Purple Martin Forum

It’s been a long time since I’ve dealt with issues I’m having now. I’m a little rusty and forgetting things. My Martins have always been pretty easy and protected. Now I have a hawk. I have only 16 birds back I watched a hawk get one a few days ago and noticed last night he was sitting on a rack I y...

Starlings really should never be a problem. Especially if you have crescent entrances. Sometimes there may be one or two each year figure out to get in. But then there is great trap boxes made just for them that work. It’s the sparrows you have to worry about more than anything. Atleast in 15 years ...

Is their a way to post videos?

Fluckers is out of crickets. I need she good places to order from. With all this rain this has been the worst year in eight I've ever seen here. Every bird has had young starve to death or jump out to soon. Now forecast has turned to rain again. Most the birds have fledged or died. But I have about ...

Got my first pair of martins back of the year today. And it is me and my husbands 17 th anniversary today. Couldn't be a better day. I need a good place to order crickets. Please help. Thanks

I just seen this is the same return date as last year for you. Mine says the 21st so I hope to have another week.

Omg I am in shock. I just happen to look at the map then come to the forume today. I didnt expect to see someone say they are back in ohio. I am not ready and was hoping they wasnot ready. I never cleaned gourds out last year or closed them. Weather hasnt been nice enough for me to get out their. U ...

the martin fledglings I had left just fledged today! wow what a late start I have never had martins here this late. let alone with babies still to fledge. what amazing birds!

the artin fledglings I had left just fledged today! wow what a late start I have never had martins here this late. let alone with babies still to fledge. what amazing birds!

unless it got hit by a car and the dog found him in the yard? idk but I posted a picture. you can see the blood spot under its wing. had small tooth hole from the dog we think.

I have had a good Martin season that towards the end was under attach by a great horned owl. I came to the conclusion he was eating fledglings that was sleeping out. I would get up at 4 am and see this owl sitting on the swing set looking at my Martin racks. Very scary sight. So many times I wanted ...

Birdbrat, it has been a trying year for me. I have also wondered myself even if all is caged in what stops a owl from landing on the cage and shaking it and spooking them out? I guess with all caged it makes it harder and puts the odds in their favor. I do know yesterday morning their was a male doi...

Thanks Emil, my husband has been laying are kitchen floor all day today. He is going to take time out tomorrow to get this taken care of. He must be eating here good to show up so early. I told my husband he probually be here. Between 1 and 5 am like the cable guy. I'm not sure if my birds are still...

Kathy,those pictures are horrifying. I would die. And I know that's what going on. Sad thing is I have a Coates house that had a cage on it. I took it off. Thought I didn't need it. I have got lazy this year. I will put it back on tomorrow. Now that leaves a aaa rack with nothing. Those garden stake...

I can't believe it. I decided to stay out side till it got all the way dark. To scare off any martins if they tried to stay out. 2 flew out into the feint towards the trees. And the rest went in their gourds right when it got dark. Then 40 ft away a owl flew into the tree. I about had a panic attach...

Idk I have dogs but are inside. And we have raccoons. And great horn owls will take rabbits . We are thick with them. Ten in the street every night. And this all started when I seen the first Martin eaten at the swing set. And the robin nest had to be an owl to take it from the apple tree out back t...

I need to do something. I am just tired of fighting the fight. Even knowing how much I love these birds. I thought I had them well protected. But now I am just out of ideas and feeling defeated.

Research has said martins will fly up to 7 miles away from their site for water. That is why to attract them you need to be close to water. So I assume when my martins are here they go no farther then 7 miles away from home. But who really knows?

Well first time in 7 years hosting martins that I had a problem. Last week we went inside right when it got dark. Then hubby took the dog out at 7 am and found Martin feathers on the ground under my sons swing set. That sits across from the Martin housing. Along with blood on the swing. Looked aroun...

Ok a female showed up at this rack. This makes the not caged rack with nobody missing. Surprises me for a owl to get one at a caged rack. Went inside last night at 8 pm it was not their. 7 am the feathers were their. So has to be a owl. Around 8 pm I will go out see of I can find this male by his se...