have excluder type entrances so was never worried about Mockers or any bird (except sparrows of course) entering our compartments. For the first time, after all PM's fle...

You might take a close look inside (top). This is same problem I had but it was yellow jackets building a nest, especially if
you have a gourd that has a long neck. Jackets like to build in the tunnel - so look closely.

I only have 4 gourds and these are attached underneath my Troyer. I watched today a male and female in which the female would not enter. This occurred 4-5 times. The male always watched her from the top the gourd. I opened the gourd up, saw 4 new Martin eggs but also saw the beginnings of a yellow j...

In my opinion the new format is not a user friendly site but managed to report first martin. I understand your frustration.

Steve: just saw your pictures, Sorry was not paying attention. What size is the netting you are using?
Ron Prichard
Piedmont, OK

Good video Michael. Very thankful that the roost moved back to the arena site. Thanks for letting us have a look. Plan to visit this week.

Thank you, Louise. Your post makes me fill somewhat better. Thanks to all of you who are helping and praying too.

Sam, thanks for going down to the memorial. I hope that the PM's will return to the AT&T site for the remainder of the Roost. Like you, sure hope the AT&T folks will allow them to stay.

Sorry, I have been watching our 3 major tv stations, especially KFOR (channel 4) to see if they mentioned the Memorial site and what was happening to our birds. Channel 4 noted that "bird lovers" were up in arms and a report on this would be made tonight at 10 p.m. Louise, I am unable to g...

I sent an e-mail to Channel 4 in Oklahoma City this morning at 7 am when I discovered we had a problem with our PM's in downtown Oklahoma City. I checked the radar this morning, did not see Martin's and realized there was a problem. We had not seen or heard any news for two days. I then went to the ...

Final 3 left the nest this morning. Since the temp reached 100's in late June, it reminded me of last year during the drought and so many lost because of the heat. Feel for you folks in the midwest and east with the heat like we had last year. This year in Oklahoma they arrived early and most fledge...

Sorry, of course I meant Triple Digits, ok?

Lost around 25 young PM's due to triple digit heat (29 days since around June 18.) Nearest Re-hab was around 50 miles from my home but could not handle the care needed to save these last three PM's. One died on the way but believe the last 2 can be saved. Worst year for us since the early 80's when ...

I hope you folks up North had a much better year than 2009. I know that some of you had a heartbreaking time last year. We fledged 213 young from 60 compartments this year at our colony in Piedmont, which slightly beat our old record of 204 in 2009. Still have three young ones in one compartment whi...

Two years ago, we observed the roost at the Ford Arena. We observed them from the Ford dealership across the street. It is amazing to see thousands of birds fly into 4 trees. Someone advised me that they moved several blocks to the West last year but not sure. This same roost also stages in the ligh...

Steve: Enjoyed reading your article ref to parental care during the late season. Had an interesting adult male case this year. I found a dead female adult in the nest with 5 young. I thought, well these young ones are goners as the adult male would probably abandon the young in the nest. Wrong! He k...

Louise is correct. I have had a security light for the past 30 years that lights up the area without any problems for the Martins. My nearest house (a T-14) to the light is about 20 yards.