Purple Martin Forum

Thanks for all the feedback! We're just 2nd year landlords. We had a pair last year that fledged 5 babies. This year we had a pair (same pair from last year??) that showed and then recruited another pair. Unfortunately we discovered a male (leadmale??) that we think was killed by the smaller starlin...

I am the process of building a small 8ftx8ft square pond just 15-20 ft from my gourd rack. I was going to do a checkerboard of stepping stones but then I realized I may be missing an opportunity to see martins drink water. Is the pond too small regardless?? and therefore I shouldn't even worry about...

We put up a gourd rack last fall and finally got a pair to commit to our house about 3 to 4 weeks ago. I recently noticed a change in their behavior patterns and thought something was up. So today i checked their gourd and was elated to find 4 small eggs! She is such a devoted mother. Despite the wa...

Ok, perfect. I just closed the gourds that we don't have a direct view of from our windows and front porch. This still leaves a variety of gourds in case we have some picky future tenants.

Thanks!

Last fall we put a 12 gourd rack up. We have 1 pair that is nesting. They arrived about 10 days ago. Also, I just trapped my first sparrow using a troyer trap. Here is my question: how many gourds should I leave open to attract more potential pairs? Also, if I leave just one gourd open should it be ...

Dave and DKC,

Thanks for your quick replies. I just checked the trap and it indeed was the pesky sparrow that was trying to claim a gourd. I don't think it was trapped for more than 1 hour. He is no longer a threat to my first pair.

Thanks again!

Hello everyone, I'm new to purple martins. We have one pair that has been with us about a week. I can see that they are building a nest in one of the gourds. We also have some sparrows that are interested in the gourds. I set a Troyer trap and I think that I may have trapped a sparrow. Is it okay to...