Purple Martin Forum

Will there be a way to reset the form to enter data for 2017 without having to enter cavity numbers again from 2016? Is there an estimate on when it will be ready to enter 2017 data? I found it was much easier to enter the data each week rather than all at once.

This looks great! Good job!

I have tried it. The martins did not like it and would toss it out. I had to put it under the nest trays to keep them from tossing it. It seemed to work for a while, but it does rain a lot here and there were mites later in the season.

My experience has been that they did not like the cedar chips if that was all that was in the nest. They would throw it out. May be OK with pine needles on top of it.

They will probably only stay a few weeks after fledging. I would open up a few more apartments for them to spread out in if they are spending the night.

Here are some instructions:

https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... ns#p161212

If the babies had all fledged, it may have been time for them to move on anyway. Weekly nest checks would help you know the age of the babies and their anticipated fledge date. My guess is they had mostly all fledged and they were ready to leave anyway. The storm just gave them that last little push...

Here are some more ideas for adding the SREH plate. I added them on the inside, and had a friend use a router to make the outer entrance more attractive. The downside of this is needing weather-stripping on the inside to avoid wing entrapment.

What a beautiful house! I would try to modify it. Perhaps close off the middle apartments, or even use that space for enlarging the outer apartments, and add some access ports on the side. Something like this: https://www.purplemartin.org/shop/product/ngap/natural-gourd-access-ports/ although I'm no...

I found them at Lowes, but it took a bit of searching.

I used the same vents as Tor, but put them in the upper back of each compartment, painted them black for a darker compartment, and added screen. I think it helps.

I vote for the 3" aluminum square pole. Easier to set up and solid in the Florida wind. Also no worries about it spinning in the wind if you decide to lower it for a storm.

I like the new format, and I especially like being able to zoom in and click on the dots to see individual reports.

You did a great job with nest checks except for the final check. The instructions say that it is critical for their research to have one empty nest check: https://www.purplemartin.org/uploads/media/projectmartinwatchpm-256.pdf I always make sure my final nest check shows all 0's for empty nests. The...

I like this! The individual doors should a standard feature. I may try to retrofit mine. I can't tell from the picture - is the winch extension far enough away from the predator guard to not allow a raccoon to jump across to the top of the predator guard?

My biggest regret as a purple martin landlord is telling myself I would add snake netting / owl guards / wing entrapment guards if it became a problem. All of them eventually become problems. Don't have regrets. The sorrow of finding dead babies when you know you could have prevented it is not worth...

I would go ahead and clean them out. Snakes can get past the predator guards. You need to add netting as well.
Here is a post describing the netting:

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... highlight=

I have martins nesting in the street lights near my house in Florida. There are lights that line the 4 lane street and it is a sizable colony. They return every year. I have looked at the lights up close and there is a dark cavity accessible behind the light. I'm a 9 year martin landlord and can con...

For Purple Martin Watch purposes, I was told to use 'excluder' for the original Conley WDC entrances. I assume it is the same for Conley II's.

I've tried it before and it seemed to work early in the season, however if I am remembering right it seems like I had mite problems late in the season after a very wet year. The martins did not like it and would throw it out unless I hid it under a nest tray. I still have it in a bag. I might try it...