Purple Martin House

Purple martin house

Purple martins will readily find nesting sites that are in proper locations. Nest boxes should be in place preferably in late March, but no later than April 15. Erect nest boxes on a pole at a height of 12 to 20 feet. Place boxes in open areas so that birds have access to them from all sides.

What is the best house for purple martins?

What Should it Be Made Out of?: Aluminum, thick plastic, wood, and natural gourds are all suitable materials for martin housing, provided that the exterior of the house is white in color. White reflects heat, keeping housing cooler in hot temperatures. Wooden housing should be made from untreated material only.

Where is the best location for a purple martin house?

Martin houses should be placed in an open location, at least 40 ft. from trees or buildings. Martins prefer to have clear access to houses from all sides, and like to have perching sites like utility wires nearby, but not attached to the nest box. The height of the housing can be anywhere from 12-20 ft.

Do you have to clean out purple martin houses?

Don't put your martin house up until four to six weeks after the first purple martins arrive. Once purple martins have used a martin house, they will return to it year after year. All you have to do is clean it out in fall, protect it from starlings and sparrows, and perhaps repaint it white every few years.

How do you attract martins to a martin house?

How to Attract Purple Martins to Your Garden

Construct housing in an open area. As wild birds, purple martins are more likely to nest in an area that isn't too close to human housing.
Install housing on a telescoping pole. ...
Keep predators at bay. ...
Deter other bird species. ...
Use a little trickery.

Do purple martins return to the same house?

Martins will return to the same nest site year after year as long as the habitat conditions meet their needs. Purple martins exhibit a stronger communal lifestyle than most other birds and will nest in colonies of varying sizes.

How far from a house should a purple martin house be?

Along with adequate space a martin house should be located within 150ft of an occupied dwelling. Martins have made an association, as they did with Native Americans that nesting in close proximity to human activity reduces the risk of predators in the area.

How often should I check my purple martin house?

Once egg laying is completed checking nests every 5-7 days is sufficient. Avoid long gaps of 10-14 days between checks.

Should I put straw in purple martin house?

Pine straw provides insulation, drains well and stays dry. Add to compartments just before martins arrive and replace parasite-infested nests during the season to increase nesting success.

How do I keep sparrows out of my purple martin house?

Sites. Tips warnings sparrows are difficult to manage monitor. Your purple Martin houses early in

What birds take over purple martin houses?

House sparrows and European starlings are invasive species that will outcompete purple martins for nests and take over a colony. They will even break eggs and kill native birds and chicks, so we remove their nests when we find them.

What direction do you face a martin house?

To be as hospitable as possible to these winged beauties, install your house with a fixed orientation. The good news is that purple martins aren't picky when it comes to direction; north, south, east, and west are all fine, as long as it's consistent. 6.

What is the lifespan of a purple martin?

Banding has shown that most Purple Martins live one to two years. The record longevity for Purple Martins in the wild is 13 years. The annual mortality rate is 50 percent for adult Purple Martins and 60–70 percent for juveniles.

Where do purple martins go at night?

North American Roosts After fledging, juvenile Purple Martins, as well as adults and subadults will congregate at a roost. Large flocks of martins gather to spend the night at these roosts, which are usually situated near water or in trees. Martins will then form smaller groups and begin migration from these roosts.

What are purple martins scared of?

Gentle birds by nature, purple martins have a difficult time with more aggressive (and non-native) birds like European Starlings and House Sparrows who drive them away from their nesting spaces.

Will martins keep crows away?

Purple Martins eat moths, flying beetles, dragonflies, mosquitoes and squash bugs, just to name a few. They will also keep away blackbirds and crows, which is why these birds are welcomed in my yard anytime.

What month do house martins nest?

The breeding season runs from May to August when insects are abundant, but some chicks are still in the nest in September. The nest is made of pellets of mud mixed with grass, lined with feathers and vegetable fibre.

Should you clean out a martin house?

You will want to clean your nests prior to the arrival of the birds in early February. We recommend removing old nesting material, then wiping the nest with a 5% bleach solution (5 parts bleach to 95 parts water), followed by a water wash to remove any bleach residue.

What time of day are purple martins most active?

In the very early morning hours of pre-dawn, male martins will sit out on their housing and sing their song to try and attract other martins to the site. (They will also do this from very high in the early dawn sky). This is known as 'dawn singing'. Their calls seem to carry further on the early morning air.

Do purple martins sleep at night?

Purple Martins (Progne subis) are highly social birds. After leaving the nesting colony and the care of the Purple Martin landlord, they form large, communal roosts where they sleep at night prior to and during migration.