Purple Martin Forum

Update... Just got Back from Anna Maria Island. I was at my mothers last week and walked outside at dusk to take a call. I heard Martins chirping, looked up and saw about 8 or 10 doing their nightly bedding vortex. I saw them all dive down simultaneously into the near horizon to roost. I'm going to ...

I have grown slowly to 72 gourds, I currently have a super system 36, expanded to 48 and an additional 24 two tiered circular rack. I think 36- 48 would be optimal, where it's is less work. "Work" being the key word. I enjoy all my birds, but some times more is not always better. I'm not r...

So happy for you Tony, my colony started with displaced adults as well. Good Luck! Way to stick with it, congrats

I like to let the Starlings get nice and comfortable, then I just go down put the trap on and I gottem in 10 minutes. Usually that easy! I can also then walk directly under the rack and shoot them from 10 ft with my pellet gun. It's even hard fo me to miss from that range

You might be onto something. I have two racks. One super 36 system expanded to 48 and one circular "wagon wheel" rack with 2 rows of 12. The Super system has all gourd arms that are perpendicular to the arms of the rack. This allows no swaying from front to back. I've had numerous breaches...

Although the my Connley II's on my Troyers are being breached with ease; I have been able to trap all of the Starlings using the Troyer trap. The main reason I went with so many Troyers over Excluder gourds is the great troyer trap. It works great. You need to try it. I thought I would trap on rare ...

On a positive note, my 12 new excluder gourds with excluder II entrances have had no breaches. I really like these gourds with their interior porches.
I think they help hide the nest from predators and make it hard for Owl's to reach the nest.

I have 36 TVG,s and THG,s with Conley II entrances. I just wanted to add my name to the list of breaches. The Starlings don't even slow down when entering, they just zoom in and out. Fortunately, I've been able to trap or shoot all of them(6) My neighbor got 24 Troyers with Conley II's, on my recomm...

I've seen migrating Martins only one time. Several years I was doing Spring clean up in my yard, eagerly awaiting the return of the "bulk" of my Martins. I noticed what looked like a vortex of over a thousand birds. The "Martin tornado" was moving slowly across the water that I l...

Thanks Everyone! wishing you all a successful season

Thanks Gobbler, but that is who I used to deal with.

Another friend suggested I make my own from gallon jugs from restaurants....Good Idea!

I have 30 gourds pre drilled with 4" holes, waiting access ports. The manufacturer told me they would be available for shipment on 3/1. However, they did not inform me they were switching to an oval pattern with snap on lids. Does any one know where I can purchase the round ports with lids? I h...

There's hundreds here in New Bern. I used to be all for round holes, but I got tired of the Starling battle, and it was a battle!
Changed to SREH last year with no ill effects, grew from 50 to 62 pair.

Chris, I used your method and it worked like a charm. CLEAN, CLEAN CLEAN! I used the threaded 3/4 elbow. my Excluders, and Troyers look like they came already vented from the factory. However on my naturals I used 3/4 unthreaded. I was afraid tapping them too tight with the threaded would crack them...

I just finished venting all my gourds this Winter, I followed directions from another post and I'm very pleased with the result. However, I was thinking the same thing, the gourd cap is a great place to put the venting. In my opinion, the cross airflow is more important than the height of the vent. ...

I just vented my 24 Vertical Troyers, 20 horizontals and 12 excluders per your suggestions, the threaded 3/4 was the ticket. They look great. I also updated with the all new access caps. They look fantastic and I think it will help the humidity. The new caps are fantastic. They go on very tightly an...

They had already left their roost in New Bern under the Hwy 17 bridge over the Neuse River. I got all 72 of my gourds down on Friday morning before Irene started to hit that afternoon. I'm glad I did, that was the worst cat 1 I've ever been through. It just lasted forever, not much wind damage to ho...

They had already left their roost in New Bern under the Hwy 17 bridge over the Neuse River. I got all 72 of my gourds down on Friday morning before Irene started to hit that afternoon. I'm glad I did, that was the worst cat 1 I've ever been through. It just lasted forever, not much wind damage to ho...

Good for you Johnny! You're off and running now! Your colony is most likely set to explode now, to give you many more enjoyable years.
Congrats!

Courtney, I've still got room. 62 of 72 gourds are full. Additionally, my elderly neighbor finally got three pair after I erected and monitored his rack the past 3 years. He finally has eggs! He had some lookers last year that teased us. He is elated. He had Martins for 20 years and did not control ...