Purple martins are the largest member of the swallow family in North America. They are glossy blue-black birds that nest in colonies, relying on human-provided nest boxes. Purple martins migrate north from South America each spring to breed in North America before heading south again in the fall. Setting up a purple martin house can help provide these beneficial insect-eating birds with safe nesting sites. Here are some tips on getting started with a purple martin house.
Choose the Right Location
One of the most important things when setting up a purple martin house is choosing the right location. Purple martins prefer open areas away from trees, with ready access to open sky. A house placed in the middle of a yard is ideal. Make sure to allow at least 30-60 feet of clearance around the house—no trees, wires, fences or other structures. Purple martins like to inspect houses from above, so giving them an open flyway is key. Mount the house on a pole facing east to southeast to minimize sun exposure. Locate the house within 100 feet of human housing or activity, as martins like to be near people.
Select an Appropriate House
Purple martin houses should have multiple compartments, typically 6-12 rooms at minimum. Compartments around 6-7 inches square work well. Houses can be made of wood, aluminum or plastic, but wood houses should be painted white to reflect heat. Make sure the house is durable and clean. It should have easy access for monitoring and cleaning, with removable doors, panels or porches. The house should be mounted on a 1-2 inch diameter metal pole, 10-20 feet above the ground. Include a pulley system to easily raise and lower the house. Place decorative gourds below compartments.
Add Predator Guards
It’s important to ensure purple martins are protected from predators. Install metal predator guards around the pole below the house to prevent snakes, raccoons, squirrels and other predators from climbing up. Guards should be about 3-4 feet long and loose enough so they spin freely around the pole. A cone-shaped pole guard can also be used below the house. Check that all doors, holes and cracks are smaller than 1 inch to exclude non-native house sparrows and European starlings. Routinely check the house for small holes squirrels may chew and repair any damage.
Include Perches
Add perches to the purple martin house for the birds to land and rest. Place perches below the entrance holes, protruding out 4-6 inches. Use thin branches or metal rods. Metal is more durable but can get hot in the sun. Painting metal white can help reflect heat. Make sure perches are spaced a few inches apart so birds don’t fight over landing spots. Also include a row of perches extending down below the house. These let the martins gather socially.
Put Up a Martin Pole
Place a martin pole about 30-60 feet from the purple martin house. This is a tall, thin pole with a pulley system at the top. Run two lengths of cord from the top of the pole—one connected to the martin house and the other left hanging loose. The hanging cord allows you to easily raise the house on the pulley to inspect it. The pole also gives the martins a place to perch and gather nest materials from the surrounding area. The pole doesn’t need any perches or cross arms.
When to Put Up the House
Purple martins migrate north in the spring, so houses should be up and ready before they arrive. In northern areas, have the house up by mid-March. In southern areas, late January or February works. If martins arrive and there’s no housing, they may move on to find a different site. Check online or with local bird groups for information on martin arrival dates in your region. Take the house down in late summer after all broods have fledged and martins have left the area.
Entice the First Residents
It can take a bit of time and effort to entice purple martins to start using a new house. Here are some tips to attract the first martin residents:
– Play martin dawn songs near the house in the morning when scouts arrive. This signals to them.
– Place dark-colored decoys on the porches or inside rooms. Use martin silhouettes or stuffed birds.
– Bait the rooms with nest starter materials like pine straw. Martins collect this for building.
– Set up a temporary small housing unit the first year like gourds or small cabins. Martins are more likely to use these first.
– Be patient and persistent! It can take a few seasons.
Monitoring and Maintenance
Once purple martins take up residence in the house, they will need regular monitoring and maintenance during nesting season. Here are some tips:
– Check the house weekly for any issues like leaks, holes, damage or pests. Make repairs right away.
– Look for signs of nest building to determine which rooms are occupied. Note martin activity around the house.
– Carefully open compartments and inspect nests for eggs, chicks, etc. Tracking dates helps follow progress.
– Remove any abandoned nests, dead chicks, eggshells, waste. This keeps the house clean.
– Close up all rooms once nesting is done for the season. This prevents other birds from moving in.
– Lower the house and clean thoroughly after all broods have fledged. Remove all old nests, d
ebris and parasites. Scrub and disinfect the inside.
Exclude Competitors
Non-native house sparrows and European starlings are major competitors for purple martins. They can invade houses and cavities, damaging nests and even killing martins. Here are tips to exclude them:
– Make all entrance holes 1 1/8 inches or smaller. This prevents sparrows/starlings from entering but allows martins.
– Routinely check compartments and plug up any small holes squirrels may chew that birds can get through.
– Immediately remove any sparrow or starling nests found in the compartments. Check often as they build quickly.
– Install slotted entrance holes on compartments so martins can enter but competitors can’t.
– Trap sparrows and remove from the site if needed using decoy traps (check local laws first)
– Limit access to food, water and other nesting areas so competitors go elsewhere.
Use Purple Martin Sounds
Playing purple martin dawn song and contact calls near the house can help attract and keep martins coming back. The chorusing dawn song signals to scouts that the site is active. Contact calls allow martins to keep in touch around the house. Use a speaker system on a timer or solar-powered unit. Make sure volume is audible but not overwhelming. Only play sounds from mid-March to late July during nesting season.
| Sound | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Dawn song | Sings for 15-20 minutes before sunrise | Longer song that attracts scouts |
| Chortles | Short contact calls used around the house | Allows martins to communicate with mates |
| Subsong | Softer calls from juveniles | Used while still in nest |
Control Parasites and Pests
Purple martins can suffer from a variety of parasites and nest pests that can impact their health and reproductive success. It’s important to monitor and address these issues:
– Nest mites – Tiny reddish mites that feed on feathers and blood. Treat with nesting material sprays.
– Fleas – Nest fleas feed on adult and nestling blood. Remove old nests promptly.
– Blowfly larvae – These maggots burrow into nestlings and feed. Use an insecticide.
– Sparrow/starling mites – Mites from other birds can spread to martins. Control competitors.
– House sparrows – They damage eggs/chicks and can injure/kill adults. Monitor compartments.
– Squirrels – Chew holes, disturb nests. Check for and exclude entry points.
– Hornets/wasps – Aggressive species may prey on nestlings. Use traps carefully.
Provide Nest Materials
Purple martins build nests out of mud and plant materials. Providing some nest supplies can encourage use of the house. Avoid artificial fluffy materials, as wet weather can cause nest collapse. Here are some good natural materials:
– Twigs and thin sticks 4-9 inches long. Martins weave these into nests.
– Mud – Add mud to nearby puddles martins can collect from.
– Pine needles/straw/grass – Place bundles in rooms for starter material.
– Leaves – Shredded leaves make good nest lining.
– Moss – Provides insulation and padding for eggs.
– Feathers – Old feathers give soft lining.
– Dry grass/straw – Makes durable outer nest layers.
– Mud bricks – Offer as pre-formed building blocks.
Provide Food and Water
While purple martins feed exclusively on flying insects they capture mid-air, providing supplemental water and even extra food can help attract and sustain them.
– Place bird baths or pans of water near the house – change water daily
– Offer crushed oyster shell grit – gives calcium for eggshells
– Put out mealworm feeders with live larvae
– Use feeders with dried crickets/flies during cold snaps
– Place feeders below house – helps catch fledglings
Avoid food/water in the open that could attract crows/hawks. Clean dishes regularly to prevent mold/bacteria. Remove supplemental food sources once chicks can fly and feed independently.
Follow Up Annually
To keep purple martins returning year after year, it’s important to follow up with proper care each season:
– Do repairs/maintenance on the house and pole over winter
– Reinstall the house in early spring before martins return
– Continue excluding sparrows/starlings from the site
– Use recorded sounds daily when martins first arrive
– Replace nest compartment doors/floors if needed
– Clean out all compartments after nesting season ends
– Take down and store the house over winter
– Make observations and tweak methods to improve success annually
Enjoy the Experience
Part of the fun of hosting purple martins is being able to observe their behaviors and interactions around the colony. Here are some ways to enjoy the martins:
– Watch aerial displays as martins chase and dive around the housing
– Observe social gatherings and vocalizations on the martin pole
– Check nests for progress but avoid excess disturbance
– Sit near the housing and watch adults bringing food to nestlings
– Identify and track individual martins if possible
– Journal martin activity and dates through the season
– Install a martin cam so you can monitor activity from indoors
– Share the experience with others in your neighborhood
Following these tips, with time, effort and patience, you can successfully attract a colony of amazing purple martins to nest in the housing you provide. It’s a rewarding and fascinating process to observe each season. Enjoy hosting these beautiful aerial acrobats!
FAQ
What is the best height to install a purple martin house?
The optimal height for a purple martin house is 10-20 feet above ground. This gives them a clear flight path in and out of the entrance holes but allows for easy monitoring and management from below.
How much space do purple martins need around their house?
It’s ideal for purple martins to have an open, unobstructed area at least 30-60 feet around their house. This enables easy approach and departure. Avoid installing houses near trees, wires, fences or other structures.
What color house do purple martins prefer?
White or light-colored houses are ideal, since they reflect heat from the sun. Avoid dark colored houses that may get too hot in summer sun. Metal and plastic are good materials. Wood houses should be painted white.
What is the recommended number of rooms/compartments in a purple martin house?
Houses with at least 6-12 rooms or compartments are recommended. Martins nest in dense colonies and extra capacity allows them to expand over time. Units with fewer than 6 rooms may not attract as many occupants.
How can you keep sparrows and starlings from taking over a purple martin house?
Use slotted entrances, plug holes, and monitor compartments daily to remove nests. Limit food/water sources nearby. Trap prolific sparrows if needed. Ensure all holes are smaller than 1 1/8 inches. Persistence is key.
When should you take down and clean a purple martin house each year?
Purple martin houses should be taken down, cleaned thoroughly, and disinfected after all chicks have fledged and vacated the house, typically around late July through early August. This prevents parasites or pathogens from accumulating over winter.
What predators threaten purple martins?
The main predators purple martins face include snakes, raccoons, cats, rats, squirrels, raptors like falcons, and owls. Installing predator guards around the pole and plugging holes in the house helps protect martins from these threats.
How can you tell if purple martins are nesting in a particular compartment?
Look for signs of nest building like mud or twigs being carried in, as well as feathers or grass sticking out of the hole. Adults entering and exiting frequently, sitting on the hole, or peeking out, indicate occupancy. Monitor progress to track nesting stages.
Why do purple martins like being near human housing/activity?
In their South American winter habitat, martins roost and breed around cliff sides. Man-made nest sites and housing near people mimic these natural colony sites, so martins have adapted to seek out human company.
Conclusion
Attracting one of North America’s most charismatic aerial insectivores to your yard takes a little effort but brings big rewards. By using proper house design and placement, monitoring nests, controlling pests, and meeting purple martins’ preferences, you can establish a vibrant and active colony. Enjoy watching the martins busily gather food, interact on perches, and raise young in the nesting cavities you provide. With great care, these beautiful songbirds will return each spring to utilize the safe haven you offer. When the purple martins arrive, be sure to take time to simply observe and appreciate the wonder of nature right around you.
