Welcome to the archive section of The Purple Martin Forum. This is a collection of instructional and informational originally articles shared on the Purple Martin Forum.
Please Note: The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the PMCA. Over time ideas develop beyond what is presented here or in some cases may even be discredited in light of newer information.
Topic Overviews:
Purple Martin Species ProfilePurple Martin Predators
The Ten Commandments of Good Colony Management
Starling Resistant Entrance Holes (SREH's):
How to Make Starling-Resistant Entrance HolesThe Starling Excluder Entrance Hole
How to add Excluder Entrance Hole Adapter Plates to Gourds
New Colony Started With All SREH's
How to Convert Trio Doors to SREH
A Few Examples of Starling Devastation
The Impact of Starlings on Unmanaged Colony sites
Using SREH's: Martins Prefer Starling-free Housing
Converting Round-Holed Gourds to SREH's, Abare-style;
Method For Converting Horizontal Gourds to SREH
Photo of a European Starling
Starling Impact on Purple Martin Populations
Project Demolition: Purple Martin Birdhouse Advisory
European Starlings & House Sparrows are Super-Competitors
Door Plugs for Crescent Entrance Holes
Preparing a T-14 for Easy Change of Entrance Hole Type
Excluder SREH Comments
Crescent SuperGourd Comments
Predators and Predator Control:
Tail of An Unprotected Martin PolePhoto of A Great Horned Owl's Long Reach
Snakes & Raccoon Guards a Must for Active Housing
How to Make Screech Owl-Proof Entrance Holes
Owl Guard Suggestions for Gourd Racks
Owl/Hawk Guards for Gourds
Owl/Hawk Guards for Houses
How Owls Raid Gourds #1
How Owls Raid Gourds #2
Protect Your Martins From Screech Owls with SREH's
Martin Predators: Owls, Raccoons, and Snakes are Everywhere!
Owl Predation on Purple Martin Colonies
Diurnal Raptor Enemies of Purple Martins
How to make an Owl/Crow Guard
Rat Snake Predation on Purple Martins
Krueger Snake Trap Plans
Examples of Snake Predation
Huge Rat Snake Thwarted by Bird Netting
Tip for Hanging Gourds to Add Owl Guards
Broken Legs May Signal Owl Predation
Using Electrical Current to Discourage Snakes
Management:
Emergency Foul Weather Feeding of Purple Martins #1Emergency Foul Weather Feeding of Purple Martins #2
Cricket Feeding 2001
Martins Eat from the Bed & Breakfast
Supplemental Feeding of Purple Martins
A Cold-Weather Survival Strategy
Why Landlords Should Conduct Nest Checks
Nest Replacements for Purple Martins
Conducting Nest Checks with Older Nestlings
Monitor the Ground Under Your Housing
Don't Throw Eggs Out!
Every Fledgling Could Be Someone's Only Female Next Year
PMCA No Longer Recommends DE
The Sevin Debate: Introduction Pro-Sevin vs. Anti-Sevin
Standards for Purple Martin Housing
Providing Convenience Nesting Material on a Raised Platform
Using Cedar Shavings in Purple Martin Nest Cavities
The Top 12 Reasons People Lose Their Purple Martins
The Top 10 Reasons People Fail to Attract Martins
Helping Martins During Very Hot Weather
Preparation of Egg Shells for Martins
Attraction Techniques
Dawnsong: A Powerful Tool for Attracting Purple MartinsHow to play the Dawnsong or Daytime Chatter on your PC
How to Make Purple Martin Decoys
Haven't Attracted Martins? Checklist
The ASY Male and the Purple Martin Decoy
A Purple Martin Attraction Strategy
When Should Housing be Opened at New Sites?
Factors That May Prevent Colonization of New Sites
Daytime Chatter CD Now Available
Where to Buy Endless Loop Tapes
Social Attraction: A Purple Martin Attraction Strategy
Identification:
Plumage Photo SeriesPhoto of Tree Swallow (commonly mistaken for martins)
Photo of a European Starling
Competitors:
A Strategy for Dealing with Tree SwallowsPhoto of a European Starling
How to Make a Starling Resistant Entrance Hole.
Starling Impact on PM Populations
European Starlings & House Sparrows are Super-Competitors
Project Demolition: Purple Martin Birdhouse Advisory
House Sparrow Revenge Syndrome
Humane Method of Euthanizing Starlings & House Sparrows
Pellet Guns for Landlords
Traps:
A Repeating Bait Trap (RBT) Full of StarlingsA Last-Ditch Starling Trapping Method
The NB-Compact Trap
Karl Pessons Counterweight for S&S Controller
Housing Improvements:
Reinforcing the TG-12 "Trio Grandpa" Martin HouseAdding Access doors to Natural Gourds
Minimizing Male House Domination through House Design
How to Prevent Warping of a T-14 Wooden Post
Exploding Natural Gourds!
Eliminating the Noise from a TG-12
Securing Doorstops on Modified Trio Housing
How to Enlarge Compartments on Trio Houses
Preparing a T-14 for Easy Change of Entrance Hole Type
Hot Plastic Houses - Understanding Heat Dynamics
Misting Martin Housing During Very Hot Weather
Western Purple Martins (Progne subis arboricola):
Establishing a Colony Site in the Western USPurple Martins in a Residential Area of WA state
Purple Martins in British Columbia
Purple Martins on Puget Sound, Washington state
Great Blue Heron Snatches Purple Martin Off of Nestbox
Oregon Purple Martins
Colorado Purple Martins
Sacramento Purple Martins
Purple Martin in eastern Washington
Conservation of Purple Martins in California
References to Western Purple Martins in Update
Miscellaneous:
Roosting Behavior of Recently Fledged Purple MartinsUS Army Corps Waterfront Sites are Great Locations
Q&A with James R. Hill III
Super Purple Martin Colonies
The History of Yellow #572
How to Safely Capture & Release a Banded Martin
Please be on the Lookout for Color BandedMartins
Martin Housing Temperature Tests
Warning! Over-cranking Winches can be Dangerous!
Replacing the Eyebolt on the PMCA's GR-1 Gourd Rack
Recognition of Nestlings by Adult Purple Martins
Behavior of Unmated Subadult Male Purple Martins
Number of Feeding Trips by Adult Purple Martins
The Darkness, Seclusion, and Rustic Factor
Martin Hogs - More from the Man who Coined the Term
Owls Exist Even if You Don't See Them!
Vertically Deep Purple Martin Cavities
Purple Martin Nostalgia
Ohio Martin Breeds in Pennsylvania
Indiana Fledgling Seen in Pennsylvania
Starlings Bigger in North? Bergmann's Rule
Purple Martins Won't Control Mosquitoes
Memorable Postings:
Starling DevastationMore on Martin Hogs
Photo Gallery:
Glenn DavisDoren Claire
Stan Kostka
Miscellaneous & Frequent Concerns:
"The Entrances Holes on my Factory Crescent Supergourds are 1/16 of an Inch too Small!""Why Haven't My Martins Come Back (Yet)? I'm Worried!"
