Purple Martin Association of the Dakotas

The weather is finally scheduled to break into normal temps here in Iowa staring April 10th. It has been a nasty two and a half weeks of below normal temps, with days of ice, snow, 30 mph winds and rarely a day above 35. The farthest north report in Iowa has been in Everly, Iowa, which is level with...

Hi Jerome, I'm doing both the Bob Buskas oyster bar feeding tray as well as flippin' crickets. The idea of a combination enclosed feeding tray and community heating box has really sparked interest, especially on the PMCA. I have a heating set up for my four grandpa style metal houses that keeps it a...

Just email me your info and contact at dave@iamartin.org and I will review. thanks.
Dave Duit

Thanks. I still have only the single ASY male and have been flipping crickets and offering scrambled eggs everyday since the weather has turn downward. Ice, snow 31 degrees and windy, but he is ok and has been eating the supplement food I have offered through a variety of methods. Also, supplement f...

Hi everyone. Here in central Iowa I had my first ASY male arrive on 3/20/18. This is roughly 10 days earlier than last year. I thought I would share that with everyone up north so as to prepare a bit earlier than normal for their arrival in Minnesota and the Dakotas.

Hi Caroline, I now the feel, especially when we get a day or two near 50 degrees. I get the itch this time of year to hear the unmistakable songs and sounds of the martin. I like to watch them glide effortlessly while searching out the bugs. A good cup of coffee in the morning on the porch watching ...

Hi Jerome, Foot is healing as planned and should be completely healed 100% by next May. It is still swollen and some numbing in the toes after two months, but overall it is good. Thanks for making a connection with Jen and Perry. The state fair crowd for the purple martin presentation was huge. All ...

Hi Jerome, Good to hear all is well on your end. I'm six weeks out from surgery and slowly weaning of the boot and into a shoe. I will be at the Iowa State Fair giving a presentation in August. By then the foot should be able to handle a few hours of standing. There is a nice lady on the PMCA forum ...

The members of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization have reported good numbers this year (2017). We now have four public educational colonies in Iowa to spread the word of martins. I have 231 eggs as of 6-19-17. I had major reconstructive foot surgery on the 20th, so I have not been able to do my wee...

Thanks for the quick response. Yes, oyster shells are readily available at farm supply stores. The egg shells are actually higher in calcium content and easier to absorb by birds than that of oyster shells. I like to combine the oyster and egg shells on a feeding tray during breeding season. The fem...