Finally figured it out! At least the first step.

[Gobbler T]

I have figured out how to get martins! The whole key is "A watched pot never boils" A watched house never attracts martins!

There are literally thousands and thousands and thousands of slumlords around the nation. I've heard it said here that slumlords play a big part in the numbers of martins raised every year. They put up a house and forget about it. They have sparrows and starlings, but they have martins.

So if you don't want to wait, just throw up a house willy nilly. Pay no attention as to where. Turn the dawnsong and daytime chatter CDs off. Put the decoys in the shed. Stop shooting and trapping sparrows and starlings. Don't worry about prenest material. Quit reading martin magazines. Stop watching the sky while cutting grass or gardening. Pay no attention to the scouting reports. And above all, GET AWAY FROM THE WINDOW! Just go fishing or something.
You'll have martins faster than you can say Jack Sprat!

Now, thats part one. Part two is figuring out how to do all the things mentioned above. You've heard the old saying "those who can't do, teach". Well I can't imagine myself being able to do all that, so you are on your own

Good luck getting martins!

[tcg]

I have figured out how to get martins! The whole key is "A watched pot never boils" A watched house never attracts martins!

I've thought the same thing. It seems that any time I'm watching and waiting for something to happen it just prolongs it. But on the other hand, I've never been one to do things half-way. Yesterday at work I was showing pictures of my new housing and pole setup to a co-worker who is also a martin wannabe. He couldn't resist letting everyone know that I am the only person he knows that probably has close to $1000 dollars invested in a pole, housing and gourds complete with dawnsong speakers and cameras without a single bird to show for it. Maybe sometimes we try too hard.

[Guest]

Your exactly right... I posted pictures in 2009? of some of the slum houses near where I live, doors pushed half open from sparrow nest, trees growing "literally" into the houses, bent poles. All full of martins and sparrows living side by side. It's crazy... Like you, I've put a lot into this, trying to do it right. The old timers "with all the birds" laugh and talk behind my back, I hear it second hand. "" He's a nice kid ( I'm 52 ) but he sure don't know nothin bout birds, ever time you go by he's out there messin with that old bird house, if he'd leave it alone he'd have some birds"" Sometimes I think there right. And when I tried to explain the Dawn song playing from a radio in a sack, hanging on my pole, LOL....

Our time will come. Good luck this year..

[tcg]

I see a lot of natural gourds in my area just hanging on broken racks. Sometimes the gourds have big pieces broken out of them. Most are sparrow-infested and look like they haven't been touched in years. I see almost no one close by who puts out any effort to manage martins the "correct" way. The way I see it, anything worth doing is worth doing right.

[James Johnson]

By gum Bull I thank ye finely got er. Ever thang in Newton and Marion Counties is backerds. Makes a body wunder if some em birds aint got red necks and shotguns. Cud be whut they drank makes em fickled. LOL

[Guest]

James,
Too funny.. You seem to get it. We may be related... I've been in the area 25 years and love my neighbors, there all like family to me and in there minds, they look out for me ( because I'm the good, kid ). They also have all the Purple Martins and are willing to teach me a thing or two.. How long have "youins" been in this part of the world? I'm almost not a "new comer" any more.

[Stretch]

BAHHAHAHHA you just described my entire week so far!

Working from home...should be in Gatlinburg, but have to watch the pot boil....shoot starlings and HOSPs...build traps...hope the sun comes out....

Spring break and we went to the movies today...I take my family the long way out of the neighborhood by all the local colonies to see if they have birds...nope. Looking for houses all the way...saw a real nice set up, big chuck abare gourd rack....the S&K house parked nearby had the birds...several pair. I need to stop by and introduce myself.

Tony, I thought this was the post I've been waiting for...you make me laugh. At least you still have a sense of humor.

[James Johnson]

Bull, PM sent. Check your messages.

[Gobbler T]

I think that anyone who has been trying for a while understands. I know their thinking it, I thought I would go on and say it.

Stretch,
It's either laugh or cry.