Purple Martin Forum

Video really looks good ! Are the Martins still at Willowbrook area ?8-24-21

Thanks Jill I have questions too. I’m in west Houston and birds were quite late to show up compared to past years. So far the few I have also have not started any nest building either. Hang in. BW

Glad to hear there are more purple martins on the way. Me ? I still have only 4 right now but have hopes for more ! I have never been this low on birds. Glad I came down to see you Emil a few weeks ago and "talk birds" for a bit ! Thanks. *BW*

Jangles, Check my post on Mar 14 "Houston Area". In about 20 years of martins this year is about my worst. Still have only 3 birds that come in each night. Wish there were more but that's ok for now. Others in the Houston area seem to be having a normal year but that can change for me quic...

Update: The bird I had stay a while back must have come back again, at least I think it is the same one since it went into the same hole as before but only spent one night. Tonight at dusk I saw 5 martins overhead and when I thought they might stop in they flew southward toward Sugar Land. Maybe tom...

I haven't been able to log in at all this season but the admin helped with that. Our birds usually come in on Feb 14th just like in past years. I did not see any until early this month and some say the birds are running late this year. I still don't have any even though I have seen 4 flying overhead...

Ours usually arrive around Feb 14th for several years. Haven't seen any yet. Have driven around to other locations and looked at other houses and haven't seen any there either. Are others in my area having the same problem too ? Thanks. *BW*

I think this was during storm #3 of 1926. Birds at sea sometimes become trapped in the eye of a hurricane or typhoon and seek refuge on the decks of passing ships that are also in the eye of the storm. This is what happened in the case above when, in August 1926, the S.S. West Quechee sailed through...

I am just a little east of you. Ours usually show about up Feb 14th. But this year some came today. We saw 4 come and go today and tonite 2 came in to spend the nite. Bet yours will be there soon. Good luck with the new house. *BW*

Thanks to everyone for the info. I got home too late to find the two birds but in the morning I'll look for them and if I find them I'll take them to a Rehab center here in Houston for a few days for the best care then bring them back and reintroduce them to their parents first and then turn them ba...

`Saw them yesterday, they look good and almost flap their wings well enough but can't lift up. Adults stick something into their mouths about each 5-8 minuets. Adults attempt to coax them up. -IF- I catch and cage them to feed and they get rest what are the chances they can get stronger to go on. Wh...

For some years we have had the first bird show up on Feb 14th. Really neat ! By the weekend a couple of more came and now there are 8 total and they seem like they are going to stay. There is one that likes to stay out about 10 minutes longer in the evening after all the others have come in for the ...

To BBSPALMER, send me a mail as I have more questions for you and your use of a scope. I have worked with 50 mm refractor to 36 " reflector mirror scopes as well as rifle scopes. Haven't seen a band in person to know what resolution is needed but am sure John is correct. I think you can be well...

Thanks to all of you for your interest. Haven't seen any problems since. Emil- The only thing inside is pine needles. Good thought though. Scott D- The gourds are double wall S&K with single hole clinger entrances that have the verticle wall at each side of the opening rather than a full radius....

I have some plastic gourds with SREH openings. I looked out the window and saw something black covering one of the entrances. Now what ! I walked closer and couldn't figure out what it was. Maybe a bird or a piece of plastic of some sort. I quickly cranked down the winch lower. I used a long stick a...

Maybe they just need more time. I have used metal houses, plastic gourds for some years now with good success. I just bought 6 more new plastic gourds that have the Clinger entrances in them. I replaced two of the oldest gourds with some of the new ones for a quick try out. We have 7 Martins now and...

Extremely wet or extremely dry conditions can also help this happen as you described. If neither, then look for the hole to be the problem as others have mentioned. Thanks. *BW*

Please help me a little understanding what you are saying about being " loose", do you mean the cement or whatever the stake is being loose. >>>rack and pole took the wind just fine, but the ground stake was visibly loose in the ground. I had dug my hole 36" deep by 30" in diamet...

Watched the first Purple Martin at my location for this year in west Houston for about 1/2 hour this afternoon. It soared around quite high at first and kept getting lower about each 5 minutes and was very quiet. Finally it landed on one of the houses for a short time then circled for a while again ...

Many good postings on this subject. Several things to consider. I just got a Beman R-7 .177 cal. because it shoots flat for my shooting distance, is MUCH quieter because it shoots slower than most of the other guns that cost less. I have shot several starlings while martins sat nearby and they never...