T-14 for purple martins

Well, got my T-14 up with 3 nests open. I added the decoy to the top and played the daytime chatter today for the first time this season! Now we wait and watch...

That's great! I look forward to tracking your progress!

I've never used the calls before, does that work for you?

It's hard to tell if they come because of the recordings or if they are coming anyway, but it couldn't hurt.

I agree, give it a shot. I've heard great things about them, and if the martins come after using them keep using them!

I believe they do work. I used them last year. I would go out in the afternoon and watch for a while. Then I would start the CD. Within minutes, the martins would begin flying overhead and then come down to check out the house. In fact, many other birds showed up also. The large predator birds would soar around too, and of course the dreaded sparrows.

We have had terribly cold, rainy weather here lately. I want the martins that are in the area to know they have a warm dry place to stay. I am not sure how far away they will be attracted.

Do you have the t-14 insulated? I'm hearing about some people's martins dieing from the cold in some parts of the country.

No. No insulation. The house is made of red cedar. Inside is a bed of pine straw, it is very comfy/cozy for them. The problem, I believe is that there are not many insects for them to eat and also the journey is very cold and wet. I think once they find safe housing they are ok except for the low number of insects at this time.

Hmm, I wonder if you could import some dragonflies.

good thinking, that is their main diet! So far though, I have only heard of scrambled eggs and flipping crickets to them.

I know people purchase and raise dragonflys to control mosquitos, might be able to find something on google. I'll look it up tonight.

Sounds crazy, but you could hang something and tie crickets to it with fishing line. If you tie it around their "neck" the head should pop off when they're grabbed. That would probably be a pain but might be efficient. You could probably even tie them off from the t-14 itself. Who knows.

The only way I have heard is that you order the crickets, put them in the freezer for 2 hours, then they are easy to handle because they are so sluggish. You then put them in the bowl of a plastic spoon as literally flip them into the air. It takes some persistance but the martins do learn to eat them. I have seen videos online of people doing it and the martins flying all around catching them.

By the way, I just set my repeater trap for the sparrows!

That sounds entertaining as can be, seems like it would be a great video for our community! Do you have a recorder?

I have never done it personally. I saw a video online somewhere.

No luck with the trap today, however my decoy did take a major hit from some large predator. It was sitting up looking pretty at about 4:00pm. My grandson looked out at about 5:45 and decoy had been bombed! I had to lower the house and fix the little guy. I also went ahead and opened all the nests. I am afraid the martins might be in the area and not coming to the house because they think I am closed!

Well that would be an awesome sight!

You might be right about the martins, may as well try. Seems like the martins are early all over the country.

can I get them in dallas?

Hi Pink,

If you are asking if you can attract pm's in Dallas, the answer is absolutely yes! In fact, the state of Texas has one of the largest populations in the US.

Interesting, I wonder why they don't come out this way! We do get alot of swallows though.

I am gonna set up my house wish me luck, see if i can rid of some of theese bugs

I know the pms flock across Texas, I was not aware they didn't reach El Paso! Interesting...

Good luck pain!! You can do it!