Attracting Martins
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phldave
- Posts: 528
- Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:44 pm
- Location: Iowa/Pleasant Hill
- Martin Colony History: Started trying in 2012 and still trying
I helped with nest checks at an active site today, and noticed all the droppings all over the place. Any ideas on how to make convincing looking artificial bird poop that could be placed here and there to make an inactive site look used? Maybe white toothpaste, spackling, drywall compound with a little black paint here and there? Any thoughts on the subject?
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
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
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- 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.
Hey Dave,
Nice to see a fellow Iowan here. Use non-toxic white paint just inside of the cavity walls. You can use your artistic ability in the painting of bird droppings or smears. Best of luck my friend.
Nice to see a fellow Iowan here. Use non-toxic white paint just inside of the cavity walls. You can use your artistic ability in the painting of bird droppings or smears. Best of luck my friend.
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phldave
- Posts: 528
- Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:44 pm
- Location: Iowa/Pleasant Hill
- Martin Colony History: Started trying in 2012 and still trying
That’s an idea, do you suppose they can tell it came from martins? Worth giving it a try. Great idea!
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
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
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
To make nests look used just smear a little mud around the entrance & just inside the entrance. You could just move bird poop, but I wouldn't.
Toy in PA
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
Dave, I'm sure you have pondered it a million times but do you have any ideas as to why you have not been able to attract Martins? Is your area void of Purple Martins and your in a long waiting game or is your site unable to be ideal?
Jeff