Really bad news!!!

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Kyler,
Do you mean how do I permanently rivet the original door stops to the Trio doors?
1/8" short aluminum pop rivets.
I think that most people just use 2 pop rivets on left and right side.
Mark.

[Kyler]

Mark,
That is exactly what I meant!! Can you get the pop rivets and the gun at a local hardware store? Or is it a special store?

Also can you take a picture of the insulated door?

Kyler,

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Kyler,
Pop rivets and the "gun" are available just about everywhere. Home improvement centers, hardware store, Sears, Harbor Freight, Northern Equipment, ...
Cheap ones are cheap and good ones are good. Plenty of YouTube videos on how to use pop rivets. It is an indispensable tool for me.

I cannot take a picture of an insulated door because I have not done one yet. Still in the design stage or another way of saying I have not gotten to it yet.

I know that I am belaboring the point but shading the house exterior and especially the roof top with Coroplast and/or installing insulation in the attic are top priority for this season. What you do now to help current nestlings and fledglings will affect site fidelity for next year.
Did you notice in your pictures that all of the nestlings are working their way toward the entrance to gain cool air from the entrance hole? None of the nestlings were huddled in the back nesting compartment.
In my insulated house, even the larger nestlings stay in the nesting compartment until they are old enough to beg for food at the entrance hole.
Mark.

[Kyler]

Mark,
Okay great because we have a Sears in Colby! I just watched a couple YouTube videos on them and they look quite easy! Also that's fine about the picture! I think I'm going to do the doors as well! This next week coming up is supposed to be low 80s with a slight breezes so I think the nestlings will be fine I till I get back! Your also saying what I do to help the nestlings this year will help me next year and increase the colony??

Yes I do see how they are trying to get cool air! So now I understand how much it helps them out! By what are nestlings do! Thanks!

Kyler,

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Kyler,
I feel that parents who have a success fledge of their young imprints upon the parents to return to that site. The fledglings may not return to your site but the parents will remember your site and want to come back each year. We call that loyalty - site fidelity.
Mark.

[Kyler]

Mark,
Even if that one nest lost 3 babies and if the other 2 still make it and fledge! Is there still a pretty good chance that they will return?

Kyler,

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Kyler,
I would think that successful fledged would mean if any nestlings live to leave the nest. But just because the parents fledged nestlings from a nest does not mean they themselves will survive the trip back and forth from Brazil. Too many factors.
But a successful fledge should increase the odds that the parents will want to come back to last year's colony. Again site fidelity. So many new landlords are dependent upon growth of the species and unfortunately other landlords who do not take care of their colonies or have to leave their colony.
Remember success for the purple martin species is dependent upon human housing and help (especially east of the Rockies). That depends upon each of us doing our best from generation to generation. I do this task for myself, my family, other present and future landlords but especially for the martins.
I am not sure how many generations of my family took care of migratory birds in Europe before we immigrated to the US. The specific tradition of caring for purple martins predates my family's arrival in 1901. We just adopted and continued the martin tradition from others already present in the US and have continued it through each generation. My children are learning the many joys and occasional heartbreaks of purple martin landlording. That is why I say, "We all stand upon the shoulders of giants".
Wishing you luck and success from a 4th Generation Purple Martin Landlord,
Mark.

[Kyler]

Mark,
Thanks so much for all the advice I wouldn't have thought about any of the stuff that you told me about and also showed me in your pictures! I'm doing everything you said to do and I will post pictures this fall after everything is done! I can't wait to start all the stuff! I already have a paper that I have wrote on of all the stuff I'm doing! Again thank you so much! I hope you have a great season and all the other seasons thanks!!

Kyler,