Parthenocissus quinquefolia

[havalotta]

Originally Posted by dapjwy

I went back and opened the photo again, noticing the Martin house reflection that you labelled. How cool. Do you have any purple martins?

Oh yes! After setting one up, It took about three years to attract them. Know what it took? A vanilla extract dipped cotton ball.
I read that somewhere and decided to give it a try. It really worked! Didn't draw a lot but the next year a few more decided to use it. Their off spring? Who knows.

We added another. They did not use it the first year, but in the following a few couples moved in....
UP went another......Nothing used it for two years being a bit lower and in close proximity with a red twig dogwood nearby. This year I set a plastic decoy (Looked JUST like a martin) That did the trick. We now have three homes full!

That's enough..... You add any more and they starts looking like trailer trash in the sky.........Overkill.

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by havalotta

Oh yes! After setting one up, It took about three years to attract them. Know what it took? A vanilla extract dipped cotton ball.
I read that somewhere and decided to give it a try. It really worked! Didn't draw a lot but the next year a few more decided to use it. Their off spring? Who knows.

We added another. They did not use it the first year, but in the following a few couples moved in....
UP went another......Nothing used it for two years being a bit lower and in close proximity with a red twig dogwood nearby. This year I set a plastic decoy (Looked JUST like a martin) That did the trick. We now have three homes full!

That's enough..... You add any more and they starts looking like trailer trash in the sky.........Overkill.

How wonderful!

If I ever decide to do a Martin house, I'll know what to do! Where did you find the decoy?

My only concern is the unnatural look of the houses...I don't even like the bluebird houses I put up (but I'm pretty much used to them). If I could have it my way I'd use only natural holes in snags (or man made ones that looked natural).

Maybe I just answered my own question, but: where do purple martins nest in nature? Wouldn't it be cool to have a colony in a huge snag?! ~smile~

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by havalotta

Thank you....
I think I found those at one of the dollar stores. Very reasonably priced.
They'll be set on moms porch in remembrance of Fathers death on July 1st without her knowledge as to whom sent them to brighten her day.

You are an amazing lady. ~smile~

I hope doing such a kind gesture (and all of the preparations you've made for it brightens) your day as well.

[havalotta]

Originally Posted by dapjwy

How wonderful!

If I ever decide to do a Martin house, I'll know what to do! Where did you find the decoy?

My only concern is the unnatural look of the houses...I don't even like the bluebird houses I put up (but I'm pretty much used to them). If I could have it my way I'd use only natural holes in snags (or man made ones that looked natural).

Maybe I just answered my own question, but: where do purple martins nest in nature? Wouldn't it be cool to have a colony in a huge snag?! ~smile~

I don't like the looks of them either....skid row in the sky.
I Found the decoy at the feed mill. It was in a plastic bag upon the wall. Around $6.00

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by havalotta

I don't like the looks of them either....skid row in the sky.
I Found the decoy at the feed mill. It was in a plastic bag upon the wall. Around $6.00

LOL! Nice to know I'm not the only one...but I guess I could handle a very tasteful one. ...but I much prefer something natural-looking that would blend in.

$6.00, not bad.

[havalotta]

A gourd? I've thought about making them but the metallic plasticville homes are occupant ready.

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by havalotta

A gourd? I've thought about making them but the metallic plasticville homes are occupant ready.

Nope, hanging gourds up high doesn't look natural to me either. I guess I wonder where they nest without human intervention...and how to recreat something like that.

[amelanchier]

Originally Posted by dapjwy

Nope, hanging gourds up high doesn't look natural to me either. I guess I wonder where they nest without human intervention...and how to recreat something like that.

My understanding is that they no longer nest anywhere without human intervention. But I wonder whether something closer to what their ancestral holes were like would work.

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by amelanchier

My understanding is that they no longer nest anywhere without human intervention. But I wonder whether something closer to what their ancestral holes were like would work.

That could be..but I'd like to think there are still some places of untamed wilderness where they nest without the need for human intervention. I guess other symbiotic relationships that develop...I just can't quite wrap my head around the idea of a species depending solely on us for their survival...then again, maybe dustmites and others already do.

I'd be curious if anyone knows for sure...or knows what their original nest sites were.

[BeeWonderful]

Back to Virginia creeper ---- I have one climbing up an (invasive) Amur Maple shrub (planted by the previous homeowners). Any chance the Parthenocissus will strangle the maple to death? In all seriousness I ask this question!