Purple Martin Forum

Maybe they were just passing through?? I still haven't seen any in quite a while here.

Sounds good. Controlling the Starlings and Sparrows is a year long job. Everyone you take out of the gene pool reduces the numbers so I say go for it. Just make sure you dispose of them and don't think driving 20 miles away and releasing them is going to help.

Just wondering if anyone in my immediate area still have activity at their housing?? I have seen NO Martins in my area for a while now.

Awesome sight. Thanks for posting. Not sure I would want to be underneath them right after getting my car washed. Thanks again for posting the videos.

Haven't seen any Martins in three days. Only thing visiting is the dang sparrows building nests like crazy between dodging pellets from my rifle. I thinned the herds a little. Decided to take the houses down this afternoon. Cleaned them up and put them in the garage until next season.

Snakes are definitely a major problem. Fortunately I haven't had any bother my martins, but I think one got to the Mockingbird nest in the bush right outside my window. A week ago there were three babies in the nest, 2 days later they were gone. No signs of them on the ground and they were way too y...

What can be done about a fledgling who is out of the nest too soon - cannot seem to get off the ground - how to feed it, and is it possible to re-nest it? Our housing is made up of six gourds. For certain, five (and possibly all) are occupied. I know that lowering the housing is not advisable becau...

I noticed a lack of activity here too. I was going to post that I think the season is just about over, but then I seem to think that it's too early for it to be done. I guess it really is getting close to the end, especially since you posted this.

I have used it in the past with excellent results. It says on the label that you can sprinkle it directly on the birds (chickens and also barn yard animals) which makes me think it will work really well and be safe for the Martins if you sprinkle on the nest and in the corners of the compartment. Th...

They are "jumpers" for some reason. Mites, thinking they can fly, falling from the house, etc. I try to put them back in the house if possible. If they could fly (by throwing them up in the air), I would think they would be doing so. If it was mite infestation, then probably all in the nes...

Any chance moving them to another nest and put one or two into the nest with similar size babies?

Conrad, Eight to take care of is gonna be tuff. I would suspect you may find one starves due to feeding competition from older/stronger siblings in a nest that size. If you find this happens again I would be more likely to put the blame on sub-adults rather than mom tossing one of her kids. Maybe y...

I ran into a unique situation yesterday while checking the Colony. I found a baby Martin (pinkie with eyes closed), under my #1 house (I only have 3). I picked him up and he had several ants on him so I brought him inside and removed the ants with a pair of tweezers (darn fire ants are ruthless). He...

Snake netting can be purchased at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. It is sold in the gardening dept as "bird netting". Apparently it is used to drape over your fruit trees to prevent the birds from eating the fruit. It comes in two different sizes of mesh, maybe 1/4" and 1/2"? Buy both si...

I'm no expert, but my best solution to controlling mites is Sevin (carbaryl). I put some in the nest cavity when I put in the nesting material (pine needles) at the beginning of the season. After the martins complete their nest building and start laying eggs, I treat again. I usually treat once agai...

I like Dan G suggestion-a pinhole in the egg. THEN put it in the middle of a gluetrap (for mice), and put it in the nest. The sparrow will enter the nest and get stuck on the glue trap.

I usually have about 16 nesting pair. This year I have 10. Nest check (and reapplying Sevin) last weekend revealed some eggs, but several empty compartments.

Do it sooner than later. I doubt that changing them will affect anything.

Are there any other Martin colonies at the lake where your new house is, or would yours be the only one? I would say that if the new owner will not take care of the housing you leave there and just allow Hosp or Starlings to take over, don't leave them up. I would move the whole shebang to your new ...

Might not be the case where you are, but I have noticed early in the season that starlings are able to defeat the SREH. Not so much later in the season. I attribute that to the fact that they are younger (thus smaller) in the beginning, but once they put some weight on (and grow a little more) they ...