Purple Martin Forum

I have done this before. I folded up old dishtowels and attached them to the top of the house with large rubber bands. Then all we had to do was spray the top of the house with cool water. I have especially done with if I have a late nest in a top compartment. I have now added styrofoam to the top o...

I have run into the same problem here in North Dallas (Plano), four late nests after great early nests and successful fledging. Noticed one nest (two feathered out babies) not being attended to as often as the other three, started supplemental feeding that nest with crickets. But since the adult mal...

I too installed almost identical wire on our houses this year. I believe it has helped. The martins love it, the only problem is that the do enjoy "clinging" to it. While in the clinging position they are still very vulnerable, I believe they will love feeding the babies from it. We have s...

The hole on it is quite small, I have never caught anything but sparrows. But I do always check carefully, I think it is too small for martins.

I am sorry, we have had that happen right before our eyes too, it is just a sick feeling.

We added our site last year, it was fun to go to the map and find it again.

You didn't mention what type of a 12 compartment house you have. If it is a house with 6 x6 compartments you might consider enlarging them to 6 x 12. We had much better success with our house once we enlarged the compartments the second year. We had residents the first year, but it filled up quickly...

I would get crickets and supplement his feedings, we did this last year with a late nest and were quite successful. I would try to feed when the adults were away, the fledglings get used to it quickly and eat readily. The first couple of times are trying so hang in there. We had to gently pry the be...

Thanks you for the photos, like they say a picture is worth a thousand words! This helps a lot. Thanks again.

We also have the Lone Star Alamo house, I like the vents. How did you reinforce the house to hang the gourds? I like the fact that yours are close to the house, we are in a subdivision and about to reach the limit on the amount of housing we can offer. I have four gourds, I would like to rehang them...

We have also been doing a little bit of supplemental feeding during this hot spell. Every two or three days we lower the housing and place a pile of crickets on each porch. They seem to really go for them, so far the babies are fat and the parents still feeding them well. But I feel the supplemental...

We had a late nest last year, in Texas we had to fight the dry heat and shortage of bugs. We supplemented the bug supply by hand feeding some. Hopefully since you won't experience the shortage or over 100 degree temps this won't be a problem. Do be aware though of the allure of the roost, we had our...

We had a late nest last year, in Texas we had to fight the dry heat and shortage of bugs. We supplemented the bug supply by hand feeding some. Hopefully since you won't experience the shortage or over 100 degree temps this won't be a problem. Do be aware though of the allure of the roost, we had our...

Jojo post where your site is located. It really helps the other readers get a feel for your post. Since geograpically we are scattered out so far apart, many already have babies and others are still welcoming newcomers.

Thanks!

Last year we had a heat wave and a very late nest with babies. I attached terry handtowels to the top of the trio house with oversized rubberbands. We would wet it down several times a day. But it even helped just as a block from the direct sunlight if it dried out. I will do it again if needed. The...

I tried the other first because of the price, didn't fit. Buy the metal trap, pricey but it does fit.

Twenty compartments.

Last year 11 pairs.

This year almost a full house, last few nights too many birds to accurately count.

We are very pleased.

I use 1/4 dowels, I can usually attach them to the house with nylon ties, you can zip them tight and cut off the excess length of the tie.

We have always had hawk problems here in Plano. We lost a female early this year and I watched a decoy being taken off. I have installed vertical dowel rods. I used the porches on the Trio and the perches on the Lonestar to attach to. All I had to do was cut the dowel the right length and attach it ...

Shiner she is right, Hurst Young is great to work with. I just ordered more after our snowy weekend. Found out that you can increase your order and the shipping is almost the same as it is for 1000. I ordered 2000 & she said the shipping would just be pennies more. Last year we needed crickets f...