Purple Martin Forum

I've seen this behavior in several ( especially ground-nesting) species such as killdeers and meadowlarks as well as domestic chickens . The hen will feign injury in order to draw the predator away from her nest .

Should add that the male Mocker is extremely aggressive with all other songbirds here .

This year was a complete fail . I never saw a scout or subbie . I raised a total of 25 cavities ( gourds and houses ) , cleared 300' of fence for a flyway measured in miles but not one visitor . Smaller raptors ( neighbor raises chickens ) disappeared when the Red-tails started breeding . As I had a...

Worth a shot . I love pickled quail eggs .

Starlings will stick their heads into the smaller compartments and destroy eggs ( even when they can't enter ) . Enlarge the compartments and use starling-resistant entrances .

You should be able to find millet at a local feed store .

I've had the problem of sparrows escaping the "universal" trap as well . I prefer the " one fits all " since it slams down from the top instead of the side . The universal leaves just enough space that they can wedge their beaks in and force it open . You could try adding extra w...

I would like to caution y'all about lowering the poles at the last minute . If you can hear thunder you're within striking distance .

Keep up with the local weather and be prepared .

We can certainly use more education here but I think we need to concentrate on Brazil . Deforestation and heavy use of pesticides isn't helping the Martin population . I can't really condemn the Brazilians . The eastern half of the US was once a huge forest . I just hope they don't make the same mis...

I prefer the "One Fits All" trap sold here . It's more expensive but ( IMO) more reliable than the Universal . I think it's a bit late for an insert . You're taking a chance of catching a Martin . I feed black sunflower seed as well and the sparrows love it . Maybe you should try some plai...

My condolences , Dallas . My Dad ( who gave me my love of Martins ) left in 2013 . Mom ( 86 ) is still here and is helping me watch for "his" birds .

Yes sir . At least 20" of rain this past December . Probably more as my gauge is only 5 " and I dumped it (completely full) several times .
Lord willing , it's going to be bug city this summer .

We got 20" in December .

January was fairly dry . Really warm last week ( highs in the 80s ) but it's cooled off quite a bit . Predicted lows for the next 2 weeks are upper 20s to mid-30s .

Keeping my fingers crossed .

Being "way up north", we have to contend with a pretty short growing season. Tried bottle gourds this year, and had some I thought were going to be big enough (thought being the key word). Has anyone ever located a good source for large bottle gourds for purchase. It seems all the growers...

You might want to try heating mats . They look like a plastic heat pad and are available on Amazon and several gardening sites . They're water-resistant ( not proof ) so I put it under one of the small seed-starting greenhouses sold at Walmart , Lowe's , etc . for germinating tropical plants like th...

There were two pair here around 7 . :grin: I live ~ 5 miles north of a large lake but have an extremely large " ash pit " ( from strip-mining ) within 100 yards to the north . There are plenty of dragonflies around but I really need to clear my fence lines . I have black locust trees on my...

Have a pair inspecting housing right now . Full adults so they might be refugees from all the wind damage around here lately ( had a 'nader touch down a mile from here last week ) .

I've been driving to the lake just to hear them . So glad they decided to visit and hope they'll stay .

I just saw a pair investigating my housing . These are the first ones I've seen here .

Never surrender .

Thank you Craig. You have all helped me. Now we have to learn to walk around our back yard and not get attacked. :) Hint : don't go near a baby Mocker . As a child I found one perched on my bicycle . It seemed quite docile so I picked it up for a closer look . Everything was fine until we made eye ...

I feel ya, Anthony . I'm an aquarium nerd myself and had about 15 tanks at one time . Sometimes you just have to step back , take a breath and downscale .