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new purple martin house
Posted on 3/1/15 at 4:48 pm
Posted on 3/1/15 at 4:48 pm
Is it too late the season to put up a new purple martin house in New Orleans?
Posted on 3/1/15 at 4:50 pm to Deege
Yep, you might get a young couple, but in all honesty my dad's houses were full by Feb 1st
This post was edited on 3/1/15 at 4:58 pm
Posted on 3/2/15 at 8:37 am to Pepe Lepew
Thanks for adding more info. I just found a website, Purple Martin Conservation Association, and emailed a "mentor". If too late this year maybe I'll be ready for next year.
Posted on 3/2/15 at 8:46 am to Deege
Ok, I know jack squat about Purple Martins or their houses. What makes them and their houses special?
Posted on 3/2/15 at 10:19 am to Deege
quote:
If too late this year maybe I'll be ready for next year.
doubt your too late. I don't think the full flight has arrived yet. I've had several check my house out, but no residents yet (and I have established colonies).
Posted on 3/2/15 at 10:24 am to Crusty
quote:
What makes them and their houses special?
they nest in colonies, so the houses usually have multiple dwellings. They nest in gourds, too. They are picky about their surroundings and don't tolerate other birds (sparrows) well. If you can get a colony nesting in your house, they'll return every year. They eat mosquitoes (lots of them) and are spectacular flyers with melodious songs. Awesome little creatures and a highlight of my spring/early summer.
Posted on 3/2/15 at 11:30 am to tigerinthebueche
Will they run off Barn swallows from my eaves? If so I will build them a damn 5 star hotel to keep those suckered out from under my porch and eaves.
Posted on 3/2/15 at 11:45 am to LSUTygerFan
quote:
purple martins eat wasps.
This started a heated family debate when a study came out showing very little linking to martins and insect control.
Forgot the study, but it showed Martins to eat very few insects.
I remember my uncle yelling, "Are you calling my Daddy a liar?!?!"
Posted on 3/2/15 at 11:52 am to fightin tigers
quote:They feed at higher altitudes than mosquitos fly, which is what that study you're referencing found. They like dragon flies, beetles, flies, and wasps.
Beal analyzed 205 stomachs of martins collected from February to September throughout the United States and Canada. He reported no mosquitoes in any of the stomachs and most of the insects found were relatively large ones. Johnson analyzed stomach contents of 34 Purple Martins collected during April through August in Kansas. He reported that 3 percent of the insects found in seven martins collected were culicine mosquitoes, but no mosquitoes were found in stomachs collected thereafter. He concluded coleopterans (beetles) were the items most frequently taken during this study, that the martins ate considerably more dipterous (flies) in April and May than later in the season, and that by August hymenopterans (bees, ants, wasps) were frequent food items.
This post was edited on 3/2/15 at 11:54 am
Posted on 3/2/15 at 12:02 pm to pointdog33
quote:
They like dragon flies, beetles, flies, and wasps.
I need to get some of them by my house then. I am dreading the return of wasps in a few weeks.
Posted on 3/2/15 at 12:32 pm to warr09
quote:
Will they run off Barn swallows from my eaves? If so I will build them a damn 5 star hotel to keep those suckered out from under my porch and eaves.
No.
Why the hate for the swallows? Too much of a mess for you?
Posted on 3/2/15 at 12:35 pm to pointdog33
quote:
They feed at higher altitudes than mosquitos fly, which is what that study you're referencing found. They like dragon flies, beetles, flies, and wasps.
Ah, thanks for that. I remember it being something that countered common belief. Was a funny exchange when we were erecting the bird houses.
Posted on 3/2/15 at 12:42 pm to fightin tigers
quote:
Forgot the study, but it showed Martins to eat very few insects.
I've witnessed them eat the shite out of some dragonflies. There's also a video on youtube of a girl flicking grasshoppers in the air and the martins grabbing them.
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