4 1/2 months to go!

[taxidermy lady]

Boy that sounds good. I am so ready. Ok I'm done!!! Just had to get that out!!!

[avesrun]

Since you're so ready get over my way and help me out! Still have gourds to vent and plenty else. I did get some owl guards built for the 4 sections of my T14 but still have some painting to do.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h136/ ... rmbfwk.jpg

Sharon I'm still hoping and praying you're flooded with martins in 2016!
TimG

[taxidermy lady]

Thanks Tim, I sure hope so! My site will be more appealing for them being further away from the trees and a few natural gourds to grab their attention. I'm ready!!! I would love to come help you. Just a little busy right now. That's why I did what I did when I did it.
You still have time to get your chores done.

[Rodger Drye]

Hey Sharon,

Guess everone who doesn't already have Martins are hoping and wishing for a lot of birds. I have several neighbors who have gourds up, but they're in wrong locations. To close to trees and not the right type of gourd for martins. I stopped in and tried to talk to this old timer about it and I think I offended him. Some of these people have been putting up gourds & housing for many years, but they can't figure out why they don't have any birds. I'm not proud of it but I have to include myself with these folks. Plain and simple "I just didn't know what I was doing".
The only thing that I did get right was my location. Still taking down some huge trees, stopped using those small little gourds, changing pole systems to facilitate nest checks, and using predator guards were just a few of the changes I made. And all these things and more added up to success. If my wife hadn't got me this I'Pad I'd still be doing the same old thing - and getting the same results.
You have to be open minded and willing to change, and after 25 years I was. Just from something like playing the "Dawn Song" helped tremendously. I've learned one thing about Martins - the little things matter.

If your not serious about attracting the birds (Martins) all your doing is erecting housing for sparrows, starlings and maybe if your lucky a Bluebird.
My wife is soft hearted and doesn't like me trapping sparrows and starlings. But she doesn't understand the passion I feel for my birds, and I am committed to being 100% dedicated to Purple Martins.
To me they are a defenseless, non-agressive birds who like people and provide a great service by consuming all the insects that are around. And as a plus they live for the most part in harmony with each other, and have the most beautiful little song that is so unique once you've heard it you'll never forget it.

How many birds do you know that you can walk out to a colony of a hundred birds and just stand there and talk to them. And all they do is just look back at you and sing that little song.
I hope you have many Martins for 2016. Do your homework and you will.!

Rodger

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Roger, you said that quite well, and I feel about the same. Thanks. About the trees keeping martins away: I like trees a lot, but I would much rather have martins and no trees, than to have trees and no martins. There are plenty trees nearby when I want to look at trees.

Sharon, I will start hanging gourds in about 1 month, I can hardly wait for them to return!

[taxidermy lady]

Rodger thank you for that special read. I have changed so many things the last 3 years and I will keep changing until it happens. My back yard is tree free. Trees are 150 ft. away. I have cut a bunch of trees down. Like Anthony's family story, my family thinks I'm a little crazy about these birds. But who cares. I have a few fruit trees in front now and there's still another large tree that has to come down. It will shade the fruit tree in the afternoon. I will do and keep doing until I get them! Thanks good luck next spring!
Hi Emil,
Yes I would rather have martins than trees!. Wow one month! I may move to Texas when I retire! But if I get them here I wouldn't have the heart to leave them! I will be hanging mine in March. March 10th was the date last yr. then I shoot trash birds. I don't have many sparrows but when I tried the round hole last yr. starlings checked them out but that's as far as they got was just checking them out. Take care and hope your martins all get back safe and sound!

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Today I had my first starling caught in a nest box trap, so the starlings are now looking for a place to nest, the martins follow about 6 or 8 weeks later

[Rodger Drye]

Hey Emil,

That's awesome, can't believe you'll be hanging your gourds in about a month. Unfortunately I'm like Sharon and won't be hanging mine till March. Still can't wait. Yes the trees had to come down, I too wanted to have Martins more than I wanted the trees. I know family and friends think I'm a little crazy about these birds, and that's o.k. Actually they're right. You have to be a little nuts to do all the things a good Martin landlord needs to do to be successful. But when the martins come back to your home there's a feeling that makes it all worthwhile.

Hope you have super good luck with your martins in 2016

Rodger



Hey Sharon,

Keep up the good work for our birds. Sounds like you're a great and special landlord, and that you genuinely care for purple martins. You've already attracted some birds, so you know they're out there watching your place. Just cross your T's and dot your I's. Don't forget to play that Dawn Song at 4:00 a.m., predator guards including bird netting for snakes. Trap Sparrows and Starlings all year around, that will decrease competition for precious nest space when your martins do arrive. I also use the solar predator guards to keep owls, coons, night hunters away. Some folks don't think they work, I really don't know. However, I'd rather have a few in operation than not take a chance. Remember cross T's -dot I's. I'll do everything and anything to make sure I attract and keep my birds. The only other predator I haven't mentioned is a Hawk. I've never had hawk problems, but I see them all over the place. I know they are protected - all I'm gonna say is they better stay away from my defenseless martins. I consider myself the protector of these birds, soooo!!

Hope you have super Good Luck with your Martins in 2016

Rodger

[taxidermy lady]

I will do my best. I have the guards made and ready to put up. If i don't get them this year I have a place where I am putting a rack. My neighbor is up on a hill and isn't to far away. It may help me get some after we get him started. I will get them one a
Way are another. His house looks down into the river bottoms and no trees out by the garden! I have a plan if it doesn't work this year.

[Rodger Drye]

Hey Sharon,

That's great trying new and different things. It's showing that you're not just stale-mate, doing the same old thing. I believe the birds recognize this too. It's obvious you already have had birds visit your gourds and housing. So I think its just a matter of fine tuning some things. Go back to the basics with everything, cross your T's and dot your i's. Don't forget anything, it just might be the very thing that is preventing your birds from staying.

Look I did it for 24 years. Could get the birds attracted to my place but for some reason they wouldn't stay. I'd get 7 or 8 and one year I got 12. I didn't do nest checks because I had those old fashioned lean down poles, with my back injury that was out of the question. That however is what my Dad had and he had hundreds of Martins.

I'm seeing that a lot of Landlords want that type of set up. Just put up the gourds or housing and let nature take it's course.
I realize that a lot of people have demanding jobs or families that are very time consuming. And I can tell you from first hand experience that last year when I had 40 or so birds, it really kept me hopping. Thank goodness I'm retired.!

I know last year I caught 2 large Black Snakes in my bird netting at the base of my poles, needless to say they met the Grim Reaper. But who's to say that in years previous that Black Snakes were raiding my gourds and eating all the eggs and young.I had no predator guards what so ever. It was like I had a buffet for free meals to all predators of Purple Martins.
Shoot - if I were a Martin I wouldn't want to stay in a place like that either. And to think thay were trying to raise their babies in such a hostile environment. I'm surprised that any birds came back at all. Could have been new birds each year.?
Like I said don't forget anything. Read everything you can on the internet, I learn something all the time.

Keep Faith and Good Luck with your Colony
Remember 4 1/2 months left to go.

Rodger

[Dave Reynolds]

Sharon ---- 4 and 1/2 month seems along time from now but, Time flies. Friend of mind in Florida said he has 70 more days. It's crazy to think that the Martins in the Amazon are starting to think about turning North any day. I can't wait either.... Hang in there, were all rooting for ya in 2016...

Dave

[taxidermy lady]

Thanks Dave, right back at ya! Good Luck!

[D Little]

Sounds like a long time, I can't wait!!

I had a great season again last year, my colony gained 14 pairs and my hawk problems seemed less than the year prior.

Donnie

[James Strickland FL]

Well I am down to 2 months when my will return and I need to get ready putting things together. All I need is a bout a week and things will be ready. It has been so hot for this time of year here in South Florida. We needs some cool weather.