Purple Martin Forum

I am happy to report that my first martin arrived yesterday. It certainly picked a cold day to show up but they usually do here. I have listed her on the scout report but so far I haven't seen the listing added. Good luck to all of you that will be battling the cold temps and wet weather.

Congratulations on your early arrival. So far my birds are running late. We had a long snow covered February here in Ohio. That combined with the weather that Texas and other states had to endure has me thinking that quite a few may have perished. I am fortunate however to have a couple pair of both...

I was a bit late logging in this year due to a couple illnesses in the family but I am happy to report that my year has begun. For the first time in several years I had a male come in first. That leaves me wondering what has become of our "wonder woman". Good luck to all you buckeyes out t...

Depending on the weather I usually find that it can happen either way. Early in the year when it is cold sometime both will be in there. Most often though I find it is the female that sits at night. I used to catch her at night and try to shoot the male the next day as he calls for his mate. But thi...

I'm not sure how long it takes for an entry to show on the scout reports this year. I submitted mine this morning, I hope it goes through.

I never seem to loose the excitement of seeing my first bird back! This year, as in the last few, it is a female and she either came back in the night or slipped in yesterday while I wasn't looking. At any rate she is here and has already had a breakfast of crickets. If you could only see my smile! ...

Congratulations on the arrival. It's amazing what these birds travel through. I have been feeding them for a month and its been almost daily. And it looks like 1 more week to go. The numbers here have increased to 40+. Thank goodness for eggs.

Our prayers have been answered. Please don't over do, and let yourself heal completely. That takes time. I will continue to pray for your improved health and recovery. Brenda

Just want to wish pmlover a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. Good luck tomorrow. Take good care of yourself and keep us posted. Brenda

Congratulations Toy! I have been watching for your post and feel your excitement! I'm always amazed just how much a bird can endure. Here at my site (Ohio) I have been feeding 25 martins. Thank goodness they will eat eggs and not just crickets. The way the weather is I'm afraid a diet of only cricke...

Great news Mark. I'm so glad you didn't give up. Once they learn they never forget and the others coming in will learn from watching this one. I think you will find that this will come in handy during long stretches of rain and or hot dry weather when the parent birds are finding it hard to catch en...

Wow John, Sounds like our little bit of snow and freezing temps are small problems compared to what you are dealing with at your new site. As long as I keep these buckeye birds (7 now) fed, and the openings to their compartments clear of ice and snow, they do well. I hope your southern birds will be...

I can honestly say that I have never seen anything in my area that will eat a starling. I shot one out of a tree once and the neighbors cat ran and picked it up. The cat dropped the starling in a heartbeat and immediately got sick to its stomach right there in my driveway. It is my opinion that the ...

I buy live from Fluker's Farms. But after reading Doug's post I may rethink my methods. Brenda

Wishing you luck on your upcoming surgery and on your new arrivals. Try to take care of yourself and don't stress too much over the martins. As much as we like to think we are in control...we still have God to look out for the things that we have no control over. Keep us posted on how you are doing....

Sharon, We are all excited for you. Good luck this year. I do hope its warmer there than it is here right now. But we all know that no matter what the weather you will protect that bird as if it were your very own child! Brenda

So the temperature was 33 degrees. By noon it was a booming 39 with flurries and I decided to go home for lunch and feed him again. (3 meals a day). My wife went out right before I got home and tried but said he was not there. I figured he probably was inside on a cold blustery day and would certai...

I just stepped out to feed them once more before dark and as quick as that another pair has joined them. I guess it's time to get more crickets ordered. Brenda

After 12 days of braving the cold,the snow, and the ice to go out looking for a mate she did it! My wonder woman finally brought home a fella. I was watching the clock wondering why she was staying out later than usual and I must admit I had begun to pace. Then out of the blue there she was but she ...

Congratulations Brenda, We're usually about a week behind you even though we are a bit south. My sister ran up to our place this weekend and got the gourds up! We're bought a place down in Florida and are down here for the winter. But as luck would have it..put up a trendsetter 12 this winter and b...