Scotland Purple Martins (Progne subis) (1 Viewer)

[wroughtiron]

Hello birdforum, as you all know, Purple Martins were recently accepted into the British A List. I do believe that Purple Martins will eventually establish themselves in Britain. I believe Purple Martins will be sighted again in Scotland in early 2006.

I would be interested to know if anyone is even considering putting up housing for Purple Martins in anticipation of this new expansion.

If anyone in this forum is in Scotland and has an interest in Purple Martins, please reply to this message. Thank you.

Samuel Wilson
Bless the USA
http://groups.msn.com/PurpleMartin

 

[Jurij Hanžel]

What makes you believe that they'll establish themselves in Britain?

 

[dan pointon]

What makes you believe that they'll establish themselves in Britain?

Yer, seems a pretty proposterous statement to make to me, there's only ever been one British record, of a species that lives 1000's of miles away in a totally different environment and climate . What makes you think they will???!!!!! :eek!:

 

[wroughtiron]

Jurij Hanžel, thank you for your reply. I would like to tell you why I believe they will become established in Scotland. I am going to wait for further replies.

dwayne950, I think you meant preposterous. I respect your view on the subject. Thanks for replying.

I look forward to receiving more replies.

Samuel Wilson
Bless the USA
http://groups.msn.com/PurpleMartin

 

[Bluetail]

I think Jurij and Dan are just curious to know - as am I. You have to bear in mind that it took until 2004 for the first one to get here (despite all the other American birds that have been found over the years). It's true that there are about five claims of birds being "collected" in Britain and Ireland in the nineteenth century, but none of these is substantiated and at least a couple are probably fraudulent. So naturally it's going to seem a strange hypothesis to us.

 

[wroughtiron]

Purple Martin setup

Here is a picture of my Purple Martin setup.

 

[dan pointon]

Now that i can spell it........preposterous.

 

[CornishExile]

Well that's my winter project sorted - am going to build the largest most rococco Purple Martin house known to man, and sit back and wait for the birds to arrive. Then you cynics will all be confounded. So there.

Am planning on leaving the owl guards off, in the hope that I'll attract some North American owl species too. Bonus!

ce

 

[wroughtiron]

CornishExile

CornishExile, thank you for your reply.

Samuel Wilson
Bless the USA

 

[Karl J]

... I do believe that Purple Martins will eventually establish themselves in Britain. I believe Purple Martins will be sighted again in Scotland in early 2006 ...

Ok. Why ?

 

[Dave B]

Oh this is wonderful! I can't wait to hear Samuel's reply. Best thread in ages!

 

[dbradnum]

I do believe that Purple Martins will eventually establish themselves in Britain. I believe Purple Martins will be sighted again in Scotland in early 2006.

Echoing what others have said... Why do you believe this?

 

[KnockerNorton]

I think this is a clunky wind-up, to draw attention to a proudly-constructed comprehensive Purple Martin residence in the Blessed USA.

Bless us all. And anyone else.

 

[MSA]

Looks more like a sales pitch to me! How much for postage?!

 

[Rob Smallwood]

I'll take two!

House Martins are struggling in the UK (I thought that this was due to lack of mud to build - I now realise that it is down to a shortage of owl protection!).

Come on Sam - admit that this is a marketing ploy to rank alongside "squareials" and the "Sinclair C5".

 

[HH75]

Hi Sam,
Cool, could you let me know what the winning Lottery numbers will be for next Saturday please...?
Any sapsucker boxes? We have no woodpeckers nesting here in Ireland, and maybe a few well-sited boxes would help solve this?
Blue-winged Warblers mustn't use boxes, as they stubbornly failed to become established as a breeding bird since October 2000....
Harry

 

[Eider-Duck]

Hello birdforum, as you all know, Purple Martins were recently accepted into the British A List. I do believe that Purple Martins will eventually establish themselves in Britain. I believe Purple Martins will be sighted again in Scotland in early 2006.

I would be interested to know if anyone is even considering putting up housing for Purple Martins in anticipation of this new expansion.

If anyone in this forum is in Scotland and has an interest in Purple Martins, please reply to this message. Thank you.

Samuel Wilson
Bless the USA
http://groups.msn.com/PurpleMartin

Hi Sam,

Loved your purple Martin house but I don't think we will be needing any in Scotland quite yet.

 

[Isurus]

am wondering if this sort of housing could be used for any of our native Hirundines?

 

[Xenospiza]

To get an idea of where the one-and-only ever reported Purple Martin for the British Isles was seen (yes, it is really called "the Butt of Lewis"):
http://www.isle-of-lewis.com/panoramas/buttlewispage.htm
Now also imagine frequent gale force winds, rain, fog and cold… (the weather on the Outer Hebrides is something else): I don't think the poor bird survived.

But that martin house is just incredible. Does it also suit House Sparrows? They're declining rapidly over here...

 

[wroughtiron]

Thank you for the replies.

Thank you to everyone who has replied to this thread. I appreciate your participation.

Samuel Wilson
Bless the USA