Anyone running any? Been thinking about this and may start acting on it. Any tips on what too do or not too do?
Purple Martin Houses
- Thread starter "J"
- Start date
Everything you would need can be found at TroyerGourds.com. This book is also very helpful.
Purple Martins are really cool. That being said, it is a fair amount of work to keep a nesting colony happy and well cared for.
I’m gathering the whole process of keeping “birds happy”
But if the benefits outweigh the labor, it’ll be worth it.
I’ve been trying for 2 years with marginal success. I have competition though as one neighbor already had 3 Martin houses behind their house right next to their big pond for 15 years. Fira year I put it out too soon(4/1) and 3-5 families of other species of birds took up residence before the Martins arrived. This year I held off to 5/1 and still had blue birds and warblers or wrens come but do have 1 pair that comes and goes. Next spring I’ll put up the house later in May when I see my first pair flying around.
That’s our problem currently Ric. Too many species around and they all wanna build in every nook and cranny…. I literally have too look in my boots that I keep in the garage for nesting material….
Stressless
Active Member
So I may not be the right one as I've been trying for 20 years, off and on, to get nesting pairs and last year was my first year with 2 nesting pairs in a 18 next house. It's on a bayou and there were other houses up and nesting pairs in them.
This year was ... glorious. 6-8 nesting pairs and many yoy when we got back from CO. They are roosting in it at night as well so I hope to get double digit nesting paris next year.
I put a box up on the pond at the farm in OH 2 years ago and year 1, nothing so I cut about 1/4 acre of woods down - moved the canopy back from the house year 2 - nadda as well. I also added two decoys as well... I didn't see any purple martin activity.
On both I use a telescoping pole to lower and raise the house.
This year was ... glorious. 6-8 nesting pairs and many yoy when we got back from CO. They are roosting in it at night as well so I hope to get double digit nesting paris next year.
I put a box up on the pond at the farm in OH 2 years ago and year 1, nothing so I cut about 1/4 acre of woods down - moved the canopy back from the house year 2 - nadda as well. I also added two decoys as well... I didn't see any purple martin activity.
On both I use a telescoping pole to lower and raise the house.
We were looking at something similar too this and the telescopic pole also.
Spencie
Senior Member
I am fortunate, we have an abundance of purple martins. We thought about putting out nests but there is no need. We can watch them fly over our fields every day. Mowing the fields gets dangerous with them zig zagging around the tractor.
Stressless
Active Member
@Spencie ya, back in the day around our farm mowing the 3-4 acres of grass was a circus with Barn Swallows doing that...
Stressless
Active Member
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I drive through this town every day while hunting in Illinois... They say a purple martin can eat 2000 mosquito's a day....
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Stressless
Active Member
Got a bunch back to the colony of 3 houses and 36 nest boxes. Still in TN for a bit, but counted 7 nesting pairs across the boxes so far.
Stressless
Active Member
Sound may bring cats running and make dogs howl... lol. I kinda like the colony chatter. I have 2 of these 12 box houses on my dock and put this one up on my neighbors, so 36 boxes within 60 yards - the cam's on my dock and is pitched up as high as the operating angle will allow.
Stressless
Active Member
Stressless
Active Member
I had successful hatches in all three houses I'm running at home in FL. None in the OH house. The juvies and adults come back periodically and it's a complete gaggle. They've been doing this for over a week now. The gaggle I got video of this AM is without sound, shame as their calls are loud and pleasant.
...and every one of them is full - "Purple martins are aerial insectivores that eat around 2,000 insects per day."
The still shots just don't do it justice.
...and every one of them is full - "Purple martins are aerial insectivores that eat around 2,000 insects per day."
The still shots just don't do it justice.
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