Purple Martin Birds

http://www.petforumz.com/purple-martin-ftopict6843.html (purple martin)
Is it too late to put up a new purple house here in Southern Kansas along the border with OK.?

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martin-ftopict7759.html (Purple Martin)
I am looking from free construction plans for a t-14 building for purple martins. Any assistance appreciated.
« I don't know of any free plans, but you can purchase the T-14 Martin house plan booklet for $9.95 at 18008720103. The number is the Troyer factory store, BirdsParadise in PA. Dave S(Texas) »

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martin-ftopict9787.html (Purple Martin)
I saw my first one today. Sitting on a power line next to a road about one mile from my house. My first sighting this year. No doubt this "scout" has radioed back to the rest and given the "all clear" signal. Eric Miller Alexandria, Louisiana
« Wow, Eric, this has got to be pretty early even for that far south. If your scout has given the "all clear" signal, they better not get frisky and venture too far north, or they will freeze their li.. »
« This is a little more than a week earlier than the first sightings in the area last year. I guess I'll have to start cleaning out my boxes for the year. Eric Miller »

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martin-Houses-ftopict9365.html (Purple Martin Houses)
I am wondering if it is necessary to put nesting material in PMH? We always put wood shavings in the Wood Duck houses but, I am new to PMH -- Rick Fargo, ND N 46 53.251 W 096 48.279 ---------------------- Chaos reigns within. Reflect, Repeat and re-boot. Order shall return.
« It is not necessary. If you have some of the plastic gourds then you should do something to ease ther trip to the exit hole. This is particularly true of the horizontal plastic gourds. I do put nest.. »
« Necessary? No, but it is a good idea. The birds migrate from Brazil and providing a base nest material will go a long way to help them in getting settled and begin the reproductive cycle. Your loc.. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martin-nests-ftopict9450.html (Purple Martin nests)
Most of the material I have been reading recommends that the "apartments" in purple martin houses should be cleaned annually. Does this mean that the nests built by the martins should be removed every year, allowing (compelling?) the martins to build new ones each year? Or does it just mean that ..
« you should clean everything out of each apartment. it gets rid of pests, and when they move in next spring, the nest building activity is an important part of bonding. Steve »
« There are two schools of though about this. One is: if there was a successful nest, those occupants will return to that same cavity and 'fix' the nest for the new season. The landlord can deconta.. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-martin-house-inspection-ftopict9686.html (Purple martin house inspection)
Almost everything I have read says it is important to lower , open, and inspect purple martin houses weekly during the nesting season. But not much is said about what to look for, and what to do if you find it, whatever it is. One thing is mentioned is to remove sparrow nests. What else?
« Dead things. Insects. Spiders. Junk. I had some, and they just need housekeeping like anyone's house. Steve »

http://www.petforumz.com/Found-purple-martin-refuge-ftopict5670.html (Found a purple martin ""refuge"")
Hello, Was going to garage sales today when I spotted a beautiful pair of purple martin condos in someones suburban lawn, each one draped with four white gourd houses. I think to myself, hey great, someone cares about pueple martins. So I drive up to the place...ok house sparrows chirping, perhap..
« All the cubicles in my Martin House are closed up, but hanging from the South Corner and the North Corner and the North corner are gourds. For the third or fourth year in a row, Tree Swallows starte.. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Pole-Purple-Martin-House-ftopict8000.html (Pole For Purple Martin House)
Hi, Just purchased a 12 Room Purple Martin House, designed by a company called Outdoor Decor & More. It comes with a metal base plate, which accepts a round pole. The company does not sell poles, so I am looking for a local company that would sell a pole for said birdhouse. I live in St Thomas, On..
« Hi Joe, It is very important that your martin house can be raised and lowered vertically so that you can easily evict undesirable tenants like house sparrows and European Starlings. I hope the house.. »
« Are you kidding? You live in St. Thomas? My MOTHER lives in St. Thomas!!!!! She grew up there. Half my family is there. That's just nutty! She's actually down here visiting (N.C.) as I write this. V.. »
« It may not suit your needs, but when I built my last two purple martin houses, I attached them to 1 1/2 OD galvanized pipe in two sections, one 72" (6 ft.) and one 120" (10 ft.). I drove the shorter.. »
« 72" house. Sorry, that is actually 1 1/2 ID, not OD. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Martin-ftopict10199.html (Martin question)
Young Purple Martins that are close to fledging will fall out of their homes occasionally. But if this youngster was not almost ready to fly, I'd suspect the starlings you let use the Martin house had something to do with it. Starlings will pull the young birds out of the house. Allowing starlin..
« 3271.bay.webtv.net: Yes, I know. However, the one I saw on the ground was not close to fledging. I wonder then why they only chose this one Martin. If so, they apparently did the Martin's a favor .. »

http://www.petforumz.com/weaning-Martin-cages-ftopict61075.html (weaning and Martin cages)
Hi all, My babies are going on 5 weeks old and I have to get them separated......first of all, they are still nursing...Of course they are eating solid food as well and drinking from the bottle. But, whenever they can track down Momma, they'll take a little drink. Do they just wean on their own?..
« Everyone I know who have Martins cages put them together with plastic cable 'zip' ties. That way they are easier to disassemble for transporting etc. I've never had one myself but I do use cable tie.. »
« Yah, I should have done it that way....would have saved my wrist. I think I may try making a cage on my own...based on the martins cage. I don't think it will be that hard....all their pieces came.. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Martin-bird-house-ftopict10085.html (Martin bird house)
Have a second Martin bird house, going to put it up in a few days. circular type wood... 12 compartments. got it from a guy that makes them for ages in the area. befor he slowed down a bit. painted it white and green... going on top of a twenty feet pole. trying to have it mounted on a type of hin..
« I have two martin houses that I built myself. They are both single-level with a removable roof for easy cleaning. I have them mounted about 13-14 feet above the ground. I can reach them with a 9' .. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martins-ftopict6543.html (Purple Martins)
For those with Martin houses, have any arrived yet? I've been watching for the scouts --- I'm in Zone 6 in KY and am hoping for a full house this year. Andrea

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martins-ftopict7766.html (Purple Martins)
Saw my first two Purple Martins of the season - both male, as far as I could tell. Exploring the two houses. Gail just a bit northeast of San Antonio TX USA
« Thanks for the heads-up, Gail. I'll get my 2 houses out ----- in about 2 months. Al S. Ontario, Canada »
« My first resident showed up at dusk on the 9th. So far my colony has 6pr in the house and 2 singles in gourds. There was a big migration into Texas the past weeks, up until this cold North wind ca.. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martins-ftopict8950.html (Purple Martins)
I heard Purple Martins while I was out working on one of the rose beds. We had put up the two houses but are keeping them plugged. The houses were originally the 12-nest type, but I cut through the center wall last year to make deeper nests. I also made the openings smaller. Right now Starling..

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martins-ftopict7894.html (Purple Martins)
I have a purple martin bird house, compartments, twelve the openings seem to wide , other birds want to nest in them... and last year, I think they chased my martins away from the martin bird house. Ii have to make the openings smaller, but what diameter should they be, it sits on top of a pole ..
« And we'll be lookng forward to seeing those photos when you do, Jk. »
« Good question! The main competitors for the nests are starlings and house sparrows. Both are killers of martins/eggs/baby martins. What you want is what's called a SRE(starling resistant entrance.. »
« Thanks Dave, I can do that, a have moon shape 1. 3/16'' of an inch deep, and 3'' in width... I bought the Martin house from a guy that makes and sells them in this area. cost me $50.00 it has six c.. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martins-ftopict8862.html (Purple Martins)
The season is upon us! Sightings in Fla/La/Ms/Al/Ga and Texas! Hope all PM landlords are gettin' ready! Dave S(Texas)
« I'll be building them some new condos this weekend to replace the ones damaged by Hurricane Rita. Eric Miller »
« Of course, that's because FEMA hasn't dropped off any PM trailers yet . . . Eric Miller »
« There are/will be huge numbers of PMs without homes this season because of that/those storms. That might have some impact on the overall numbers of the population. The PM numbers have been at leas.. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martins-ftopict9785.html (Purple Martins)
Is there anything I need to do to get ready for the purple martins? I have my house up now and am waiting patiently. I think they come some time in February? Thats what I was told anyway. Do I need to do anything to prepare their home? Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks, Carol
« Sorry, can't tell you much about what else to do for Martins, but I may be able to shed some light on when they come. Where do you live? Here not too far from Chicago, none ever show up in February.. »
« Thanks Randy, Silly of me to not mention where I lived. I live in East Texas. I have waited for these Martins and I am so afraid that I won't get to see any. I know they are kinda picky about where .. »
« I'm in S. Central TX and the scouts come at the end of February to mid March. Keep check that no other birds make nests and if they do remove those. In our neighborhood there are a lot of nest con.. »
« Sounds like I-35 is correctly located. Who woulda thunk it? Steve »

http://www.petforumz.com/purple-martins-ftopict6849.html (purple martins)
My son bought a purple martin house for me for Mother's Day. It accomodates 20 families. We know nothing about martins. What we did learn is that the house should be placed 40 feet from anything - house, tree, etc. Is it possible to use this house on a rather small city lot and have it 20 feet o..
« Robin, martins really like wide open spaces. It helps if you're near a large body of water and I wouldn't worry about them eating up all the insect life. They tend to forage high in the air. One oth.. »
« Thank you for responding. We're debating as to whether to keep the house or return it. I love the idea of having it, but hate the idea that sparrows and starlings will kill the martins. martin life... »