Purple Martins

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03-21-2017, 02:08 PM
Bijhy

Purple Martins

When I was on Greenwood the other day it struck me that I haven't seen or heard any purple martins yet this year. Has anyone else noticed them on the lakes? In years past they've shown up in mid to late February. Don't know if they're late or if something else happened.
03-21-2017, 03:44 PM
sinkermaker

I saw some on the hill Friday. I haven't noticed any on Murray yet
03-21-2017, 05:57 PM
bearclaw

I'm not close to any lake but haven't had any scouts show up at my gourds yet either
03-21-2017, 06:16 PM
Countryboy N.C.

We got a good many, they showed up last friday or sat, my dad has about 20+ and I had 10+ yesteday, they are on there way.
03-21-2017, 08:19 PM
scottymoe

We don't have any yet. Just put up the "condo" last year. I'm told it takes time to get them to nest in a new house. Any suggestions on attracting them?
03-22-2017, 06:47 AM
Countryboy N.C.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottymoe

We don't have any yet. Just put up the "condo" last year. I'm told it takes time to get them to nest in a new house. Any suggestions on attracting them?

They will find them, we've had ours up for 20 years, they fill them up every year.
03-22-2017, 09:00 AM
Thumper1

I went for a ride yesterday it was so nice. I circled Bomb Island and did not see any. There were so many there a few years ago WIS was tracking them on radar.
03-22-2017, 01:12 PM
bassandkittys

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bijhy

When I was on Greenwood the other day it struck me that I haven't seen or heard any purple martins yet this year. Has anyone else noticed them on the lakes? In years past they've shown up in mid to late February. Don't know if they're late or if something else happened.

I
have seen a few fartin around lake wateree but not in the mass numbers that I usually see...
03-22-2017, 07:33 PM
Bijhy

Makes me wonder if they had a rough winter in S. America.
03-22-2017, 08:19 PM
864DRM

I actually got scouts on the 23rd of Feb. this year. That's the earliest I've ever had them. Got about 15 hanging around now.
03-22-2017, 08:30 PM
bearclaw

The last two years I have had a bad problem with hawks getting the baby martins. The hawk will light on the gourd pole and a baby Martin that can't quite fly will jump out of the gourd and the hawk swoops down and get it. All this takes place in a few seconds. I am hoping that has not ran mine off
03-23-2017, 07:28 PM
Countryboy N.C.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearclaw

The last two years I have had a bad problem with hawks getting the baby martins. The hawk will light on the gourd pole and a baby Martin that can't quite fly will jump out of the gourd and the hawk swoops down and get it. All this takes place in a few seconds. I am hoping that has not ran mine off

The sparrow hawks found our's last year,too. I watched them catch the martins in mid air!
03-29-2017, 08:35 PM
864DRM

I have watched that too. Coopers Hawks here. Seems like they know when the young start flying.
04-05-2017, 04:36 PM
bearclaw

I saw the first scout here yesterday.
04-05-2017, 08:18 PM
Countryboy N.C.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearclaw

I saw the first scout here yesterday.

I got about 20 right now, I got 24 guards up and they will fill them up in the next week or so. My dad has 48 and they were full last year, we need to put up more!
04-06-2017, 08:42 PM
864DRM

I counted 22 Monday. I have 44 gourds. 36 of them are natural gourds and I added 12 plastic gourds this year. They like the natural ones the best, but are starting to go in the plastic ones too.