The past couple of days have been wonderful. I decided to put up the house and gourds yesterday before it got too mushy under foot. This morning soon after sunrise the S&S descended on my site like bees to honey. Before noon I had trapped a pair of HOSP (m/f) and another male is poking his beak around the place this afternoon. As I feared, it looks like I have my work cut out for me. The one good thing no starlings breached the SREH's. It just amazes me how resiliant HOSP are.
I eliminated a slug of them last year and I do mean a slug, and this spring you can't even tell. Of course the neighbor behind me feeds them all winter. You would think they would get a clue watching all the trapping I am doing. They have got to have figured out what's going on. I guess they get a kick out of watching me get rid of them.
2012 late start
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
Martin Colony History: In 2026, 88 pair with 333 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to daveduit@yahoo.com. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
He must have several houses, because I too eliminate that neighbors sparrows. I feel for you Dave; like clock work I trap and shoot before the martins arrive. As soon as the hoses and gourds go up, they immediately surround the rack. You don't even need to have a entrance opened and they mob the place. I guess it will be a yearly routine until someone invents an sparrow proof entrance.
Mite control, heat venting, predator protection and additional feeding during bad weather add up to success. IPMO LOGO1.jpg
Dave, same exact story here. Weather warmed up, & bang - here they come. Male & female here today too. I don't even get my blood pressure up anymore though. I know what I have to do and how to do it, so I just go out, set the van ert trap (today they were in the BB houses) and wait. I do have to endure the cheep, cheep, cheeping until I catch him, but I do prefer trapping and not having to invest a lot of time in trying to shoot them.
Good luck this year!
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
I just checked the scout report this evening and there are reports in MO and KS. With the forcast we have right now I wouldn't be surprised to see IA reports before the end of the week. Think purple everybody.
2012 late start
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
I too have a person that feeds birds 365 and that person is me. There are also 13 different homes in the immediate area that are feeders too. I do trap 365 also having traps for all the different housing that I have available in including a Starling Motel, they check in but don't check out. When housing does come under attack the intruders are quickly eliminated and make a trip to the landfill. If a starling is in the feeding area a look out the window sends him on his way before I can get the air pistola out.
My first martin arrived last year on March 14, hope they hold off a little so the temps can stay above 50.
You would think they would get a clue watching all the trapping I am doing. They have got to have figured out what's going on. I guess they get a kick out of watching me get rid of them.