So its been over a month with my first martin house up, playing the dawn song in the mornings. i recently extended it and am now playing from 6am to 3pm all day on songbird magnet as loud as it will go. This morning i was watching for a couple minutes, pretty boring every other day but then, BOOM! in swooped a martin flew 2 circles around the house kind of checking it out and then he took off!!!
So my question is......do i leave the dawn song going all day on super loud? Or do I shut it off? I wonder if he left because of how loud it was playing? Maybe turn it down?
If he found it once, i feel like he will remember the location and maybe come back even without the constant chatter.
Thoughts?
wannabeeee just saw my first Martin at my new site what do i do!!!! please help
-
packerbacker
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2016 3:19 pm
- Location: Appleton, WI
Last edited by packerbacker on Thu May 26, 2016 9:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
packerbacker
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2016 3:19 pm
- Location: Appleton, WI
been an hour and i just saw him fly over again but this time did not circle the house. no idea if male or female, SY or ASY, etc but cool none the less. Dawn song is still blasting. I think i will leave it blast all day and shut off at 3pm as normal and maybe he will come in tonight and sleep over!
sound about right?
sound about right?
-
4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Don't know what to say about the dawn song but it sounds like you are on the purple martin map!
That martin is going to sneak in so close to dusk and so fast tonight that you better not blink. If possible, watch carefully from dusk to so dark you are not sure you can see a martin slip in.
Mark.
That martin is going to sneak in so close to dusk and so fast tonight that you better not blink. If possible, watch carefully from dusk to so dark you are not sure you can see a martin slip in.
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
-
Henry Limpet
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:48 pm
- Location: IN./Howe, via the s/w side of Chicago
- Martin Colony History: Trendsetter-8. Set up in 2014 at my summer cottage, a beautiful natural inland lake in N.E. Indiana's Amish Country. T-8 is on cleared land behind my pole barn and adjacent to a farmer's field
2015: Had several flyovers in early June with 1 dedicated SYM visitor who visited each day for well over a month. He brought by a few PM "parades", with 8-12 PM's who would visit all at once, but soon leave. (Added 2 gourds to bottom of the T-8). We discovered a large (Amish) colony apx. 3/4 mile South of our T-8. We think this will eventually be our "feeder" colony.
2016: Put up a Trio G'Pa lakeside. Overall, not as much interest as 2015, likely because of our vacation to Gulf Shores, AL. in early June.
2017: Finally switched over to wheat straw. Success!! One nesting pair. Fledged 4!
2018: Zilch.
2019: Slow start, nothing observed by mid June. Wet, cold Spring a factor??
2020: Barely any sightings.
2021: Several observed high in the sky, eating. No interest so far!
Success! Congrats! Sit back and relax, you're otw!
I wish I could sit out on that nice patio and just watch. My 2 cents? Leave the dawnsong on medium volume. You wrote "blasting", I wouldn't have it playing too loudly.
When 'Enter Sandman' comes on the radio, then blast it!!
I wish I could sit out on that nice patio and just watch. My 2 cents? Leave the dawnsong on medium volume. You wrote "blasting", I wouldn't have it playing too loudly.
When 'Enter Sandman' comes on the radio, then blast it!!
Be careful how you wish . . for wishes can come true . . be sure that every wish you make is one that's right for you!
-
Ryan
- Posts: 308
- Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:19 pm
- Location: Eganville, Ontario
- Martin Colony History: Visitors are rare. On the northern edge of the martins range.
wrong thread.
2010- 1 SY male on and off for a couple weeks
'11- 0 visits
12- 0 visits
13- 0 visits
14- 1 SY male stopped by over 2 weeks.
15- 0 visits
16- 0 visits
17- 0 visits
18- 0 visits
19- Break-through year. Had a SY Male stop in on June 7th and stay all day, every day until end of June
20 - The male didn't return. I did see a SY male do a few flyovers.
21- a couple brief visits
22-3rd rack added, all within a mile. This one at prime location, 0 visits
23- 0 visits
'11- 0 visits
12- 0 visits
13- 0 visits
14- 1 SY male stopped by over 2 weeks.
15- 0 visits
16- 0 visits
17- 0 visits
18- 0 visits
19- Break-through year. Had a SY Male stop in on June 7th and stay all day, every day until end of June
20 - The male didn't return. I did see a SY male do a few flyovers.
21- a couple brief visits
22-3rd rack added, all within a mile. This one at prime location, 0 visits
23- 0 visits
-
packerbacker
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2016 3:19 pm
- Location: Appleton, WI
I had 3 cavities open, one trap in the T14. One open in the T14, and one gourd open. The sparrows keep nesting in the gourd, I take their nest out daily, this morning there were 2 eggs which is a first, they went bye bye. They do not seem to want anything to do with the T14 cavities right now so my trap just sits. I removed the trap so as to not catch a PM and also opened up my other gourd. I hope the sparrows do not scare off the PM.
-
Henry Limpet
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:48 pm
- Location: IN./Howe, via the s/w side of Chicago
- Martin Colony History: Trendsetter-8. Set up in 2014 at my summer cottage, a beautiful natural inland lake in N.E. Indiana's Amish Country. T-8 is on cleared land behind my pole barn and adjacent to a farmer's field
2015: Had several flyovers in early June with 1 dedicated SYM visitor who visited each day for well over a month. He brought by a few PM "parades", with 8-12 PM's who would visit all at once, but soon leave. (Added 2 gourds to bottom of the T-8). We discovered a large (Amish) colony apx. 3/4 mile South of our T-8. We think this will eventually be our "feeder" colony.
2016: Put up a Trio G'Pa lakeside. Overall, not as much interest as 2015, likely because of our vacation to Gulf Shores, AL. in early June.
2017: Finally switched over to wheat straw. Success!! One nesting pair. Fledged 4!
2018: Zilch.
2019: Slow start, nothing observed by mid June. Wet, cold Spring a factor??
2020: Barely any sightings.
2021: Several observed high in the sky, eating. No interest so far!
I wouldn't worry too much about the HOSP., but still target them, just wait them out. Let the HOSP get set up for a day or two. A 2-day-old nest can be huge and they want to return to it. Sometimes, they are easier to catch once they fall for a certain compartment/gourd, even with others that are open and vacant.
After a few days, remove only the amount of nest that is necessary in order for the trap to fit inside. Stuff some remaining nest on top of the trap, after it is in place, if you can. Leave some grass stalks hanging out of that opening. They will be back, rest assured. You WILL trap them. Be patient, but be persistent!
After a few days, remove only the amount of nest that is necessary in order for the trap to fit inside. Stuff some remaining nest on top of the trap, after it is in place, if you can. Leave some grass stalks hanging out of that opening. They will be back, rest assured. You WILL trap them. Be patient, but be persistent!
Be careful how you wish . . for wishes can come true . . be sure that every wish you make is one that's right for you!
-
Henry Limpet
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:48 pm
- Location: IN./Howe, via the s/w side of Chicago
- Martin Colony History: Trendsetter-8. Set up in 2014 at my summer cottage, a beautiful natural inland lake in N.E. Indiana's Amish Country. T-8 is on cleared land behind my pole barn and adjacent to a farmer's field
2015: Had several flyovers in early June with 1 dedicated SYM visitor who visited each day for well over a month. He brought by a few PM "parades", with 8-12 PM's who would visit all at once, but soon leave. (Added 2 gourds to bottom of the T-8). We discovered a large (Amish) colony apx. 3/4 mile South of our T-8. We think this will eventually be our "feeder" colony.
2016: Put up a Trio G'Pa lakeside. Overall, not as much interest as 2015, likely because of our vacation to Gulf Shores, AL. in early June.
2017: Finally switched over to wheat straw. Success!! One nesting pair. Fledged 4!
2018: Zilch.
2019: Slow start, nothing observed by mid June. Wet, cold Spring a factor??
2020: Barely any sightings.
2021: Several observed high in the sky, eating. No interest so far!
Sorry, I just re-read this.
I would plug up the gourd to force the HOSP to your T-14. Let 'em get set up, then target trap. You only have the T-14 style trap, if I'm not mistaken, and no gourd trap. Correct? That is fine....use what you have.
If a mass group of PMs arrive, then open all and let the PM defend your housing.....and defend it they will!
You can use cut up grey foam pipe insulation or a cut up swimming 'noodle' to block/close a desired compartment or gourd. Good luck.. You'll get 'em. Keep us posted......
I would plug up the gourd to force the HOSP to your T-14. Let 'em get set up, then target trap. You only have the T-14 style trap, if I'm not mistaken, and no gourd trap. Correct? That is fine....use what you have.
If a mass group of PMs arrive, then open all and let the PM defend your housing.....and defend it they will!
You can use cut up grey foam pipe insulation or a cut up swimming 'noodle' to block/close a desired compartment or gourd. Good luck.. You'll get 'em. Keep us posted......
Be careful how you wish . . for wishes can come true . . be sure that every wish you make is one that's right for you!
-
Henry Limpet
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:48 pm
- Location: IN./Howe, via the s/w side of Chicago
- Martin Colony History: Trendsetter-8. Set up in 2014 at my summer cottage, a beautiful natural inland lake in N.E. Indiana's Amish Country. T-8 is on cleared land behind my pole barn and adjacent to a farmer's field
2015: Had several flyovers in early June with 1 dedicated SYM visitor who visited each day for well over a month. He brought by a few PM "parades", with 8-12 PM's who would visit all at once, but soon leave. (Added 2 gourds to bottom of the T-8). We discovered a large (Amish) colony apx. 3/4 mile South of our T-8. We think this will eventually be our "feeder" colony.
2016: Put up a Trio G'Pa lakeside. Overall, not as much interest as 2015, likely because of our vacation to Gulf Shores, AL. in early June.
2017: Finally switched over to wheat straw. Success!! One nesting pair. Fledged 4!
2018: Zilch.
2019: Slow start, nothing observed by mid June. Wet, cold Spring a factor??
2020: Barely any sightings.
2021: Several observed high in the sky, eating. No interest so far!
Lastly, don't be so quick to remove the HOSP nest. Think 'Sanctuary City" Let them in and then use their nest and dedication to that nest against them.....
Save an egg or two. Disable the egg (oil or pin pierce) and place it inside the trap. Ok, I'm done ranting. Too much coffee this a.m. Now, go trap some HOSP!!
Save an egg or two. Disable the egg (oil or pin pierce) and place it inside the trap. Ok, I'm done ranting. Too much coffee this a.m. Now, go trap some HOSP!!
Be careful how you wish . . for wishes can come true . . be sure that every wish you make is one that's right for you!
-
packerbacker
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2016 3:19 pm
- Location: Appleton, WI
what happens if the PM wants to use a gourd and I have both blocked in order to keep the sparrows out? I don't want to discourage it.
In the "for what it is worth" column, I had my success with the daytime chatter CD.
Despite having an established colony already, I play the day time chatter every year until the first few show up. I know it's hard, but be patient and vision a colony full of bird.
Despite having an established colony already, I play the day time chatter every year until the first few show up. I know it's hard, but be patient and vision a colony full of bird.
2022 starting new colony in Sun City Center, FL
-
Okie
- Posts: 541
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 3:26 pm
- Location: Claremore, OK
- Martin Colony History: 2016 Informed landlord now Have 2 pair returning from 2015 That is a miracle. Hoping for a very successful year, sparrow population on decline.
First house was plastic with crescent holes Had martins within a few days. Ignorant landlord gradually lost them
Then got Trio House and still lost most of them. Lots of sparrows
Pull the plug!
Battling sparrows is an ongoing battle. Let the martin choose his place & let him do his thing. Follow Henry's advice. He is very knowledgable. Get several types of sparrow traps. You can read about several successful ones on this forum. And learn how to eliminate them. This is a must. http://www.sialis.org has good info.
Depending on the trap you can modify the entrance smaller so only sparrows can enter & prevent trapping a martin. I cut a plastic carton lid to a round hole 1 1/2" & taped it to the entrance on the inside. That is not wide enough for a martin. Learned that from a couple of people on this forum [Thank You guys]
Don't panic. Nature takes care of most things, although sometimes we would have it turn out differently. Just read & learn
Battling sparrows is an ongoing battle. Let the martin choose his place & let him do his thing. Follow Henry's advice. He is very knowledgable. Get several types of sparrow traps. You can read about several successful ones on this forum. And learn how to eliminate them. This is a must. http://www.sialis.org has good info.
Depending on the trap you can modify the entrance smaller so only sparrows can enter & prevent trapping a martin. I cut a plastic carton lid to a round hole 1 1/2" & taped it to the entrance on the inside. That is not wide enough for a martin. Learned that from a couple of people on this forum [Thank You guys]
Don't panic. Nature takes care of most things, although sometimes we would have it turn out differently. Just read & learn
Okie
PMCA member
2016 Started with 2 pair, 1 pair abandoned after HOSP destroyed eggs
1 pair= 6 eggs, 6 fledged
2017 1 pair so far, But they abandoned before nest complete for ?reason? Now Bridless and joined the Wannabes
2018 One pair ASY male SY female 5 eggs, 5 fledged
PMCA member
2016 Started with 2 pair, 1 pair abandoned after HOSP destroyed eggs
1 pair= 6 eggs, 6 fledged
2017 1 pair so far, But they abandoned before nest complete for ?reason? Now Bridless and joined the Wannabes
2018 One pair ASY male SY female 5 eggs, 5 fledged
-
Henry Limpet
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:48 pm
- Location: IN./Howe, via the s/w side of Chicago
- Martin Colony History: Trendsetter-8. Set up in 2014 at my summer cottage, a beautiful natural inland lake in N.E. Indiana's Amish Country. T-8 is on cleared land behind my pole barn and adjacent to a farmer's field
2015: Had several flyovers in early June with 1 dedicated SYM visitor who visited each day for well over a month. He brought by a few PM "parades", with 8-12 PM's who would visit all at once, but soon leave. (Added 2 gourds to bottom of the T-8). We discovered a large (Amish) colony apx. 3/4 mile South of our T-8. We think this will eventually be our "feeder" colony.
2016: Put up a Trio G'Pa lakeside. Overall, not as much interest as 2015, likely because of our vacation to Gulf Shores, AL. in early June.
2017: Finally switched over to wheat straw. Success!! One nesting pair. Fledged 4!
2018: Zilch.
2019: Slow start, nothing observed by mid June. Wet, cold Spring a factor??
2020: Barely any sightings.
2021: Several observed high in the sky, eating. No interest so far!
Agree with Okie. If there is consistent PM interest, open them all up. The PM, if he wants a gourd, can use the other gourd. If your PM was a commuter and moved on, you can plug the gourds up when not at home and unplug when you are home, in the hopes of trapping the HOSP in the T14.
Have you tried catching the HOSP after dark with a plastic bag? You might catch him if he doesn't flush from the gourd when you lower it.
That might be worth a try just before you hit the hay.
Have you tried catching the HOSP after dark with a plastic bag? You might catch him if he doesn't flush from the gourd when you lower it.
That might be worth a try just before you hit the hay.
Be careful how you wish . . for wishes can come true . . be sure that every wish you make is one that's right for you!
If you have Troyer tunnels/gourds - it's easy. With eggs, even easier!
Look in the PMCA shop for the "troyer tunnel trap". For sparrows, we use thin metal to cut a hole for the sparrow (the
martins cannot get in). We use double stick tape to place it over the existing door (round hole). We paint both this
piece and the trap white to match the gourds. Insert the trap and pull some of the nest material around the insert.
The female usually goes in very soon. Once she is removed, the male usually investigates. Sometimes he is cagey
enough to find another female to check it out first. This also works well for starlings without the smaller hole but
you have to watch closely to make sure no martins get in the trap.
This is usually very quick but if they don't go in right away and you believe the martin will be back soon, you can
leave it for a short time then remove it until later or the next day. My martins have watched me and seem to
know what I'm doing so they just sit back an watch until they see us remove the sparrow or starling then they
move right in.
Look in the PMCA shop for the "troyer tunnel trap". For sparrows, we use thin metal to cut a hole for the sparrow (the
martins cannot get in). We use double stick tape to place it over the existing door (round hole). We paint both this
piece and the trap white to match the gourds. Insert the trap and pull some of the nest material around the insert.
The female usually goes in very soon. Once she is removed, the male usually investigates. Sometimes he is cagey
enough to find another female to check it out first. This also works well for starlings without the smaller hole but
you have to watch closely to make sure no martins get in the trap.
This is usually very quick but if they don't go in right away and you believe the martin will be back soon, you can
leave it for a short time then remove it until later or the next day. My martins have watched me and seem to
know what I'm doing so they just sit back an watch until they see us remove the sparrow or starling then they
move right in.
-
packerbacker
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2016 3:19 pm
- Location: Appleton, WI
i have Excluder gourds. I see there is an Excluder trap. Once the sparrow is trapped, how do i get the bugger out without him flying away?
I'm going to make a cover plate for the t14 trap, seems like a safe thing to do. Ivs got 14 cavities in the house and only 2 gourds. wish the sparrows would pick the house at least.
I'm going to make a cover plate for the t14 trap, seems like a safe thing to do. Ivs got 14 cavities in the house and only 2 gourds. wish the sparrows would pick the house at least.
-
packerbacker
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2016 3:19 pm
- Location: Appleton, WI
and now im watching 2 HOSP do it on the porch of one of my gourds....they're taunting me!
Look at the PMCA shop page for traps for houses. If you see the Spare-O-Door for Trio houses you will see a plastic cup with
plastic bag attached with rubber bands. I'm sure you could make something similar. Hold it flat against the door panel.
The sparrow will be so glad to get out, it will come out right away. I'm not familiar with the excluder trap; not sure if
this will work. Otherwise, try loosening the lid and holding a bag over the port hole while you work the lid off. If it doesn't
come out, try moving the gourd or hitting the bottom lightly with something. You can also try putting a bag on your hand
and reaching in to grab it but they can sometimes get past you and fly out. Sparrows like to try to prove they are smarter
than we are.
plastic bag attached with rubber bands. I'm sure you could make something similar. Hold it flat against the door panel.
The sparrow will be so glad to get out, it will come out right away. I'm not familiar with the excluder trap; not sure if
this will work. Otherwise, try loosening the lid and holding a bag over the port hole while you work the lid off. If it doesn't
come out, try moving the gourd or hitting the bottom lightly with something. You can also try putting a bag on your hand
and reaching in to grab it but they can sometimes get past you and fly out. Sparrows like to try to prove they are smarter
than we are.
-
packerbacker
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2016 3:19 pm
- Location: Appleton, WI
ok. for now, i blocked both gourds and and opened a 3rd cavity on the side of the t14. I screwed a plastic container lid with 1-1/2" hole on that opening with a trap, it is directly above the gourd. hoping they go up in the t14 and i can trap them. then i have 2 other T14 cavities open on the same side for the PM. Should I open up any more or will the PM pick an open cavity if he comes back?
I think you will be more apt to attract martins with them open. They will have a selection and females like that.
There will also be more cavities for him to help attract more martins. Let the sparrow settle in before you try
to capture him. Maybe he has already done that. They will let their guard down soon. In the meantime, invite
more martins in. I believe that some martins prefer houses, others prefer gourds. I think it depends on where
they were nested and what they are used to.
If the sparrow has laid eggs in the gourd, I would be surprised if it will switch to your house cavity. You need to
put the trap on the cavity the sparrow has chosen.
There will also be more cavities for him to help attract more martins. Let the sparrow settle in before you try
to capture him. Maybe he has already done that. They will let their guard down soon. In the meantime, invite
more martins in. I believe that some martins prefer houses, others prefer gourds. I think it depends on where
they were nested and what they are used to.
If the sparrow has laid eggs in the gourd, I would be surprised if it will switch to your house cavity. You need to
put the trap on the cavity the sparrow has chosen.
-
Henry Limpet
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:48 pm
- Location: IN./Howe, via the s/w side of Chicago
- Martin Colony History: Trendsetter-8. Set up in 2014 at my summer cottage, a beautiful natural inland lake in N.E. Indiana's Amish Country. T-8 is on cleared land behind my pole barn and adjacent to a farmer's field
2015: Had several flyovers in early June with 1 dedicated SYM visitor who visited each day for well over a month. He brought by a few PM "parades", with 8-12 PM's who would visit all at once, but soon leave. (Added 2 gourds to bottom of the T-8). We discovered a large (Amish) colony apx. 3/4 mile South of our T-8. We think this will eventually be our "feeder" colony.
2016: Put up a Trio G'Pa lakeside. Overall, not as much interest as 2015, likely because of our vacation to Gulf Shores, AL. in early June.
2017: Finally switched over to wheat straw. Success!! One nesting pair. Fledged 4!
2018: Zilch.
2019: Slow start, nothing observed by mid June. Wet, cold Spring a factor??
2020: Barely any sightings.
2021: Several observed high in the sky, eating. No interest so far!
That's just wrong, man! Lol. Catch him!!!!!packerbacker wrote:and now im watching 2 HOSP do it on the porch of one of my gourds....they're taunting me!
"When this war is over, there will be a reckoning"
-Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman)
(Cold Mountain-2003)
Be careful how you wish . . for wishes can come true . . be sure that every wish you make is one that's right for you!