Cold calls.

[Archer]

As my desire to help martins has grown. I have started cold calling on property's that have existing housing but I see no martins. Cold called on a house recently that I have stopped in at a few times in the past, never to find them home. This time they were home. As we started talking about martins, they were all ears. They are excited to have me help them attract some martins next summer. I am excited to help them. We are going start with some SREH openings as they have had investigating martins before, only to have them chased off by starlings. Hopefully they will also play the dawnsong and the daytime chatter. I borrow out my cd's that I purchase from the Pmca store in hopes of starting new colonies. Anybody else cold calling? How is it working for you? Would you consider trying it? I get almost as much joy in starting a new colony as watching my own.

[Bird Brain]

I have also tried to encourage owners of non occupied martin houses to step up their game. But when I tell them they must kill and destroy all those house sparrows, I immediately run into a brick wall. It seems most owners of failed martin houses absolutely refuse to actively eradicate house sparrows even after I explain that they are an invasive species. They are too lazy to google "house sparrow" and learn why it's OK to exterminate this species. I've told a couple of failed martin house landlords that I trap my house sparrows and shoot them with a pellet gun. They looked at me like I was Adolf Hitler. I finally gave up. Now, I no longer offer advice unless the come to me and actively seek it.

[Dave Duit]

A good approach I found works is giving the cold call the PMCA website address and encourage them to explore all it has to offer.

[C.C.Martins]

Good topic! I did it, mixed reviews. A park nearby has two homes that has Martins, one a single castle Trio and the other home has a heath, a mini castle and two Grandpas. I was watching them all last year, zero landlord activity but tons of martins. Closer inspection revealed lots of sparrow activity...lots. I stopped at the house with the large group of houses, and spoke to them, they were very open to help and had inherited their birds from an uncle. They didn't want to spend much and are supposed to call by the end of the month so I can get something done. they were not keen on killing sparrows either, I offered to enlarge the compartments and ventilate zero charge. but killing sparrows seemed like a show stopper for them as well. I recommended they just spend time out in the yard with their birds and that will prevent some sparrow activity.

A lady at work has martins, but again they are passive. It seems that if given the chance people want to know how to care for the martins, but I sense a "well if they come back, they come back" from those who passively watch them. Ill go by the other house but it recently sold (darn it!) and ask em.

Its worth it, plants the seed of Martin awareness, otherwise they'd get tired of cutting around the pole and take them down.

Dave, I did that very thing, give them an opportunity to learn a bit.

[Archer]

Thank you for your comments so far. I agree that mixed reviews has been my experience as well. I make a point of asking if I can help them, you can't help someone that doesn't want your help. I also think that "planting seeds" as Tom says, is worth the effort. If at some later time a change of heart occurs, they'll know who to call. I recently had someone call me that I met back in April, when I was hosting a purple martin display at a local event. They were asking for sparrow traps, how to get them and so on. Took a little time but the seed I sowed then has germinated. The website and facebook page as well as the Educational guide put out by the Pmca are great tools in the hands of the Cold Caller. I'd like to hear more of your comments.

[Bird Brain]

I've recommended a couple of times chuckspurplemartinpage.com . Chuck doesn't hold back and clearly states that you MUST kill the house sparrows to be successful. He even explains why it's OK to kill house sparrows. Chuck Abare says if you don't have what it takes to kill house sparrows, then you should consider another hobby. It took me a few days to read his site entirely but it was the most enlightening martin literature I ever read.
I recommended to a couple of people to read it and they said OK. Then I talked to them weeks later and I would say "did you read Chuck's website?" "Oh no I haven't yet, didn't have time, I was too busy, yada yada yada yada." People don't like to read anymore, especially reading to learn and self improve. All they want to do is look at facebook.
My gourd rack has only been up for 1 year. It is located in the side yard and can easily be seen from the street. I have had cars stop by my front yard and people get out of the car to ask me what it was. I tell them it's a martin pole. They thought it was a weather station. They ask me "what's a martin?" I say it's a semi-domesticated bird that has a long history with humans. If I ever get martins I'm sure I will get more questions, since my gourd rack is so visible from the street.That will be an opportunity to spread the word. Even now when I dispatch a house sparrow, I look around to make sure no neighbors are watching me. I don't want to alarm them over something they don't understand. My neighbors feed the house sparrows with their cheap millet Wal-Mart bird seed. And I secretly kill them to promote blue birds, martins, and other natives.

[C.C.Martins]

Bird Brain,
You know I too feel "sneaky" when shooting sparrows...(despite the fact I live in a neighborhood), I trapped 4 at a time, shot them all and casually mentioned it to a co worker, she almost cried. My neighbors feed them, I trap them and quietly kill them too.
My martin houses sit on the corners of the property, neighbors really enjoyed watching the birds last year and are open to them (thank God) and my stories of how trusting they are. I tried to suggest they get a house too, but no deal.

I wish you all the luck next year!

[skw158]

Interesting post and good for you, taking an active approach. I notice too here in IL many empty martin houses appear to be way too close to trees. My sister has a house that she would have to move and it was cemented in.

[cnevett27]

I sent out a flyer to our neighbors about how to help our native species. We have quite a few neighbors who live on 2 and 5 acres lots with abandoned aluminum martin houses that I see purple martins circling, maybe some have nested. But I see those HS also going in and out and it makes me sick to think whats going to happen to the martins who live in those slum houses. I put a picture of the male and female HS on the flyer and wrote about their habits to steal native nesting for martins and blue birds and that they will kill/destroy ect. I provided my email(and PM site) and offered info and help to anyone who wants to try and be a good landlord. I also asked for those who did not do nest checks on their housing to consider taking it down. We have one neighbor who has 5 or more bluebird houses about 2-3 feet from each other and the gourds for PM's about 40 feet in the center of the yard. I guess they think they are going to attract BB. Bottom line, I heard nothing. Its a real shame. I can try again this year. I feel like my neighbors are breeding them faster then I can remove them. Many times I get a whole flock of youngsters. Its really sad. I guess we need to work harder on teaching to protect our native species. I am out in Kauai now and it is terrible to see the HS out here too. There needs to be some kind of control established or our native birds are going to suffer.

[Archer]

Hello cnevett27. Thanks for your efforts of informing your neighbours and offering them help. It is frustrating when people with good intentions make efforts to help and no one takes them up on it. I would suggest a follow up round of personal visits. In these Hi Tec times I have found people interact less with people living around them(myself included). Used to be I knew my neighbours, or at least who they were. This is no longer true. Offering them to come and see your colony might be another approach. Once people fall in love with martins, it opens doors to change. Hearing your passion in person could make the difference. Providing some traps for people to borrow is another idea. As traps are expensive, I have built a few just for that purpose. Keep us informed as to how you make out. Have a great season in 18!