B4B:
I went to see a friend of mine today and we stood in the baking Alabama sun as he pridefully showed me his first pair of Martins. As we sweated and as they soured in and out of his homemade set up (4' long x 6" PVC) with round holes and various shaped natural gourds hanging on other poles he boasted that he saw ten come in to roost last evening. I thought of you and I asked him, "now how long have you been living here again?" He replied TWENTY YEARS! Twenty years that how long it took for him to get a pair. He said, " I had vsitors every year that would stay for an evening or two and then move on. I just never gave up. He put his pipe in his mouth and lit it with a prideful draw that only a patient person feeling a sense of accomplishment could feel. One day this will be you!!! i doubt you smoke Prince Albert but I hope your tenancy begins sooner rather than later. May your eyes be sharpe, your monings be clear, your nect not be sore, your ears called with chortles and your heart be filled with joy as only The Purple Martin know how to do. I AM CHEERING FOR YOU!Keep me posted...Wishing you birds!
10 YEARS and STILL WAITING !
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WanderingPM
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:05 pm
- Location: Virginia, Clifton
Realize you are north of me. So based on what you have stated and my observations it would seem that subies arrive around the first week of June for Virginia and Maryland. Saw as many as 8 this AM at my site - there is hope!
Love all things flying - except sparrows and starlings!
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NOMORE-Beggin4Birds
- Posts: 117
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:21 am
- Location: Walkersville, MD
DakotaLady, JR4-AL and WanderingPM :
Thank you ALL for your post on the Forum. I have seen more SUBBIE visits in the past several days than I have all season. Possibly there is still hope for this season. Thank you all for your warm wishes and for letting me know that there are others out there that have gone thru the same situation as me. THERE IS STILL HOPE for this year ! I will continue to HOPE, BE PATIENT and WAIT for that first pair for as long as it takes !!! You know by now what is next . . . . . . for now I continue to be . . . . . .
" Beggin4Birds "
Thank you ALL for your post on the Forum. I have seen more SUBBIE visits in the past several days than I have all season. Possibly there is still hope for this season. Thank you all for your warm wishes and for letting me know that there are others out there that have gone thru the same situation as me. THERE IS STILL HOPE for this year ! I will continue to HOPE, BE PATIENT and WAIT for that first pair for as long as it takes !!! You know by now what is next . . . . . . for now I continue to be . . . . . .
" Beggin4Birds "
Speaking of birds listening leads to the question, what frequency range are these birds using 
Perhaps they are hearing things we cannot! Sounds that attract and sounds that annoy. Are they hearing something that's driving them away and if so how can you tell?
"Many insects, rodents, bats, and fish make use of portions of the ultrasound spectrum for feeding, communication, and navigation..."
Click on "ultra-kits" from the above link for information on kits you can build to hear in the ultrasonic spectrum. Things like insects that may attract or power line noise that may repel. Hint: Ham Radio
Perhaps they are hearing things we cannot! Sounds that attract and sounds that annoy. Are they hearing something that's driving them away and if so how can you tell?"Many insects, rodents, bats, and fish make use of portions of the ultrasound spectrum for feeding, communication, and navigation..."
Click on "ultra-kits" from the above link for information on kits you can build to hear in the ultrasonic spectrum. Things like insects that may attract or power line noise that may repel. Hint: Ham Radio
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
To add to JR4's list of non conventional attractants, I would add: Mennonite (or any) construction workers, wearing a straw hat, humans working in the garden or playing outside, tractors of any size, and of course (worked for Gobbler, I hear) playing George Strait (or other country music artists) and hosting a backyard party... Really, all of those are are evidence of a human presence outside... which PMs love! Keep on keeping the faith, with your flyways clear, house and gourds for variety, and your eyes to the sky... good luck!
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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NOMORE-Beggin4Birds
- Posts: 117
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:21 am
- Location: Walkersville, MD
PaulS and MamaBruff :
Glad to hear all of your suggestions for attracting martins. My response anymore when asked what attracts martins is . . . . . . I DON'T KNOW ! Who really knows are the martins. I have done all that I can do and it is up to the martins to decide, not me !!! Presently, I continue to be . . . . . .
" Beggin4Birds "
Glad to hear all of your suggestions for attracting martins. My response anymore when asked what attracts martins is . . . . . . I DON'T KNOW ! Who really knows are the martins. I have done all that I can do and it is up to the martins to decide, not me !!! Presently, I continue to be . . . . . .
" Beggin4Birds "