It's an obsession, this birding thing...

[MamaBruff]

My son was visiting with a fellow he worked with, and mentioned his Mom's (Me!) obsession with birds, to the extent that "Mom traps and shoots starling and sparrows"... and the young man replied that he also had a "Crazy Uncle" with the same obsession... Then he paused and said, "Does your Mom have a Purple Martin house?"... Yep, that explains it.... so does the "Crazy Uncle"!! High Five, Uncle!

[Chuck4]

Yes, Mary, birds are an obsession (and a passion) for me. At least within the boundary of my yard, the birds know I appreciate them. It shows in they way they seem to trust me. HOSP and Starlings don't feel as comfy.

[taxidermy lady]

It is a great hobby. Keeps me hoping around like a jack rabbit. I am constantly looking in the sky, out the windows, up and down steps, I don't stop! I love it!

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

For me, the martins are like pets, they let you feed them when they are hungry, they come back home every year, they recognize us, we provide excellent housing for them, we try to protect them from danger and predators, we enjoy watching them, we even like to hold the babies, when the babies fledge we are hoping that they are successful, we hate to see them leave, and are happy when they return.

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

I have often wondered why we get so attracted to hosting martins. Martin landlords are a minute percentage of the overall population. Landlords can be introverts or extroverts, rich or poor, blue collar versus management, live in both city and country.

What is it within our genetic makeup that draw us into this fascinating hobby?

[Berndog]

Could you all imagine if a entire community/neighborhood would be landlords ? That would surely be a sight to see !!!!Berndog

[taxidermy lady]

I am a firm believer if a human can be kind to animals, birds or any kind of wildlife. You can't find a better type person. It is great to have animals around children, it shows kindness and they carry that through their lives. They are kind to other humans also. But it takes the adult to show we care so much for our creatures for the children to grasp that. We are just special humans to care and nurture, it's our way!!

[~Ray~Gingerich]

I find there are so many people out there that don't even know what a purple martin is ....sort of sad in a way. I see many places that would make perfect sites for a martin colony such as a mile long lake and not one martin house.

[JR4-AL]

I agree that most birders are extremely good people. I think this may be contrary, however, sometimes to the overall good to our native birds. For example, I have a neighbor that loves all birds and when I say loves, I mean she feeds and waters and adores the starlings that nest every year (for the past 8 years that I know) under the eve of her house and this year the sparrows, she so admires, run the "poor" starlings under her eve right out of their nests. (I watched this spectacle and was amazed). Nevertheless, she has raised a fine crop of sparrows this spring and she is deliberately feeding "her feathered friends" to the demise of all our native birds. When they get to my yard I trap, shoot, shoot and trap and by years end I think I am making progress and every spring a new crop shows up and seeks refuge in my neighbors eve and feeders. I have tried to educate her (and she loves our purple martins too) but she feels like a do gooder by helping all of the birds much to the demise of the "good ones". I guess we all have to have a hobby; hers, however, is growing sparrows and starlings!

[tonyg]

As the late great philosopher/singer Robert Palmer sang, " Might as well face it your addicted to love".. love of the Martin that is...

[MamaBruff]

You may also know the Delbert McClinton song "Same Kind of Crazy as Me".
If I had a neighbor like JL's I think I would have to move....

[JR4-AL]

Haha... Funny you should say that. We looked at a house the other day and the backyard was not big enough to hosts Martins so we did not even make an offer!

[KathyF]

Mary, got martins?

[DakotaLady]

Mama,

You made me chuckle this morning with your post. It is a bit crazy that we are so protective over the birds we host in our yards...eh? Sadly, I don't have anyone other than on this forum that understands my obsession with wildlife. Oh well, this is my place of peace after a very stressful day at work. I'm very thankful that I have something that can give me a bit of stress relief and that all of your are so kind to me when I post here needing another human friend that just understands.

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Mary,
One of my favorite all time songs, "Crazy" sung and released by Patsy Cline in late 1961 and written by Willie Nelson in early 1961 comes to mind for anyone longing for their purple martins.
Especially since Mr. Romeo came but left for another site.
Did he leave with a female who enticed him away?
Mark.

[MamaBruff]

This forum is indeed a place to find refuge, support and understanding.

Alas I have no purple martins. Romeo stayed for the longest time, had a pair of migrants a couple of nights to keep him company, and an SYF/ASYM pair from the neighbor's place would drop by. He tried to steal the girl but was unsuccessful. For 3 weeks, he would spend the days with the other couple, and sleep at my place at night. He stayed for 3 weeks. When no more martins arrived, he must have become lonely and went where the other birds were, about 1/2 mile away. Now I see the 3 of them flying over daily. Romeo always does a close pass by my house and gives me a squawk of hello... (I wonder if he was one of the SYM bachelors who stayed at my place last year, as he acts like him and stayed in the same compartment) ... I think the problem is just the fact that they are probably the only martins in my immediate area right now. I don't see martins sitting on or circling over the 12 houses/racks within thin a 4 mile radius of my site. Surely more are coming.... I wonder how much of a die off we had last year with the late spring cold and snow in my area. As Louise and John have mentioned, that would have pushed nesting and migration times further out, postponing molting and return times also. It makes sense, but is still so discouraging and frustrating. So for the meantime, I keep after those S&S, and obsess over my BBs and the other native birds at my home.

Purple Martins arrived May 13 last year. Two weeks late this year would put them arriving May 27. So I wait. Beak up and eyes to the skies.

[Chuck4]

Mary, I believe you still have time to acquire Martins. Subbies are still packing it in here. I think many will move north this week.

[KathyF]

Mary, I agree with Chuck - still think you have some time. Come on over & we'll trap this obnoxious SY male I have and you can take him home with you to help start YOUR colony. YOU CAN HAVE HIM!

Before anyone tries to rain fire on me for saying that, I'm just kidding! Just kidding!

[MamaBruff]

STOP! I want him!!!!