What is special about a Purple Martin?

How do I choose the best houses for purple martins?

In the eastern United States, purple martins are almost entirely dependent on artificial nesting sites, but like all birds, they can be picky about which houses they choose. The best houses will not only attract these birds, but proper construction will help keep any residents safe from poor weather and predators.

How close can a purple martin nest be to a tree?

No trees taller than the height of the martin house should be within 60 feet of the colony. The purple martin house should be close to your own home. Purple martins want to see people near their nests. (They know that human activity offers them protection against predators.

How to Choose purple martin housing?

There are many options when choosing Purple Martin housing: from houses to gourds, round or starling-resistant entrances, to the number of compartments. The most important characteristic of any martin housing is accessibility.

How close to a tree can you put a purple martin?

Purple Martins will only feel safe living 40 feet (12.2 m) or further from tall trees; 60 feet (18.3 m) is ideal. If you’re trying to attract Purple Martins in the southern half of their breeding territory, then you may be able to get away with having trees 25 feet (7.6 m) away from the housing.

Are starlings and sparrows in purple martin housing?

House Sparrows and Starlings are non-native species and compete for nesting sites with other native cavity nesters. Our native species haven’t had time to develop defenses against these two species and are often destroyed in attacks for nest. It will be your job to prevent them from nesting in your Purple Martin housing.

Can other birds nest in a Martin House?

There are a number of other species of birds that will readily take over the site and the nesting cavities if given the chance. If ANYother species is allowed to settle into a martin house before martins have established themselves, that site will rarely attract nesting martins.

How high should a purple martin nest be?

Purple Martins will nest anywhere between 10 feet (3 m) and 20 feet (6 m) from the ground. If there are absolutely no trees around, you can put the housing structures 10 or 12 feet (3 or 3.7 m) high, but you’ll need to place them closer to 18 or 20 feet (5.5 or 6 m) if there are trees nearby. Make the housing stable and stationary.

How close to a tree can you put a Martin House?

Choose the center of the largest open spot available, about 30-120 feet from human housing and at least 40-60 feet from trees. In the southern half of their breeding range, martins may accept housing that is placed within 25 feet of trees, but open areas are always best.

What attracts purple martins to Your House?

Location, location, location! One of the most important steps in attracting Purple Martins is choosing the right location for your martin housing. Martins prefer housing that is placed in open areas with clear flyways. Choose the center of the largest open spot available, about 30-120 feet from human housing and at least 40-60 feet from trees.

What eats purple martins?

Both European starlings and house sparrows can aggressively compete with purple martins for nesting sites, and constant checking of available houses is necessary to remove unwanted nests and give the martins better opportunities to thrive.

Can other species claim the housing of a Martin?

2. Landlord allows other bird species to claim the housing first. If any other species is allowed to settle into a martin house before martins at unestablished sites, those houses will rarely attract nesting martins. This is because birds set up territories around their nest sites and defend them against other birds.

Can a bluebird nest in a purple martin house?

It will be your job to prevent them from nesting in your Purple Martin housing. Actually, you can not allow any other species to nest in your Martin house. This includes Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, and Wrens. Martins will not fight other species to nest in housing that has never been occupied.

How close to a house can a martin nest be?

Housing placed too far from human housing. Research has shown that martin housing placed more than 120 feet from human housing has a lower chance of being occupied. This is because martins have “learned,” through natural selection, that the closer they nest to man, the safer they are from predators.

How high should a purple martin house be mounted?

A purple martin house must be mounted on a pole or post at least 10 feet high. Don’t attach it to a tree, because cats and raccoons could easily climb to the nests, and purple martins won’t move in.

How far from a tree can you build a birdhouse?

Choose the center of the largest open spot available, at least 40-60 feet from trees and within 100 feet of human housing. In the southern half of their breeding range, martins may accept housing that is placed within 25 feet of trees, but open areas are always best. Place the housing where you can enjoy watching the birds.

What is the best way to place birdhouses?

The guidelines below show the optimal placement of birdhouses. But, you may find that a bit of variance works. With some species, a “tree trunk” might successfully be replaced with a post, the siding on your house or a birdhouse hanging from a limb.

Why won’t my Purple martins stay in my house?

One reason people fail to attract purple martins is that they place their purple martin house improperly. Martins must have adequate space around their house in order to fly freely within their territory. The house should be placed in the center of an open area, Purple martins usually will not use housing obstructed by trees.

How to attract purple martins to your yard?

Tall poles with antenna-like structures on top are excellent perches for purples martins. Nesting Sites: You can attract purple martins by putting up appropriate purple martin houses . They are colonial nesters and large birdhouses with multiple compartments are best to meet their needs.

Do purple martins have any enemies?

The purple martin’s worst enemies are the European starling and the house sparrow. Both of these species are aggressive toward purple martins and may attack or kill birds in competition for nesting sites. Other enemies of purple martins include snakes, raccoons, hawks, owls, squirrels, and feral cats.

Why is the house martin endangered?

The possible causes of House Martin decline include – Limited aerial insect availability during the breeding season, Reduced suitable habitat and food during the winter in Africa, Adverse effects of weather conditions during migration, Limited access to mud for nest-building Restricted nest site availability (for example, on new houses)

Is a house martin a migrant?

The common house martin is a migrant which moves on a broad-front (i.e. European birds are not funnelled through the short sea crossings used by large soaring birds, but cross the Mediterranean and Sahara). While migrating they feed in the air on insects, and they usually travel in daylight.

How many nests does a house martin have?

The common house martin tends to breed colonially, and nests may be built in contact with each other. A colony size of less than 10 nests is typical, but there are records of colonies with thousands of nests.

What to do if you find a purple martin in Your House?

Check out for any nests in your garages, light fittings, trees etc. If the nest is not occupied by the young purple martins or eggs, remove them without hesitation. After removing, please take note of the place where it nested, because they have a tendency to come back to that place and try to build their nest again.

What kind of nest does a purple martin make?

Purple Martin. Purple Martins build their nests out of small twigs, straw, bark, and mud; and line the nest bowl with green leaves. They build a flat nest, only about 1 to 3 inches high and some nests feature a mud dam, or lip, at the front of the nest. Adult and subadult nests can vary.