Purple Martins...
- Thread starter Dakota
- Start date
RPMDAD
Well-Known Member
When do they come to Southern Maryland and when is the best time to put up a house for them???
Vrai... these are good birds that eat bugs
I wonder if they would eat Cicadas?
Very tricky to time it Dakota, if you put the house up to early, and other birds put a nest in it, the purple martins will avoid that house. Put it up and watch the birds, if other birds start nesting, take it down and clean it out and put it back up again until you can identify the martins nesting in it. Used to do this with my Dad, when i was younger and the bird house was 16 ft. up in the air.
Dakota
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So that must be why google hasn't helped me very much.
They seem like fussy birds - apparently you have to have good dividers up because although they are sharing a big house, they don't like their neighbors very much. At least that is what I read on the internet.
Now my neighbor has houses up so I wonder if that would lesson the chances of birds moving to my yard? And I have 2 cats, one that goes out often and I also read on the internet if they think they are not safe, they won't move in either.
RPMDAD
Well-Known Member
Ours was similar to the attached picture but 2 levels high instead of 3. Ours was up and this is a guess, about 12 - 16 feet high, so there was no worries about cats getting them.
I remember our neighbors had bird houses set up also for purple martins, and that was not a problem. They are great insect eaters, and love eating mosquitoes.
I remember our neighbors had bird houses set up also for purple martins, and that was not a problem. They are great insect eaters, and love eating mosquitoes.
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Lilypad
Well-Known Member
I have 2 Martin houses; both of which the Martin's don't use. 2 yrs. ago I switched to gourds and the Martins love them!! 
2013 Scout Arrival Page
2013 Scout Arrival Page
Dakota
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I have 2 Martin houses; both of which the Martin's don't use. 2 yrs. ago I switched to gourds and the Martins love them!!
2013 Scout Arrival Page
So... there might be some truth to the notion that they like dividers because they aren't particularly friendly to their neighbors - kinda wanna exist but not be bothered by the other residences.... thanks
Radiant1
Soul Probe
^^This. Once you get them established, they will come back year after year. In addition, the cats shouldn't be a problem until they try to get their babies to fly in which some will drop to the ground. They like open spaces, so if you're in a wooded area, forget it. Oh, and they're very, very CHATTY so you should expect some noise.
We had Martins when I was growing up. My dad would actually keep an eye out for the Starlings and shoot them with a bb gun to keep them out of the Martin house. Crazy ol' man.
GWguy
*
When I first moved in back in '94, I had 3 houses in the front yard FULL of martins. 40-50 of them. I maintained the houses like I was supposed to, cleaned them every spring, but over the years fewer and fewer returned. Other birds started to nest in the houses. Eventually none came back and I took them all down.
I really miss them. They kept the mosquito population down, and I loved going out after dark and listening to them 'talking' in their houses.
I really miss them. They kept the mosquito population down, and I loved going out after dark and listening to them 'talking' in their houses.
C
czygvtwkr
Guest
I read that as purple martians the first time i saw it.
Dakota
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Sadly, after much research on Purple Martins, my yard would not be a good location for them to come. They tend to like cleared property and I have way too many trees where I would be able to set the house and/or gourds up. 
I guess it was good to find this out now vs. spending a couple hundred dollars (or more) and find out later.
I guess it was good to find this out now vs. spending a couple hundred dollars (or more) and find out later.bucketlady
Member
I got a great deal on a purple martin house when Tractor Supply opened!
We set the pole last week and plan to put it up tomorrow!
We set the pole last week and plan to put it up tomorrow!
Dakota
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Let me know how that works out for you and if you get some renters.
I wanted to stop by there today but OMG, they were super busy.
We had Martins when I was growing up. My dad would actually keep an eye out for the Starlings and shoot them with a bb gun to keep them out of the Martin house. Crazy ol' man.
My Dad too. He would also shoot the sparrows and sometime take the whole house down, clean it up and wait for the martins.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Do you remember singing about them in school?
Dakota
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Funny how most Purple Martin fans generally hate other birds but favor these one.
These are actually productive birds, good to have around whereas the others just crap on everything with really no purpose but to be seen.Done_Wrong
Member
Bats eat more mosquitoes
Hope this helps - Fact sheet link to attracting Purple Martins
http://http://extension.umd.edu/sites/default/files/_docs/programs/woodland-steward/FS792_WMgtMartins.pdf
Hope this helps - Fact sheet link to attracting Purple Martins
http://http://extension.umd.edu/sites/default/files/_docs/programs/woodland-steward/FS792_WMgtMartins.pdf