Purple Martin Forum

I had one martin spend the night in my housing Tuesday night. I haven't seen any since. Just as well with the cold.

I use a harbor freight $69 electric winch with a remote. Small tractor battery supplies power. I can lift the house or lower it from the living room with the remote. Been using it for 4 years. The winch has a brake to hold the house up.

I have heard different stories on this but will the young that fledged from my colony last year return to nest in my housing this year?

A table spoon of sevin seems like a lot.

I had a wooden pole originally. Two years a go in mid August a storm came through and snapped the pole at the ground. It was 10 years old at that time. Martins were still around but most had fledged. I propped the house back up again and the Martins were back again last year. In early spring last ye...

My T-14 in full dress!

I did work hard and long to get my colony. 10 years of nothing but Last year I fledged about 125 from two houses I have near each other. Both houses can be lowered and I have done nest checks on both. My pole is an aluminium Beam used for concrete forming. That house is a T-14 with 16 gourds attache...

I have a colony with 30 compartments. Its on a 16' aluminium I beam pole. I do not have a predator guard and have had no problems with predators climbing the pole so far. My question is this: What predators do I have to worry about in Whitewater WI? Are there snakes here to be concerned about? I'm o...

Not many new reports in Wisconsin or Illinois since the 12th and 13th. With the bad weather I'am not surprised. I haven't seen any at my housing since the first report on the 12th. He may have been a visitor. I hope mine are still in warm weather. I wonder if martins will go back south some if the w...

Thanks, for the info.

Can someone tell me the width of the plate on the front of the Troyer gourd tunnel entrances? I want to make some perches that fit across the top of the plate like I saw on Utube. My gourds are at my home in Wisconsin and I want to build them to take up there this weekend.
Thanks

If I can catch them I will put the whole cage in a Rubbermaid container(I have containers just the right size. ) Then I spray in some ether starting fluid. They go to sleep never to awaken. Very humane and It keeps me from having to wring their neck. The ones that I can't catch have to watch for my ...

I am also disappointed in most martin houses. T-14 being the exception. I needed a six place house for the end of my pier and saw nothing I liked. I am lucky because I have a wood shop so I built a T-6 out of a 1/2" solid plastic plywood substitute we use for concrete forming. I use an aluminum...

I like the way you got rid of the metal doors. I always hated working with them. Can you extend the bottom board add sides and make a nest box like the T-14's use? That front cross bar might mess that up.

Dale, What are those side vents made from?

All plastic gourds no natural. I have a large tub. I think I will add some bleach to water in the tub and clean them. The colony is in Wisconsin so its not as hot as down south but it can heat up. In the Martin store they have covers with vents and plugs. Are those a good idea?

I have 16 gourds some have been used the last couple seasons. I had been using the long southern yellow pine needles in them but have since removed them. I am planning on putting in white pine needles because they are softer. Should I also clean them with bleach while they ae down? I also thought of...

I have been using a 2500lb electric winch I bought from harbor freight. Cost about $80 less any discount coupons. I have had it on for 2 years. You need a small battery to operate it. Its made for an ATV. Has a remote control to operate it. I can raise or lower it from my house. It has a holding bra...

The Martins have been very late arriving at my Whitewater, WI site. The last few days however the adults have arrived. I went from about 8 to over 20 in a couple days. Still waiting for the youngsters.

All that worry and overnight about a dozen Martins showed up. Apparently they are taking their time this year.