Purple Martin Forum

Sharon, from your profile I see you have houses and gourds but are they natural gourds? I didn't have much luck until I hung some natural gourds and modified my houses to large 6x12 compartments.

You state that you have a variety of gourds, but are any of them 'natural' gourds? For me I have never had much of an issue attracting martins. I started as a kid back in MO and my first year I built a 'wood' single 6 room house and had a single pair that year. Now years later and living in KY, I st...

I have switched all of the round holes to a SREH. I use crescent and excluder II. I love to watch the Starlings as them go nuts trying to get in them. I had to raise my porches up flush with the bottom of the crescent opening using a small wood block to keep the starlings out. Starlings have learned...

flyin-lowe, this pole comes with a rope and pulley system. The house will not rotate when it is in the up position because the rope holds it in place. However, being that the pole and the ground sleeve are both round, without a pin or something to keep the 'Pole' locked in place from turning as it i...

Mhoover, thanks for the information. I will get the PVC and do as you state. You would think S&K would know about this issue.

I purchased the S&K RP19 round pole and the ground socket for this pole. After looking at this ground socket and pole I cannot figure out how this pole does not rotate, turn, twist or whatever when the pole is up with the martin house and gourd racks on it. I find no pin that keeps the pole from...

this season looks to be an early season for the martins to arrive. I haven't even gotten my houses and gourds ready to put up. Looks like I need to spend this weekend getting to it.

I use bleach and water to clean my house and gourds only to make sure I have no parasites left in them. This being my first year here in KY and lucky to have already had two breeding pairs I'll have to wait and see what next season brings.
Frank