Purple Martin Forum

Good luck to you. I've had 3 hawk attacks so far this morning. He has been unsuccessful each time. When I hear the martins starting their decent into the gourd rack to fight over cavities, I go outside and stand by the gourd rack. During the 2nd attack, I was there and he came in so fast it was cra...

Al, Last year I had my decoys set up on poles on top of my fence. In those positions, the hawk had to fly by them to get to my gourd rack. When the martins left the rack they flew past the decoys. The decoys last year saved many martins. However, this year, not so much. Although I did move the deco...

I’m having trouble with Hawks so far this year. Just wondering what the train of thought is now on the placement of decoys. Would it be better to stick decoys on the housing or in the yard perched on rods stuck in the ground? Hoping the decoys aren’t actually attracting the Hawks to my setup.

Thanks for posting that. I have the Audubon Purple Martin print No. Pl. 45. I brought it matted and framed on Amazon last year. It hangs in the living area and I enjoy it almost everyday.

No changes in 2019. I have a Trendsetter 12 with crescent entrances. One pair of SY's in 2018, with lots of birds hanging around later in the season. Getting excited now!

Starting from scratch in 2018 at new location. Repeated street flooding has forced me from my North Myrtle Beach location leaving 14 pair behind. My new site in Carolina Shores NC is ideal for attracting Martins, and my HOA has approved a Trendsetter 12 system which I just purchased from the PMCA. I...

I don't post much these days, but I'm still a PMCA member and hanging around after all these years.

I started my new beach colony two years ago with 6 Troyer vertical gourds-Conley 2 with porches raised to flush. I got one pair the first year and two last year. This year I'm adding two more Troyer gourds.

That's great James. Sounds like things are ramping up for you down there. Hope you have a great 2015 season!

At my previous site one of my poles was out on my swim dock. I used a plastic coated steel cable with a lock on it to secure my winch handle. I believe they are sold as bicycle locks. Unfortunately, I learned early on the only thing a lock does is to keep an honest person out. Al: Now that you are ...

Matt F. wrote:

Al Denton wrote:Boys will be boys you know.

So true!
Great to hear from you Al!

Thanks Matt...hope to spend a little more time at the forum this season.

I keep the handle removed at all times unless I need to lower the rack. I also use a cable gun lock with key by Master. I run the cable through one of the large holes in the spool, around the cable and back to the lock. This year I plan to install a safety pin under the sleeve as a backup. The beach...

Two pair in 2014, plus the dozens of martins that were hanging around at fledgling time. Hi Al, Yes, seeing all of the visitors come in at fledging time is so cool! Yes it is Chuck. It seems so promising to have so many martins at a site at one time. Will next season be my breakout year? I guess ti...

Two pair in 2014, plus the dozens of martins that were hanging around at fledgling time.

I just picked up a surprise new pair of ASY birds last weekend. Nest building looks complete now. My first pair have birds about to fledge any day. Looks like my summer plans are about to change. It's going to be a long summer at the beach!

2013-1 pair
2014-2 pair...crossing fingers!

Thanks Matt...I appreciate it. Aaron, my birds just could be staying over at your place since they don't seem to be here overnight anymore. I need to return to NC early in the morning, but I'll be back the middle of next week. If your little roost is still there, I'd sure enjoy checking it out...tha...

Update from the Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach: My ASY male nested with a SY female and fledged 4 birds sometime this past Monday afternoon. Over the last two weeks I've had oodles of martins from neighboring sites over for short visits. Looking forward already to next season!

I saw that you said you have a site in Raleigh. Where is it located, and what do you suppose is causing the difficulties in attracting martins? Is it tree encroachment, or just not an ideal spot? My Raleigh site is in North Hills, and surprisingly a good open spot. I had one successful pair in 05 a...

Tallsilver wrote:Hang in! They were much later getting to our site in Conway this year as well as another site about 4 miles from me. Got about 16 birds now and hopefully this front moving thru will bring some more on Fri or Sat!

Hanging in there is what I have gotten so good at Aaron...Thanks.

Who said Al Denton threw in the towel and quit :grin: I brought a little beach house last spring in Cherry Grove. Got a small setup down in time for subs. Just as I was starting to get some interest I had to leave for heavy renovations. Subs probably too shy to withstand all the noise and commotion ...