Shane Smith
- South Mills, NC
- Camden County
- I have had active colonies since 2004. I startd with 4 nesting pairs and as of 2008 I had about 45 nesting pairs.
- Send this mentor an email!
- 252-771-5223
- Posted: March 2009
Tom Watson
Nanette Mickle
- Woodbridge, VA
- Prince William County
- I have been an active Purple Martin landlord for 5 years. My housing consists of a T-14, natural gourds, Troyer gourds and SuperGourds. I perform nest checks every 3-5 days during the active nesting season. I control Sparrows and Starlings. My colony usually fledges over 200 nestlings/year. There are very few Martin colonies in my area and I would love to mentor any prospective landlord. Please E-mail me.
- Send this mentor an email!
- Posted: July 2008
terry m. palmieri
- bristol, VA
- washington County
- I have hosted Purple Martins on my small farm for almost 10 years. They come in April and leave in August. My dog hates them but I love them.
- 5484 walker mt. rd.
bristol, VA 24202
- Send this mentor an email!
- Posted: May 2008
gary osborne
Tom Brake
- Abingdon, VA
- Washington County
- My colony is located at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Southwest Virginia. Over the last 12 years it has grown from one nesting pair to over 70 pair. The enjoyment and relaxation Martins bring to my life is well worth the effort it takes to be a successful and responsible landlord.
Attracting Martins to your colony for the first time is not always an easy task. I have spent many more years as a landlord wanna-be than I have as a successful landlord. If you are looking for help or encouragement in establishing or improving your Martin colony don\'t hesitate to e-mail me.
- Send this mentor an email!
- Posted: February 2008
Jim Bywaters
- Flint Hill, VA
- Rappahannock County
- I tried to attract martins to my yard for 8 years without success, birds would visit and leave. After trying many different things, wooden & aluminum houses, different locations and lots of research I finally had success using an aluminum house painted white inside & out, accompanied by the PMCA Dawnsong tape in 1995. I believe that the Dawnsong tape made the difference in having success or failure for me. Since that time I have gone to all gourd housing and hosted 64 pair of birds last year. Help from other landlords and exchanging tips & info. over the years helped immeasurably. I tried many things to improve my site since 1995 and would happily share info with anyone interested.
- 871 Zachary Taylor Hwy.
P.O. Box 8
Flint Hill, VA 22627
- Send this mentor an email!
- Posted: February 2006
Jimmy Fitzgerald
- Providence Forge, VA
- Charles City County
- I do nest checks. Have had experience in snake predation and protection from same. I believe protecting martins from predators to be very important.
- Posted: December 2004
RENIA DAVIS
- Melfa, VA
- Accomack County
- I have been a landlord of PM\'s for the last 14 years at my present address.
- Send this mentor an email!
- 757-787-5645
DENNIS MARTIN
- Chester, VA
- I live in Chester, Va., but have my colony site out on a pier at my hunt club on the James River in Charles City County. I have had a successful colony for the last three years and would like to pass on the knowledge that I have gained from the PMCA and my mentor Richard Tres from Hopewell, Va.
- Send this mentor an email!
- 804-530-1795
GEOFF & MARY THOMAS
- Gloucester, VA
- Gloucester County
- 15 mi. e. of Wmsburg & 55 mi. s.e. of Richmond VA. -Active colony for 4 years--42 compartments (28 SuperGourds & 1 T-14). -Some success growing natural gourds. -Glad to share martin experiences & lore by phone, email, or visits.
- Send this mentor an email!
GEORGE & JOY HARPER
- Goode, VA
- Would be glad to help anyone in the Lynchburg area.
- 1339 Heathwood Dr.
Goode, VA
- 540-586-8640
RICHARD TRES
- Hopewell, VA
- I have had Purple Martins for over 5 years. I have had real good luck except for one year. I would like to help anyone get started or needs questions answered.
- Send this mentor an email!
LANCE D WOOD
- Central Virginia, VA
- Louisa County
- I have been a successful martin landlord for several years, and would be glad to advise any purple martin novice in Virginia. Also, please note that every summer, in late June, I host a Purple Martin Field Day and Workshop at my colony site, to provide free publications and instruction on founding, growing, and protecting martin colonies.
- Send this mentor an email!
- 202-761-8556
|
|
Alice Shevitz
- Waynesboro, VA
- Augusta County
- I\'ve just started trying to attract Purple Martins this year. I have a 12-room Combo unit, made of plastic. It has a predator guard and I have a feeding tray filled with eggshells.
I play the Purple Martin Dawnsong every morning. As yet I haven\'t seen a Martin but they are around and several landlords nearby have seen them.
- Send this mentee an email!
- Visit this mentee's website
- Posted: April 2010
Marlin Ballard
- Chesapeake Va, VA
- I am attempting to attract a colony to my back yard. I have made an 8 apartment house, painted it white, and have it on a 15\' pole. It\'s april 11 and have seen no results yet. thanks
Marlin
- 4525 Leewward dr.
Chesapeake Va, VA 23321
- Send this mentee an email!
- Posted: April 2008
Steve Osberger
- Richmond, VA
- Henrico County
- Purchased a home which, many years ago, had a colony of martins. Have built and erected 3 gourds this year. Growing gourds this year and hope to add more houses for next year. Had one visitor last season, but only for 2 days. Have made many site and housing improvements this year and hoping for the best. Would enjoy and appreciate advice from a mentor(s).
- Send this mentee an email!
- Posted: March 2007
Robin Selby
- Richmond, VA
- Henrico County
- I got an aluminum 12 rooom Purple Martin habitat for Christmas and would like some advice about how, when to proceed from here. I would love to hear from someone who has been successful in attracting a colony. I have a suitable space (I think) but would like to be sure.
I look forward to hearing from a mentor!
Robin Selby
- Send this mentee an email!
- Posted: December 2006
Laurel Romans
- Dobson, NC
- Surry County
- In the evening I am noticing swallow-like birds flying over the pasture and pond. I can tell that a few are barn swallows (severly forked tail) but others have very dark head/back and buff undersides; others solid dark underneath and slightly forked tail. I would love to be a landlord and believe I have an excellent site for martins (wires,structures,feeding locations,etc). I need some help getting started. It's August now and I'm not sure if it's the right timing for martins to be in the area.
- Send this mentee an email!
- Posted: August 2006
Charlene Yeagley
- Salem, VA
- Roanoke County
- I started trying late season last year with an SK tri level plastic house with no luck. I got an 8-unit Quad Pod system & put it up early March of this year. We also have blue birds and tree swallows that are nesting in separate nest boxes located on fence posts around our yard, but they do perch on the PM houses while they look for insects, etc. On Friday, May 26th, 2006 around 3:30 pm I had my first two PM visitors. They were not dark purple, but on looking at the Stokes Bird Book they looked exactly like either the female or sub-adult PM. My husband saw them too, through binoculars and agreed they were PM's. Oddly, they perched on our pole feeder that has several feeders, and one ate a few safflower seeds and a large brown seed that comes in songbird seed when you buy it. They flew about, checked out the SK plastic house and stayed for several hrs. then left as evening began. They showed up again on Saturday, the 27th, around 2:30 pm, and brought a third PM, and this one appeared to be all dark purple. They again looked at one of the SK units, then eventually the dark purple one flew off somewhere. The original two continued to fly and swirl about and perched on both of my PM units from time to time. As evening began to settle in, they flew off somewhere, and I haven't seen them since. I would like input on what this behavior means. Is there a chance they will return, or were they dissatisfied with my housing. I had crescent openings in all the units at the time. I have since changed three of the Quad Pod units back to the round holes. I would appreciate any input or advice that will help encourage PM's to take up residence in our housing. Thanks.
- Send this mentee an email!
- Posted: June 2006
Maria Hatchell
- Suffolk, VA
- none County
- We have open farmed fields next to us, the Nansemond River, pastures for our horses, and had visitor martins the last two years who did not like our plastic houses. This year I went to a Coates WaterEdge 8 unit 6x6x12 nest area size all aluminum house, placed on the other side of the property from the barn and house. I have been reading all the internet info and think we are going in the right direction. My veterinarian has long-term colonies and has been a big help and said I may have trouble because martins do not like sharing feeding space with our barn swallows and I may need more houses to attract more birds. This is a long-held dream of ours to have purple martins and we want to succeed. Any help will be deeply appreciated!!!!!
- Send this mentee an email!
- Posted: May 2006
Robert G Martin
Christine Moss
- Skippers, VA
- Greensville County
- This is our first year and we have one pair PM and they arrived on April 30, 2005
- P O Box 66
1801 Bass Road
Skippers, VA 23879
- Send this mentee an email!
- 434-336-1374
- Posted: May 2005
Brent Nelson
- Corova, NC
- Currituck County
- Recently purchased a beach house (Pelican's Perch) on North Carolina's Outer Banks near Corova. Access is 4WD only and 7.5 miles up the beach from the paved road in Carolla. Our neighbors to the south of us have two active PM houses with many birds. Being a PM landlord always interested me and this beach setting got me motivated. Spring of 2005, Kathy, Christine and I erected two houses (last week in April) and immediately had martins peeping in and entering the houses. We all live in Maryland so we are unable to see our martins on a regular basis. This just kills me, but I know they will be an interesting addition to our cottage for our renter's from April - July. Our PM houses sit approx. 30 feet from our hot tub and pool. Great way to view the birds and we love hearing their soft chirping sounds, gliding and soaring in the early moring beach sunlight. Evenings find the birds swooping down near the eves of our roof on the top deck, gathering dragonflys and nats, only a few feet away. Without sounding like an advertisement, our house sleeps 15 and is a great place to spend a week on a remote Atlantic ocean beach in the midst of many purple martins.
Hope to hook up with other landlords in NC
Thanks and good luck,
Brent
Look us up online.
- Send this mentee an email!
- Visit this mentee's website
- Posted: September 2005
Pam Shifflett
- Gordonsville, VA
- Louisa County
- My neighbor and I have just put up our first purple martin house. We would appreciate any and all sound advise for attracting and managing these beautiful birds at our site.
- Send this mentee an email!
- Posted: April 2005
A. Wolverton
- Edinburg, VA
- Shenandoah County
- I have erected a T14 house, but only a total of 6 units. the house is oriented East and West. I did not construct the smaller side units. I am in the process of adding hanging gourds to the unit. I live really close to the Interstate and I am afraid the noise and traffic might be keeping them away. I have saw martins around the house a few times over the years but no takers. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
- Send this mentee an email!
- Posted: March 2005
DENNIS HAYNES
- Burke, VA
- Fairfax County
- Attempted to attaract last year but got house up too late. Understand that PMs like egg shells (Calcium). True? If so, any trick on how to put the calcium out??
- Send this mentee an email!
ED OLENICK
- Virginia Beach, VA
- None County
- My father was a long time landlord in Texas. I recently moved to Virginia, and noticed some martins swooping overhead. I decided to try my luck at attracting them. I have a very nice martin house (18 rooms) and three super gourds. I have the Dawnsong CD and play it every morning. I have seen the martins high overhead, but so far, none have visited my house. Looking forward to talking with sucessful landlords.
- 2409 Strawflower Court
Virginia Beach, VA
- Send this mentee an email!
- 757-427-0769
JOHN DEUEL
- VA
- Norfolk County
- I am concerned that our red winged blackbird population is interfering with any potential nesting activity at our house which is placed in a marsh area. The blackbirds are not nesting, but perch on the purple martin house quite often.
- Send this mentee an email!
Brent Maney
- Ruther Glen, VA
- Caroline County
- Father used to have maritns years ago. I bought my first house last Aug and put up martin housing in Spring 03. Consisted of four gourds I made and four from here. Had several visitors come by and noticed several martins feeding high all through the summer but did not have any nesters. Looking for some help/ideas this year. Please drop me a line if you can help. Thanks!
- Send this mentee an email!
DAVID FAHEY
- Williamsburg, VA
- I bought a house with a 8 room martin house 5 years ago and have had spotty success every year. Last year the martins tried and tried to nest but the sparrows won. I tried very hard to get rid of the things, but couldn't. I would like to find someone who can help. There are at least 3 other active colonies in my neighborhood, all of which are very successful, despite the houses being completely neglected and up year round.
- Send this mentee an email!
MONTY BOWELS
- Hampton, VA
- I live in SE Virginia, trying to start a colony on the coast of Hampton. Built a 12 room wood house, with 6-10 compartments, to raise and lower vertically. Have all SREHs on house, and 2 gourds purchased from Kenny Fecker. Also cut back trees as much as possible to meet aerial requirements.
- Send this mentee an email!
JACK SHERER
- Manassas, VA
- I have tried aluminum and wooden houses and now I am trying Supergourds. I have eight about 12' high. Last year the only thing that I saw was one martin land on one of the gourds and a sparrow immediately came down and ran it off. I keep sparrow nests out. I have the openings taped shut now, waiting for the subadults to come. This is my last year to try.
- 9698 Copeland Dr.
Manassas, VA
- Send this mentee an email!
DENNIS BRAGG
- Richmond, VA
- I am the Director of the Wildlife Committee for the Wilde Lake Association, a small 23 acre lake named Wilde Lake located in the Short Pump, VA area just off Lauderdale Dr. Our association represents approx. 6000 individuals around our lake shore. There are 8 different communities within our association. My interest in your experience has to do with our attempts to establish multiple colonies of Purple Martins. We have Boy Scout Troop 772, with 74 members, as our bird nest project management crew. Could someone contact me for assistance? We would like input from an interested party that can help us get our Purple Martin Program off the ground. I believe walking the shores of our property to pick out the optimal Purple Martin habitat and tips for housing design would be quite helpful. Having a specialist for our project as a coordinator/trainer for the Scouts would be very useful, especially if the Scouts decide to build the houses themselves. PS: We are also looking for specialists in fisheries, blue birds, and bats for Scout projects.
- Send this mentee an email!
- 804-360-5500
ERICA WESTCOTT
- Gloucester Point, VA
- I have gourds growing in my garden... this trail of breadcrumbs has lead me down the path starting from What a neat idea, I'll put up a birdhouse! to actually doing research on the topic and still being interested in putting up housing and helping perpetuate these wonderful birds! I know I have plenty of time before the gourds are even ready to harvest and become housing, but I would like to begin further research and collection of information, so I can be prepared. If possible, I would be interested in getting in touch with a mentor who could answer some PM related questions I have not yet seen on websites I have visited. Specifically, I would like to know more about those who have had success with gourd housing, tips and tricks they have to offer, etc. I am seriously interested in starting PM housing and learning about the care of these birds, but would like to know more! Email is the best way to contact me.
- Send this mentee an email!
|
