http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/ The Purple Martin Society, NA is a nationally recognized birding organization of Purple Martin Landlords whose purpose is to educate the public by stimulating their interest to learn and to care about the conservation of these birds and their behavior. en Thu, 23 May 2013 15:11:59 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.purplemartins.com/rtc/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/ http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6822&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 21:55:26 GMT Hello All, I finished with a total of 63 eggs out of 11 nesting pairs. Those are great numbers for me. I checked last night and I have 21... Hello All,

I finished with a total of 63 eggs out of 11 nesting pairs. Those are great numbers for me. I checked last night and I have 21 hatchlings so far. Shaping up to be a great year.

If you can give a home to five young birds who lost their home in Arlington, please call Kathy Rodgers - check out the contact info on our facebook page.

How is everyone else doing?

John ]]> Purple Martin Landlords of North Texas Conference - (PMLNT) John Pearson http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6822 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6821&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 23:59:11 GMT I certainly would appreciate DETAILS on just how sparrow traps work. I have an 8 compartment house and have had 4-6 pairs of martins for years. I'm only able to access with ease 1 side and with considerable work 2 of the others. The "far side" isn't accessable at all. The far side has had sparrows nesting for many years. Martins seem to put up with these guys. The near side I always end up cleaning out constantly the sparrow's nests. Fortunately, the 2 side have never been invaded with sparrows.

At any rate, any detailed info. would be appreciated. ]]> Calling Professor Birdbrain... asop http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6821 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6820&goto=newpost Sun, 19 May 2013 23:23:12 GMT The season is moving along just fine. But not without interesting happenings. So far we are up to (55) nests, (134) eggs and (69) young. My... The season is moving along just fine. But not without interesting happenings. So far we are up to (55) nests, (134) eggs and (69) young. My brother-inlaw (in Waxahachie) is out ahead of me, for now. But he is limited to (30) nest sites and I will certainily pass him with my (62).
One of my ASY females has only one legg. But that does not seem to stop her. She has to support herself with her chest, when she lands, but she has built a nest and moving on.
I suppose thats why she chose a Super goard with a porch to help her get entry.
We found one approximately (3) day old young, on the front drive way. Dead of course and by last nest check, we found the nest it came out of. All the others are doing fine.
Also found one nest of (5) young dead and very dried up. Removed the nest material and cleaned the nest tray. Now the parents have started another large nest for renesting process. Some things we just can't figure out, especially when their are not apparent signs of what happened. Parents still around, no open doors, no feathers, no snakes in the netting and very few sparrows or starlings. The extreame few I do see, are quickly ran off by the martins. They just will not tarrlarate any thing around by themselves. Nothing to trap and nothing to shoot. OK by me.
Tim ]]> Purple Martin Landlords of North Texas Conference - (PMLNT) Tim Hammonds http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6820 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6819&goto=newpost Sun, 12 May 2013 22:30:05 GMT Many landlords indicated at yesterday's purple martin meeting that their colonies have really collapsed in numbers. Some with thirty pairs last year have not seen martins return in their regular numbers this May. At one colony, numbers are only at three pair. Others have complained similarly. Discussions around this topic are certainly inquisitive as many indicate perhaps that there may have been a large die off, a collapse in numbers in their wintering grounds or even some global warming issue. Two large colonies with close to ninety pair have been forcefully dispersed ( martin housing closed/removed) and it is believed that these extra martins would have contributed to many more martins in certain areas but this is not the case.

The OPMA would appreciate further feedback to this phenomenon and any suggestions or insights would be greatly appreciated. ]]> Essex County Purple Martin Association Conference John Balga http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6819 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6818&goto=newpost Sat, 11 May 2013 21:58:20 GMT Hi Gang,

In the seven years we've been conducting the survey as a club, 210 members reported 13,492 eggs from 2,891 breeding pairs. All those eggs yielded almost 11,000 fledged young which represents an 82% birth rate.

Go to our website to see all the results and data. purplemartinlandlordsofnorthtexas.com

Those numbers only represent a sample since all members do not report so that number is much larger I'm sure. What a terrific conservation effort and positive story. Thanks all.

John ]]> Purple Martin Landlords of North Texas Conference - (PMLNT) John Pearson http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6818 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6817&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 13:06:32 GMT Our next purple martin meeting will take place at: Al and Anne Hamill’s house, 2643 County Rd. 20, Harrow, On, N0R1G0 Come out and see... Our next purple martin meeting will take place at:


Al and Anne Hamill’s house, 2643 County Rd. 20, Harrow, On, N0R1G0

Come out and see Al’s new colony site additions !

9:00 a.m. ……May 11

Hope to see you there!

Don't forget to bring a lawn chair! ]]> Essex County Purple Martin Association Conference John Balga http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6817 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6816&goto=newpost Mon, 06 May 2013 20:01:53 GMT My nest checks on May 5th revealed 41 eggs in 5 nests and another 6 nests completed. I have 11 pairs which appear to all be ASY's except one pair. We will be into the heavy heat by June so I hope these pairs without any eggs gets busy. My starling problem is over but I had, for the first time, a male and female Purple Finch in my S&S controller this morning. I released them, unharmed of course but I never got them before and at this late date too. ]]> Purple Martin Landlords of North Texas Conference - (PMLNT) John Pearson http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6816 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6815&goto=newpost Thu, 02 May 2013 19:29:48 GMT Gisela Fregoe, President of the PMLNT, reported on 1 May that two boys from Grand Prairie, shot and killed two male Purple Martin birds that were... Gisela Fregoe, President of the PMLNT, reported on 1 May that two boys from Grand Prairie, shot and killed two male Purple Martin birds that were part of Gene and Dale Wright's colony. Gene and Dale are members of the Purple Martin Landlords Of North Texas organization. Since the Martins are a North American protected migratory bird species, charges are being sought in the shooting. ]]> Purple Martin Landlords of North Texas Conference - (PMLNT) Robert Mohler http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6815 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6814&goto=newpost Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:05:37 GMT This spring, I am converting all my gourds to Conley II Starling Resistant entrances to stop European Starlings from "trying" to use gourds early in the season here. I have always successfully trapped them out, but this results in Purple Martins that subsequently use compartment starting late, sometimes too late to have successful brood.

I did my first nest check after installing the new entrances on 36- compartment colony I monitor. I lowered one of the gourd rigs and everything clear - no invasive European Starling or House Sparrow nest starts BUT one of the gourds had two female Purple Martins frozen together inside. At first I thought one or both were dead, they were so still. One female had her beak clamped onto the neck feathers of the other one. I grabbed them both and they were fine and not banded (always check when I have a bird in the hand). I set them loose and off they flew with a few expletives thrown in my direction.

How much fighting occurs in colonies? Can it be fatal? Why were these two ladies engaged in combat when there were plenty of empty nest sites available (counted 20 adult individuals on site and 36 compartments available)...

Thanks,
Paula Z
Powell (central) Ohio ]]> (Main) Round Table Conference PaulaZ http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6814 http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6813&goto=newpost Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:35:45 GMT Louise Chambers from Corpus Christi, TX sent an email to Gisela and was telling her there are ASY males, some ASY females and SY in their area. The... Louise Chambers from Corpus Christi, TX sent an email to Gisela and was telling her there are ASY males, some ASY females and SY in their area. The weather has been so cold there that the martins are huddled up on the roofs of home trying to stay warm. She said she tried to feed them but they would not take the food. Louise thinks there will be many martins headed north in the coming days. If you still have room at your colony or if you haven't had martins yet this year, there is still hope. :)

]]> Purple Martin Landlords of North Texas Conference - (PMLNT) Robert Mohler http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=6813