More than happy to lend advice on handling grouches if you need it .... lol
I'm a pro grouch!
Approaching my neighbors
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Connie
- Posts: 441
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
- Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
- Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.
Thanks, I remember that! 
Connie
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ROBINMOULIERE
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:00 pm
- Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
I am in Alexandria and I have 2 neighbors with the bad housing and never do nest checks. They just slap a house on a pole and wish it well. I sent them each a copy of the Update magazine 2 years ago. They can EASILY see all my housing and see me in my yard each day, but never approached me. I wish I could just tell them PLEASE HELP THE MARTINS or take down your pole. You are competing with me for these eggs and I am upset about that :(.....ugh !!! I feel your pain, daily, sadly...... especially now, they are here and looking at their housing too.....ugh This year, I will do it for the martins...I like your ideas......I am going to go over there asap, suck it up and open with....I have just received my first martin this year and wanted to come see if you have seen them here and how many did you have last year...Let's just suck it up and do it for the marints...they can't speak for theirselves...
Robin's Nest for purple martins in memory of Mr. Bands. (Mr. Bands came 2010 from New Jersey as a 2 year old. 2011, he CAME BACK TO US, but found dead inside a cavity at start of 2011 season.) 2010- 53 fledged, 2011- 75 fledged, 2012- 109 fledged. Using 2 28 Trendsetter units.
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Penny Briscoe
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:46 pm
- Location: Michigan/Vicksburg
This is also a problem where I live in southwest Michigan. I am on a lake and need to get up the courage to visit the homes where the houses are up but abandoned and offer to take the houses down for them so they can donate them to a place that can use them. I might get a negative response, like when I asked my new neighbors multiple times to keep their cat out of my yard. Finally I wrote them a firm but pleasant note that attempted to educate them about why I didn't want the cat in my yard, and then I got a visit from the wife, who blasted me like you can't imagine on my back deck, profanity included. But, guess what! The cat is gone! So, I don't mind risking a few angry folks if it helps the martins.
Barton Lake Martin Lover
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Don Strickland
- Posts: 430
- Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:38 pm
- Location: Oklahoma/Shady Point
Well, you folks are braver than I am. Dealing with neighbors and trying to get them to do things a little different would be a very sensitive undertaking. I know it's for a worthy cause, but the neighbor might not see it that way.
I wish you good luck and success.
Don
I wish you good luck and success.
Don
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DebA
- Posts: 1941
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
- Location: Pratt County/Kansas
- Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
Try reading this thread while in your hair dresser's chair. She has a Trio and her husband backed into her telescoping pole years ago so they threw it up on a pole that bends and drops to the ground so she cleans it out after each season. I have talked to her in a hinting suggestive manner. Mentioned this site several times. Today I am reading this and we already talked martins. She said last year sparrows had one side and martins the other and she guesses they will have to live in harmony. I told her how I had so many sparrow egg chips from two persistant males and told her they will kill babies. BUT...I don't push her either because believe me I don't want to tick her off when she is in charge of cutting my hair! 
Deb
p.s. Hi JL! I have missed your self titled grouchy backwards negative self in the off season! Have a great martin season!
Deb
p.s. Hi JL! I have missed your self titled grouchy backwards negative self in the off season! Have a great martin season!
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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LarryMelcher/KY
- Posts: 675
- Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 12:08 pm
- Location: Kentucky/Shepherdsville
This thread is some real good reading. Kathy....great approach! Thanks for your untiring devotion to birds.
Your excellent, well managed colony will get noticed more than you might think. Lead by example....the best you can. (I'm adding an electric predator guard this spring. Always room for improvement)
Positive ID on sparrows is a must. There are so many gentle native sparrows.
Winter time is best to rid your area of S&S. I feed birds in the winter and feed in a good spot that I can see from a window. Double duty serves as a good place to sling a bb from. Cruel? Maybe. But only if you've never peeked in a bluebird box expecting to see those 4 young birds a little older. Check your nest boxes. Its fun and you may see that they could really use some of your help.
Your excellent, well managed colony will get noticed more than you might think. Lead by example....the best you can. (I'm adding an electric predator guard this spring. Always room for improvement)
Positive ID on sparrows is a must. There are so many gentle native sparrows.
Winter time is best to rid your area of S&S. I feed birds in the winter and feed in a good spot that I can see from a window. Double duty serves as a good place to sling a bb from. Cruel? Maybe. But only if you've never peeked in a bluebird box expecting to see those 4 young birds a little older. Check your nest boxes. Its fun and you may see that they could really use some of your help.
I manage 2 public sites, and one at home, for a total of 172 cavities. Board Member / Non Profit PMCA.
Find videos that I edit for the PMCA Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/PurpleMartinPMCA
Find videos that I edit for the PMCA Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/PurpleMartinPMCA
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Larry, when I grow up, I want to be just like you! 
You have posted some excellent, helpful videos and I share the one you created for id'ing HOSP a lot! I don't know how you find the time to create all those videos with everything you're working on.
Yes, you're right about our cavity nesters needing help. That's one of the reasons I stress to people that it's not *just* about helping the martins, when they say they can just pull the nests out of the martin housing...it's about all the other birds too. It takes a lot of courage to be a bird enthusiast.
You have posted some excellent, helpful videos and I share the one you created for id'ing HOSP a lot! I don't know how you find the time to create all those videos with everything you're working on.
Yes, you're right about our cavity nesters needing help. That's one of the reasons I stress to people that it's not *just* about helping the martins, when they say they can just pull the nests out of the martin housing...it's about all the other birds too. It takes a lot of courage to be a bird enthusiast.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Connie
Before approaching neighbors, educate yourself on this as well.
http://purplemartin.org/forumarchives/a ... evenge.htm
If we only succeed in getting people to go out at the height of the season and pull a bunch of active sparrow nests, we are causing more harm than good. If landlords are trapping from early on in the season, hopefully this won't occur. But I'd encourage neighbors to become amateur wildlife biologists, learning all they can so they can take steps to get their colonies to thrive.
John Miller
Before approaching neighbors, educate yourself on this as well.
http://purplemartin.org/forumarchives/a ... evenge.htm
If we only succeed in getting people to go out at the height of the season and pull a bunch of active sparrow nests, we are causing more harm than good. If landlords are trapping from early on in the season, hopefully this won't occur. But I'd encourage neighbors to become amateur wildlife biologists, learning all they can so they can take steps to get their colonies to thrive.
John Miller
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Connie
- Posts: 441
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
- Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
- Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.
Well y'all, am glad to see I am not the only one with little courage! 
Robin: Did they know who sent them the update?
Deb: I don't blame you, if I was in your chair....scissors are scary!!
John: I do know about the revenge of the sparrows, I pulled a few nest my first year but then stopped because just knew they would kill all my babies.
I haven't talked to anyone yet because 2 of the neighbors I need to speak to got water in their homes after one of the big rains we had. I just don't have the heart to bother them right now. The other two had better be ready, I am going to see them soon. As soon as I can quit procrastinating.....LOL... no really, I am going, soon, maybe tommorrow, or no maybe next week, or maybe....uh, soon. LOL no I am going really!
Robin: Did they know who sent them the update?
Deb: I don't blame you, if I was in your chair....scissors are scary!!
John: I do know about the revenge of the sparrows, I pulled a few nest my first year but then stopped because just knew they would kill all my babies.
I haven't talked to anyone yet because 2 of the neighbors I need to speak to got water in their homes after one of the big rains we had. I just don't have the heart to bother them right now. The other two had better be ready, I am going to see them soon. As soon as I can quit procrastinating.....LOL... no really, I am going, soon, maybe tommorrow, or no maybe next week, or maybe....uh, soon. LOL no I am going really!
Connie
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ROBINMOULIERE
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:00 pm
- Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
okay Connie, lets make a pact we ARE going to do this and NOW...I need to go talk, and I have written it on my to do list as "urgent". I really need to get over there because my husband said yesterday he saw birds on theirs through the scope...rats....Let's just get it over with, it might go in the martins favor, and we get new landlords, OR we get the houses taken down.....let's go for it !!! I will make a huge effort to do it Sunday, lets chat again next week....go do it !!! They did not know I sent the Update unless it was noted from Louise...
Robin's Nest for purple martins in memory of Mr. Bands. (Mr. Bands came 2010 from New Jersey as a 2 year old. 2011, he CAME BACK TO US, but found dead inside a cavity at start of 2011 season.) 2010- 53 fledged, 2011- 75 fledged, 2012- 109 fledged. Using 2 28 Trendsetter units.
It's really not as hard as ya'll might think. I stop at people's houses all the time, and talk with them about their martins. You'll know real quick if you have offended them or not and can cool it before it go's too far.
I started with my neighbor and ended up with a free martin house and a spare pole out if the deal. Another neighbor said he wanted to get martins, and offered to give me his house and go buy himself another one! It's easy to stop in and say, I noticed your martin house and wondered if you ever have any martins. The door has been opened and a conversation has begun instantly. Then I ask do they ever have any problems with HOSP, and it's on from there. I have met some real nice folks, and have never had a negative response. (YET!)
Think of it this way, If you have a martin house and they have a martin house, you allready have something in common. Now get out there and make some new friends. (and save some martins in the proccess)
I started with my neighbor and ended up with a free martin house and a spare pole out if the deal. Another neighbor said he wanted to get martins, and offered to give me his house and go buy himself another one!
It's easy to stop in and say, I noticed your martin house and wondered if you ever have any martins. The door has been opened and a conversation has begun instantly. Then I ask do they ever have any problems with HOSP, and it's on from there. I have met some real nice folks, and have never had a negative response. (YET!) Think of it this way, If you have a martin house and they have a martin house, you allready have something in common. Now get out there and make some new friends. (and save some martins in the proccess)
Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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Don Strickland
- Posts: 430
- Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:38 pm
- Location: Oklahoma/Shady Point
Hey Gobbler,
I hope your persistance pays off this season.
Don
I hope your persistance pays off this season.
Don
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barry resvick
- Posts: 185
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:07 pm
- Location: Alberta/Didsbury
- Martin Colony History: 2010 we had just one sy male all summer
2011 we had the same male come back but eventually brought home a female and had five eggs but were infertile
2012 we had our first two chicks but lost them
2013 we fledged six and had two pair
2014 we fledged 13 from four pairs
2015 we fledged 24 from 6 pairs
Hi Connie
My way of approaching them would be to invite them over for a BAR-B-Q.
Your colony will do all the work for you.They will fall in love with them before they go home.The questions will start coming at you and all you have to do is answer them.The control of S&S and the neccessity for nest checks will be a natural part of the conversation.Very soon after you will have an avid martin landlord who will thank you for your mentoring.Iv had so many people over for BAR-B-QS and most of them go home thinking about their own colony one day.Its amazing what a few brews and a fun get together will accomplish.
My way of approaching them would be to invite them over for a BAR-B-Q.
Your colony will do all the work for you.They will fall in love with them before they go home.The questions will start coming at you and all you have to do is answer them.The control of S&S and the neccessity for nest checks will be a natural part of the conversation.Very soon after you will have an avid martin landlord who will thank you for your mentoring.Iv had so many people over for BAR-B-QS and most of them go home thinking about their own colony one day.Its amazing what a few brews and a fun get together will accomplish.
2010______2 visitors
2011______1asy male 3 visitors
2012______1 pair,possibly2(5 infertile eggs)
2013______2 pair,5infertile eggs,4hatched,0 fledged
2014______3 pair,Fledged 13
2011______1asy male 3 visitors
2012______1 pair,possibly2(5 infertile eggs)
2013______2 pair,5infertile eggs,4hatched,0 fledged
2014______3 pair,Fledged 13
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JL Murray
Thank You Ms Deb!......And great job of not getting scalped.DebA wrote:Try reading this thread while in your hair dresser's chair. She has a Trio and her husband backed into her telescoping pole years ago so they threw it up on a pole that bends and drops to the ground so she cleans it out after each season. I have talked to her in a hinting suggestive manner. Mentioned this site several times. Today I am reading this and we already talked martins. She said last year sparrows had one side and martins the other and she guesses they will have to live in harmony. I told her how I had so many sparrow egg chips from two persistant males and told her they will kill babies. BUT...I don't push her either because believe me I don't want to tick her off when she is in charge of cutting my hair!
Deb
p.s. Hi JL! I have missed your self titled grouchy backwards negative self in the off season! Have a great martin season!
Thanks Don. My wife said the other day she was'nt looking forward to martin season. When I asked why, she said "I don't like seeing you so disapointed"
Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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barry resvick
- Posts: 185
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:07 pm
- Location: Alberta/Didsbury
- Martin Colony History: 2010 we had just one sy male all summer
2011 we had the same male come back but eventually brought home a female and had five eggs but were infertile
2012 we had our first two chicks but lost them
2013 we fledged six and had two pair
2014 we fledged 13 from four pairs
2015 we fledged 24 from 6 pairs
Hey Gobbler!
We had our first pair last year and their eggs ended up infertile i think because of their nesting too late in the season,and yes i was a little disappointed when they finally abandoned the nest site,but it wasn't long before i was thinking about the wonderful season this is going to be.My wife sometimes worries about me too but she knows there nothing i would rather be doing.
You are so right about getting out and taking the first step in meeting people around the neighborhood that have the same interests as you do.
If your getting visitors,they are generally lookers and it will happen eventually.GOOD LUCK
We had our first pair last year and their eggs ended up infertile i think because of their nesting too late in the season,and yes i was a little disappointed when they finally abandoned the nest site,but it wasn't long before i was thinking about the wonderful season this is going to be.My wife sometimes worries about me too but she knows there nothing i would rather be doing.
You are so right about getting out and taking the first step in meeting people around the neighborhood that have the same interests as you do.
If your getting visitors,they are generally lookers and it will happen eventually.GOOD LUCK
2010______2 visitors
2011______1asy male 3 visitors
2012______1 pair,possibly2(5 infertile eggs)
2013______2 pair,5infertile eggs,4hatched,0 fledged
2014______3 pair,Fledged 13
2011______1asy male 3 visitors
2012______1 pair,possibly2(5 infertile eggs)
2013______2 pair,5infertile eggs,4hatched,0 fledged
2014______3 pair,Fledged 13
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Connie
- Posts: 441
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
- Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
- Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.
Gobbler: Thanks for the pep talk. I have been praying for you to get martins since I joined the PMCA and started reading the forum. Good luck this year!
Robin: you are so right. I need to just jump in and go! I have my closest neighbor on my list for the beginning of this work week. I will let you know how it goes. Wish me luck and here's some luck coming your way!
Good luck. LOL
Everyone has great ideas....I just need someone to go with me to get my courage up! I think I will recruit my sisiter...I just got her to put up a gourd system this year and she already has visitors. I am going to DO IT!Thanks again everyone.
Robin: you are so right. I need to just jump in and go! I have my closest neighbor on my list for the beginning of this work week. I will let you know how it goes. Wish me luck and here's some luck coming your way!
Good luck. LOL
Everyone has great ideas....I just need someone to go with me to get my courage up! I think I will recruit my sisiter...I just got her to put up a gourd system this year and she already has visitors. I am going to DO IT!Thanks again everyone.
Connie