Purple Martin Forum

I think the sevin will last a few years if it’s kept properly. I know you mentioned yours was stored in a shed. Maybe you can test it by catching a few bugs, place them in a jar with a tad of what you have left and see if it effects them? At least then, you will have some idea of whether it might st...

Lol! That’s awesome!

I’m not sure what your space is like (kids around, etc.) but maybe an electric fence several feet out from the pole? The cat would learn fast—and I’m suggesting a pet fencer, not cattle. I know cats have nine lives but the cattle fencer would probably take all nine.

Hi Toy, Sorry to hear your numbers are low. I hope you get a few more. Last year was so tough for your birds. If I could send a few your way, I would!!! P.S. I have to remind my martins that the pepper plants are off limits!!!! :lol: maybe I need to plant extras just for the birds?! Best to you and ...

Hi Larry, We don’t have fountain grass in the area but I know the northern martins like tall grass. I cut bunches before greenup and many use it for nest building. Even the stems are popular. My females sometimes try to drag 2 ft long stems into the gourds. Some get the job done and others, not so m...

Awe, Toy, that sucks when they get taken before the season barely starts. I’m sending warmer weather your way hang in there!

I have a weilrauch HW30 with a Hawke Vantage scope. It’s a nice, heavy and accurate setup although a bit spendy. It does kill starlings

If they had a day to feed between systems, that can help hold them over. If they arrive a good shape too, that will make a difference. Thanks to all the southern LLs that take such great care of the birds even tough they are migrants! Others probably have more insight than me. I’m fairly new to this...

Oh Toy! So glad you noticed. You know it doesn’t take much for a leg injury. Anything the birds can snag on is dangerous. Good instincts!

Hi Hanover Bill, For whatever it’s worth, my experience is similar. I flip crickets several times a day. They just watch the cricket fly by and don’t attempt to catch it. I’ve flipped to them while they were perched on porches, electrical lines, and even flying low-checking me out. I also placed cri...

I heart birds wrote: any ideas on chimney swifts? my neighbor is waiting for their pair from last year...nada. they fear the worst. thought Id ask.

They were in New Orleans last week as well!

Hi all, this is my first post even though I’ve been a lurker of these forums on and off for a couple of years now. I’m going to put up a small PM house and maybe a few super gourds to see if I can attract any PMs in the Virginia MN area. Anyone else have any luck this far north? I figure it doesn’t...

Oh my goodness. We had the largest crowd ever attend this years Iowa State Fair presentation. In fact, we ran out of space so many stood during the presentation and we handed out every piece of educational material we had available. I guess you can say the martin hobby is really taking flight in Io...

So sorry Toy! Enjoy the last babies of the season the best you can and I wish you better conditions next year!

Hi Jen, You are more than welcome to contact me at: dave@iamartin.org If you want to present to groups on your own you can use the PMCA education download center for handouts. Basic information is a great way to go with the public in seminar presentations. You would be suprised at the misinformatio...

Archer wrote:Paul Mammenga and Perry D. Vogel are the founders of the Purple Martin Association of the Dakotas. Not sure how active they are. Here's their facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/PMAD2012/

Thanks! I will contact them. Appreciate the info!

Thanks for the info Dave! Yes, I agree, at a local level, challenges vary from housing and climate to predation. As you mentioned, general information would need to be value added to support success in the local area. I'm most interested in presenting to local lake associations and could have been m...

Hey Dave, I would love to attend but I will not be at the fair. In the future, I would also like to do some outreach regarding the martins. Do you represent yourself, pmca, or the dnr? Just curious if you are sponsored/endorsed by an organization. Also, does PMCA provide materials for the presentati...

Thanks for the advice Dave and Toy! You both certainly contributed to a successful fledge!
DKC, Buckeyefamer, and I heart birds-thank you for the kind words!
Best,
Jen

Well, the little guy fledged this afternoon. Glad to see him in the air and hoping for the best! Look out dragonflies