Purple Martin Forum

Lots of opinions as to which is the best….I posted nearly this exact post several years ago, and also received a myriad of opinions. I ended-up with an RWS Diana model, which I love. Regardless of what brand/model you purchase, do yourself a favor and buy a variety of pellets----you'll very likely f...

Sorry that I didn't have time to look over all the replies, but--just in case no one suggested it--if I were there, I'd make sure the new neighbor knew what PM's are, and--if he/she is interested--"coach" them into becoming landlords. Just a suggestion/sorry for the duplication, if someone...

Many of us in the same boat, particularly those of us living a bit further north. I believe our numbers last year were 18 pair, with about 100 fledglings. Was so confident our Gemini rack would be at capacity I talked my "financial advisor" (wife) into us putting up another. Just did a nes...

I hope the souther landlords know how exciting it is to read of the arrivals of the first martins back each spring. I look daily at the increasing number of "dots" on the arrival map….it helps make the northern winters a bit more bearable.

Hope everyone has a banner year!!!

We are in New Richmond, WI, which is about 10 miles NE of Hudson, WI. Last year, was only our second year of successfully having "martins live with us" (2 pair the first year, 6 last year). Tonight, we had 7 PM's, with three pair and one single ASY male. Up until yesterday, we had been at ...

A couple of other things I'd add---get a good outdoor speaker, a CD player with timer, and play the Dawn Song from an hour before daylight until you get tired of hearing it. Additionally, mount a half-dozen decoys around your housing......and don't give up!! I think I was one of the founding members...

Henry....funny, we are sitting in the Ted Steven's Anchorage airport, reading your posting. Heading back home, expecting to find not much PM activity. Had 20-or-so birds still hanging out when we left two weeks ago....don't expect them to be there when we check in the morning. On a brighter note, at...

CONGRATS!! How exciting it must have been not only to see the hatchlings, but to be able to share with family and friends.

Keeping our fingers crossed for you for them to all fledge, and many of 'em to return next year (and bring along a friend, or two).

Terry

Can imagine the frustration of not being able to do more to prevent future attacks. Hoping he/she/it moves on….and soon.

Sending best-wishes/karma/a curse upon the Cooper hawk your direction.

Thanks for the info, Dave. All our gourds are Troyers, all with added ventilation and owl-guards. The nests with the oldest nestlings have heads poking-out, taking it all in. Will be more diligent next year with staying regular on nest checks. Thanks, again, for the input. Terry & Michelle

Thanks for the input. Oldest nestlings hatched on the 12th of June, with the last ones to hatch doing-so on June 19th….if my math is good, that makes the oldest nestlings 24 days old today. All 6 of the nests are in the same Gemini rack…lowers pretty smoothly, and I do have a good 8' step-ladder tha...

Sorry to continually ask rookie questions….have 6 pair of PM's, which had 35 eggs. First group to hatch are---according to the PM prognosticator---due to fledge (at earliest) in 3 days. Do most of you continue to do nest checks this late, or should I leave 'em alone? Thanks for your feedback. Terry R.

If it's soon, tell 'em to wait up….of the 35 eggs we have out back, 32 have just hatched. It'll be the 10th - 15th of July before our's fledge….then they have to fly 800 miles.

Makes me tired just thinking about it.

Just for the record, my wife also thinks I'm nuts! We can't let that deter us, now can we!

Hey Dave….I might have been one of the founding members of the "wannabe" club. Last year, I was ready to cry "uncle"…..even told my wife, "I'm done trying to attract these dang things. Can't take the disappointment any longer". Her response: "You aren't a quitter--...

Great news, Ed. As previously reported, we had 2 pair/12 eggs last year. 6 pair/35 eggs this season, with the earliest two pair should have their eggs hatching on the 12th.

Keep us posted on how things go!

Gary, brother, if you had 20 martins visiting/exploring, SOME of 'em have gotta call your place home!! Keep us posted….I'm betting you are officially "on the board".

Good luck!!

Thanks for the feedback/note. I would be inclined to agree that the numbers I see on some of the colony sizes look like a full-time job to manage .

I'll be patient, and thankful for the PM's who have set-up shop here.

Stop by if you are ever over in our neck of the woods.

Hey Ed….we have 24 gourds on a Gemini rack. Had our first successful year last year (two pair/12 fledged), but really pleased to be at 5 pair this season. First egg laid on 5-23, and as of a few moments ago, we were at 29 (nest with the first egg has been at 6 for a couple of days, so we assume they...

Congrats. Keep us all posted on how the egg total/hatchling numbers play out.

We had our first two pair last year (12 fledglings). As I posted earlier in a different note, so far this year we have 5 pair and 24 eggs. Hope you see similar growth next year.