Purple Martin Forum

What a thrill it was to see 4 adult martins returning to our small colony in Granbury! I was sure our martins didn't survive the ice, snow and sub-freezing temps for so many days. I had not seen the martins for almost 10 days but they have returned! I could hear a Martin this morning in the distance...

Yes, on February 13 we saw a Beautiful ASY sitting on top of the martin houses. Today we saw six additional martins flying around the houses with the ASY perched on the pole cap overlooking his fellow martins. I have already been busy trapping and disposing of house sparrows. My neighbor feeds birds...

First ASY martin arrived February13th. Such a sight to see. This morning Feb 15th we saw 6 purple martins flying around our houses with the awesome ASY sitting peacefully atop the cap. I haven't seen them the rest of today so hope they come back and with more martins! Our biggest predator is those p...

We have 2 Martin houses with 6 pair nesting, 8 hatched from 10 days to 16 days old. 18 more eggs left to hatch! Fantastic! want to put up new housing with a wench pole system for next season. When should I do this and how? We plan to take down the current houses when all the martins have left. Do I ...

Are gourds preferred over other Martin types of houses? Do sparrows attempt house in gourds?

Hello everyone. I have trapped and eliminated 3 pairs of house sparrows but there is one pair that out-wits everything we try to do. The male sparrow sits on a nearby roof top chirping loudly , waits for the martins to leave then bam he is in and out of 3 compartments before I can scare him away! I ...

Thanks Tony and Kathy. The martins seem to be more "on duty" , keeping at least one Martin on the house as a lookout. Kathy, will check out the thread you mentioned. Nest checks done again: now up to 21 eggs, and should be more by my next check. Wow! I am so hooked on this Martin Project!

This is my second year to host Martins. Last year had 1 pair with 6 adorable nestling all fledged! This year we have 8 pair and as of our latest nest check saturday, had 15 eggs, 4 hatched in one nest! Yeah, I must be doing something right. But...thus far have trapped and eliminated 2 pair of house ...

I was successful in trapping 2 pair of house sparrows, but now 2 more pair have appeared! I bought the sparrow trap to go in the compartment they want to occupy but now when the sparrows show up the martins are chasing them off! Go get email Martins. This is my second season to house Martins and we ...