HOUSING

[SYmywa]

Hello, N.W. MINNESOTA

Anyone adding to, starting new, or sourcing info. on housing PURPLE MARTINS?

[Dave Duit]

The Minnesota working group, headed by Kelly Applegate, will be experimenting with new types of martin housing next to lake shore or in the lake water with low height. They are doing this to explore ways to keep predators away and ultimately increasing the martin population in the state of Minnesota. In this state the martin is on the endangered list. We can all pull together to bring back the martin population to previous numbers; especially in the upper midwest.

[SYmywa]

Dave,
Welcome to the forum!

[quote- new types of martin housing next to lake shore] in the land of ??k lakes, could it get
any better? I'm already anxious to see, this set-up!

Best of luck to Kelly and the group putting this together. Are we waiting in the wings?

PUMA BE READY, HERE COMES HELP!!!

[Perry D. Vogel]

The HAV-IT Services builds the T-14 Purple Martin house constructed with Starling Resistant Entrance Holes, and routered reliefs around the holes and on the outside edges of the porches. HAV-IT Services offers the eight unit apartment with attachment side plates for future addition of six more units. And of course the fully loaded model will be the T-14 complete. The housing is built so the metal pole or wood pole will work on either the 8 unit or 14 unit houses. Order from the Purple Martin Association of the Dakotas’ website using the link below.

http://www.purplemartindakotas.org/shop ... ducts_id=1

[Dave Duit]

Thank you for the web address' Perry. If the MN woking group develops these new on water houses, maybe the research will produce good things for the future. In the years ahead I may be able to be a presenter on martins for your organization. I have presented for the Iowa DNR and several other groups involved with wildlife and birding. As of now, I keep very busy running the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. I'm excited to see that you have started your organization and I wish you all the success in the world.

[SYmywa]

Perry,

Was just looking at the "HAV-IT" T series housing, again.

How can we direct peoples attention to the web address you gave above?

Are there plans to have these on display/for sale at any upcoming events?

Id bet anyone looking to start hosting Purple Martins or add-to an existing
site, would be proud to have one of these houses set up at their site!

Wonder if some of the same folks may be looking for some help putting
together a pole and winch system, to go with the housing and also with
getting it set-up on their site?

[SYmywa]

Dave,

SORRY IF I DERAILED YOUR POST TOPIC-PREPING FOR PM. I'll try to correct that.

Am still curious about misting, etc.

So, if misting is directed on perch wires, than pre-fledge young
receive none and are dependent on other means of cooling???

Also, what percentage of landlords in your area are located in cities, versus rural???

Regarding gourds, am hearing you on attraction/longevity, But still question
the cost/value ratio!!!???

[Dave Duit]

Prefledged martins receive their water from the bugs the parents bring in for them. There is a lot of juice in bugs, especially the dragonflies. We don't have research date to give an accurate percentage of city versus rural. I can tell you that I have seen our members have housing and very successful in both locations. In fact, one member had a very large colony just 100 feet from a busy street in town and with many trees. the trees were all about 40 feet from the housing. I have also seen housing at the edge of a fence line in the very open farmland locations. The metal houses are higher prices, but the gourds give a better cost value ratio. as long as you upkeep the housing it will last for years and provide excellent housing. The only thing I warn new landlords about, is that metal houses compartment sizes should be expanded to about 6" X 6" X 12". larger compartment sizes are in direct proportion to clutch size.

[SYmywa]

Think I here you on misting, adults deliver the "bacon" and may require cooling,
young receive cooling thro the food.?

The question on LL located in cities versus rural interests me, since I been hearing
about the challenge of attracting PM to rural sites.

The volumes that have been written about all the mod's to the basic "garden variety"
gourd, including the challenge to keep them comfortable, safe and upright and the lack
of them in the Northern tier, leaves me to question their validity?

Anyone in the Dakotas or NW MN. supplying gourds, with any sucess

Experiencing any insect, moisture or predation issues?

[SYmywa]

welcome to 2015

ARE YOU CONSIDERING HOSTING PURPLE MARTINS?

AN APPROPRIATE OPEN SITE, A SAFE POLE AND COMFORTABLE HOUSING
WILL HELP MAKE THIS A GREAT NEW HOBBY.

WOOD HOUSING /W SREH IS READILY ACCEPTED BY PM IN OUR AREA AND
MAY BE PURCHASED ON THIS SITE, IF YOU CHOOSE.
GOURDS MAY BE HUNG BELOW OR ON A SEPARATE POLE AS AN ADDED
ATTRACTANT, FOR STARTING A NEW COLONY.

METAL POLES MAY BE PURCHASED OR WOOD POLES CAN BE CONSTRUCTED
LOCALLY, IN VARIOUS CONFIGURATIONS AND ERECTED TO SUPPORT YOUR HOUSING.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES, POST-UP HERE
WE HAVE LANDLORDS WITH EXPERIENCE IN ALL ASPECTS OF HOSTING THESE
"SPECIAL SWALLOWS" WHO CAN HELP WITH ANSWERS.

MANY OF LAST YEARS "YOUNG" WILL RETURN THIS SPRING FROM BRAZIL AND LOOK
FOR A SAFE HOUSE TO START A "NEW LIFE"


JAS