Purple Martin Forum

I need to make a predator guard for a square pole. I made the pole from the Andy Troyer T-14 specs, so it's basically two 2X6 boards with a 1X6 sandwiched in between. The instructions have a photo of a predator guard attached to the bottom of the house, but I'd prefer to mount one about eye level an...

Friday morning nest check in Lexington, Tennessee - 17/18 cavities occupied, 58 total eggs

However, I’ve noticed this in years past, two of my nests had eggs that were not grouped together in a clutch. What does that mean? Maybe one or more are failed eggs?

That was remarkable. I can certainly appreciate them from across the pond. I'd even like to see that someday, over there of course.

I built a T-14, and I don't use nest trays. However, I can definitely see the advantage of them when it comes to nest checks and cleaning. I didn't get around to adding them this year but I probably will next year.

Does it make any difference to my birds?

I don't remember reading anywhere that it does but I would appreciate any input or experience.

I'll hang up and listen....

Both time I have started a PM colony, I had success by adding natural gourds with round holes below my housing. No paint, no tunnels, no nothing except clean gourds with round holes. Once my colony was established I changed to SREH.

We moved to a new house and over the first winter my son and I built a T-14. The first two seasons we had only an occasional visitor. This year I added four natural gourds with round holes. My first pair 'stuck' within a week of adding the gourds. It may not work for every site, and maybe these bird...

Dude your grass looks good too.

I'm proud to say I sent one of those little pests to her eternal reward today.

I've had more on the ground this year as well. A lot more. We used to only see them on the ground maybe a few times over the course of a season, the last few days, several at a time for extended periods.

My guy came today and fertilized and sprayed the yard. Is there any potential for these chemicals to be harmful to my martins?

In my third season with a T-14 that my son and I built and raised in 2011, we have the beginnings of a beautiful colony. As I sit here now, I can identify five nest building pair and I think maybe two other pair on the far side. What finally worked for me (at least my mind is convinced) was adding f...

It's not natural at all. Those rat birds aren't supposed to be here.

I use the Revelation .20 gauge my dad got me from the Western Auto store for Christmas in 1982.

It's pretty loud.

Can one purchase ready made starling resistant door panels for a T-14? The entrances on the panels I made aren't working and I don't have time to make more before my window of opportunity is gone. Let me know if there are some available for purchase. Also, I will pay a premium for someone to make so...

I modified one of these the exact same way a few years ago. I used the Excluder Adapter Plates for my SREH modification. It was a pain in the butt and not too pretty, but it works.

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing.

We have Eagles here in West Tennessee. I've seen them flying but never on the nest or up close like these.

Damn the winter time.

Now why couldn't they have been Starlings???

Phillip, I built my T14 last year. Instead of the specified wood pole I used a 2" square steel pole. I made an adapter similar to the one described by Chuck Abare at http://www.chuckspurplemartinpage.com/t14mtg.htm A writeup of my adapter and winch arrangement with illustrations is at http://w...