Purple Martin Forum

WOW!!!!You are doing "GREAT" I am legally disabled with back problems. But, WOW, you have an AWESOME colony at 68. I want to add an addition but it is a lot work (well worth it) and I have a lot of friends who help and my mentor, Jim, still helps, but at times its still pretty tough. Good ...

I get 2000 at a time, for my small colony. With this years weather, went through 7000! I have "MY BIG BLACK SPOON" that I use to flip a few at a time. With 10 pair, it is so much fun, and LOVE helping them at the same time!!Although I did lose two ASY females during the cold, wet period, W...

Mine started to arrive on April 8, and were here Wednesday night, but gone Thursday. So April 8-August 8. Four full months, happy for that, but VERY SAD, too

It makes me so HAPPY that so many don't "GIVE UP" after a couple years. I was very lucky to get a pair my first year, but, to those of YOU that keep trying and finally succeed, JUST MAKES ME SO HAPPY!!!!The PURPLE MARTIN LANDLORD FAMILY is great and I hope to be part of it for years to com...

Hey Dave, I think we are going to try to make to the fair, not decided if we set up camp for the pot luck first or after. Will talk to the Grimm family and decide. Will be a busy weekend for you. GLAD YOU ARE SO DEDICATED FOR THE MARTINS!!!

Rod

I have also spotted martin houses on TV shows and even sporting events on ESPN. Always say something and have to rewind because no one else saw it. Then they ask if I am even watching the show. Few years back on the news there was a story about Martins spooking horses in a parade here in Iowa, and a...

Good response. I had my first 2 jumpers this year. The first, when I was gone, and was hit by a car trying to get back to the yard. The other, I heard a lot of "CHATTER" and went to see what was up, He/She could fly, just not far. When I tried to catch him, he would fly 6 or 8 yards with 2...

Joanne,
I agree, he will be back, and have better luck! He likes the housing. GOOD LUCK IN '14

Rod

Last year, I put sevin in when I raised houses, and had mites later in the season. This year waited till nest building started and have not had any more mites. GREAT YEAR

AWESOME POST (not just cuz I been a Patriot fan for over 40 yrs) but my mentor used sevin when I started and never a problem with mites. I always put it under all floors, entry and nest, before the martins even arrived. Then, last year, 5 pairs, with babies were covered with mites. So we added some ...

I am here in Iowa as well, and 5 years ago, my mentor, Jim, insisted on SREH entrances. Had a pair in 2 weeks! So, my thought is more and more people are using SREH entry and the young grow up with them and will return to them as SY's This year, 10 pairs, around 40 babies and still some eggs. Never ...

I have one nest that may fledge tomorrow. And then some eggs are still hatching. Really get nervous doing "checks" with older chicks. My mentor, Jim, had some fledge today, I think
Rod

WOW!!!!Don't know how you do it!!!!!Thanks for sharing.
Rod

Yes, Dave. You should leave them up. My friend put a house up last spring and he has a lot of Ma and Pa martins sitting on the wires checking out his housing. His house is a heavy wooden, I guess like a treo. We got him 2 large aluminum castles that we really want to get up before they leave. And We...

Yes, I can get to the site, then when I click on forum it is listed as "crashed" well, I will call a few others in town. Thanks, Louise

Anyone else having problems with the ia martin.org site. Need to get a message out about the shirts.

CONGRATS!!!Glad you didn't give up. GOOD LUCK

Thanks Guys I will sleep better now. I LOVE this Forum

WOW!!!Just did a nest check on the 2 nests with young and eggs (left the other 3 alone with older babies) and was getting ready to raise the houses back up and a very good friend said "Wait, whats this?" Sure enough MITES!!!!So I got the sevin and put it under the floors and around the nes...

Thanks Louise