Purple Martins

[Davy Crockett]

Anyone seeing them yet ? I'm Itching to get the houses up but if I am too early the barn swallows move in. Wondering if those Purple Martin decoys keep the swallows away ?

 

[Crankn]

I've Ben wondering also my children and grandchildren gave me a house for Father's Day last year. When's the best time to put up a new house?:;:huh

 

[Brian Renville]

I bought a house after reading about them here. All I've gotten were sparrows but it's cool. Any birds are better than no birds.

 

[Davy Crockett]

Around here if it's too early the swallows move in, and if it's too late the martins move on but once you have them they return every year . We had a wreck last year, Big winds took the house down and smashed it after they had moved in, When I picked it up two that were trapped in the wreckage flew away I never saw another martin all summer so i'm hoping they show up and move in move into the new house. I'll have to read up on the decoys .

 

[Crankn]

Davey have you seen any purple martins yet looking for an update? I put mine up the only thing we've seen are a couple tree swallows that come and perch on the house.

 

[Davy Crockett]

Nothing here yet, Just a couple Swallows showed up so far. Almost seems like they send scouts ahead or there are a few early birds then a couple days later the rest show up. Same with Orioles , We have one today and I'm guessing by the end of the week there will be 5 or 6 pairs and a few stragglers. Orioles are usually ahead of the Martins so I am guessing the next week or two they will show up. I should be marking it on a calendar just for the fun of it.

 

[Sluggo]

I saw 2 Martins near my house in south Bismarck over the weekend. They typically nest in the neighbors bird house.

 

[DerHornen]

They showed up late last week out near Sakakawea at my dad's place. He put the house up as soon as he saw them looking around for it.

 

[Enslow]

I take my 20 guage with trap load and shoot those barn swallows. Be careful though not to mistake them for tree swallows as those are nice birds. Barn swallows generally make their own nests so they could very well be tree swallows that you are seeing.

 

[Davy Crockett]

The tree swallows had moved in then last Thursday the martins showed up in full force and took over the castle. They are one of the latest migrators we have up here.

 

[KDM]

I generally like swallows regardless of species until they decide to try to build their darn mud cups right above the sidewalk, driveway, or one of the doors. Then it's full scale battle. Me with the hose and them with the time to rebuild after each engagement. The war usually lasts a week to 10 days before they get the message and go around to the back of the house or to the shed. Then all is peaceful and serene once again.

 

[JayKay]

I saw 2 Martins near my house in south Bismarck over the weekend. They typically nest in the neighbors bird house.

Hey, my neighbor too.

FWIW, I saw a lot of them on sunday night, over your neighbors backyard. They're here. See them right at dusk.

Saturday night the bats were out, zooming over the river, keeping the mosquitos down.. Quite pleasant.

 

[KDM]

Bats are pleasant until you wrap one up in your line.....in the dark....in waders.....with a lure containing 3 trebles in close proximity. They carry rabies, have sharp little teeth, and have a generally poor attitude towards you when you try to detangleify them. One of the perks of fishing after dark. (Grin)

 

[Davy Crockett]

Yikes , I'm scared of flying mice so there's a good chance I would have cut the line . Funny how a person gets it in their head that they are scared of something harmless and it sticks. I think it stems back from when I was a little kid and my sisters were telling tall tales about how bats get tangled in peoples hair and drive them crazy.

 

[JayKay]

Yikes, have never experienced this. If it were in my line, and not the crankbait, I'd probably consider cutting the line (before and after the critter)(to get my crankbait back)... If it attacked, Gods little creature would probably drown. I mean, I'm already standing in the water, in the dark, nobody would know...

 

[Sub_Elect]

 

[svnmag]

It's mean, horrible and anti-Earth I know: I used have great sport in the evenings with my 880 and bats. Even a miss is fun due to the great aerobatic displays....get it?...A hit sounded like a paper bag popping in the air.