Purple Martin Forum

Whooey, The young lady drilling a hole in an oak leaf looks like a prospective DIY person. An early interest and experience in hand tools can lead a healthy beginning to many home projects in her future. My Father allowed me to experiment at a young age and it ultimately lead to a lifelong interest ...

Alfie, Anywhere within 100 miles of Cedar Creek, TX, I estimate your 2021 chances of attracting a martin pair at 95% with open flyways, enlarged compartments, SREH entrances, good Starling and Sparrow control and no Hawk or Owl predation. As far as the neighbor with the owl nesting boxes, let her pu...

Like Carlton, I have never had wing entrapments with the Conley II entrances. But then, all of the Conley II entrances have the Lewis Modification so I don't have to worry about European Starling breaches. After all these years of advocating the Lewis Modification, I am still waiting for anyone who ...

Whooey, Welcome to the Purple Martin Forum! I do not consider your questions hijacking the topic. So hopefully a few suggestions are okay. I agree that closing off the attic compartments is wise. During the martin season, nest checks cannot be performed on those compartments plus they can get too ho...

sonnya,
My Father's last colony was in Oenaville, TX. Small world.
Leave your housing up until September 1st.
Every time I have tried to take the martin's housing down early, they come back to visit. As you pointed out, they will circle where the housing was so I know it was not an accident.

Doug, I have more crescent SREH entrances in the houses I help manage. I know some people believe they are too difficult for martins establishing in a new colony but that is just not true. If the location is good and HOSP/EUST control is maintained the martins will move in. I am more familiar with T...

Doug, Sorry I missed your post. Definitely raised above the floor level. I started out 1/2" above the floor but realized that the martins make a nest about 1/2" above the the floor and then eggs and small nestlings can roll out of the nest. So I had to add something to elevate the bottom of the hole...

I do not know of a good replacement for a Trio Grandpa (MSS12) at this time. Currently, I spend more time refurbishing original Trio poles and/or strengthening them then working on the Trio houses. The original Trio/Nature House pole sections were made of very thick steel with thick zinc coating to ...

I like both houses and especially like the durability of aluminum vs. wood. You should not have as many problems with late spring cold snaps in Louisiana so insulated housing is less important than in northern latitude landlords. Not impossible but I feel that nest trays help reduce cold weather los...

Doug, I still feel that a Coates house is worth refurbishing. I do not know if Trio doors will fit on a Coates. You could close off the round holes for the nesting compartments with aluminum flashing and pop rivets. Entrance hole plates with SREH of your choice could cover the round holes. As you pr...

Doug, I use a Double Face Soft Hammer to straighten out bend and kinks in these aluminum houses. I buck the other side with a hardwood block. That way I do not lose the crinkling effect on the roof and floors or leave pock marks on the smooth metal surfaces. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Estwing-12-oz...

Doug, On side by side double compartment, the 3 inch hole is drilled into the center wall between two compartments. The purple martins must make a 90 degree turn to enter the nesting compartment of their double compartment. It is impossible for a predator to look into the nesting compartment and vir...

EarlG,
Am I a bad landlord if I raise and lower a martin house 3-4 times in a day if I have to do emergency repairs on a martin house?
The martins don't leave or abandon the housing. They accept and seem to appreciate the improvements.

Doug,
If it will benefit the martins, then do it.

Doug, I would defer to the knowledge of Matt F. - Trio Jedi Master. It is not a Trio Grandma because it does not have the capacity for a Trio pole system through the middle of the house. Maybe Matt F. will know if there was a Trio "Musselman-like house" with the Trio Grandma configuration. Since I l...

Prime-Line Products 1 1/2" sliding door rollers are available through Amazon and eBay in various configurations. Generally the tandem roller configuration is a better deal, essentially two 1.5 inch steel rollers. Be aware though, the tandem roller configuration requires grinding off the crimped over...

My sister in Seguin, TX has two Troyer Ultimate-Deluxe K-Series 18 Gourd Racks. She loves them. The superior pulley system at the top makes raising and lowering the gourd rack easy. Stainless steel arms for the gourds are included. They have standard 3" aluminum square poles with optional worm gear ...

Brent, I agree with your plan to let the HOSP finish their nest, lay eggs and then set up the trap in their compartment with some of their nesting material and the eggs inside the trap. Make the HOSP dedicate to one compartment with either eggs or young nestlings. Do not destroy the HOSP nest and ex...

Corey, As a long term fan of Trio/Nature House products, I vote for fixing your existing Trio housing. Nature House, Inc. was the last manufacturer of Trio/Nature House products. The parent company, Erva Tool & Manufacturing Company of Chicago, IL, used to have a complete catalog of parts. Since the...

Brent, Excellent plan. Add a piece of grass sticking out of the entrance and that will make the male sparrow want to investigate if a rival male sparrow has tried to take over his compartment. Add a few down feather from any bird inside the trap and both the female and male HOSP will have to go into...

Doug, I use 3/4" PVC 90 degrees elbows. The male end is pipe thread and the female end is straight slip fit. I use a 1" hole saw to cut the hole into the lid or into the gourd. I screw the male pipe thread into the 1" hole. A trace amount of silicone glue or chalk seals the threads from leaking. I u...