Purple Martins Part 2

by Stan Tekiela
© NatureSmart
June 22, 2007

Apparently I struck a nerve with my last column about Purple Martins. I have heard from many readers who now want to try and put up a martin house after reading about my limited success with attracting martins.. So I thought I better follow up with some do’s and don’t when it comes to attracting Purple Martins.

I don’t want to go negative on you right away but if you don’t plan on actively managing your martin house, which means weekly checks of the inhabitants, and especially aggressively managing sparrows and starlings please don’t put up a martin house. The reason behind this is, if you just put up a martin house in your suburban backyard (which is usually not suitable habitat for martins) it will only serve to attract sparrows and starlings and do nothing to help out the failing martin population.

Speaking of martin populations, the National Audubon Society put out a report last week that stated Purple Martin are one of the top three birds declining in population in North America. Their over all population is down nearly 80 percent over the past 40 years. So putting up and correctly managing a martin house can go a long way to help out the falling martin population.

For the first timer, choosing a martin house can be a real challenge. I have a multi-compartment metal house along with two plastic gourds. No matter what kind of house you get, you need a pole system that either telescopes or one that cranks the box up and down. Either way you will need to lower the box to your level without tilting the box onto its side. Poles should be between 10-15 feet tall.

Placement of your martin house is the number one mistake made when trying to attract martins. Matins have very specific space requirements. The house should be in the center of the largest open space available. There should be no trees in a 50-60 foot radius. In my case I have put my martin house on my boat dock which juts into the lake. The extra space allows the birds a long gliding flight pattern to approach the house. If you have a heavily wooded lot your chances of getting martins are slim. In my area being on a lake seems to increase your odds dramatically.

Martins like to be near human houses. Be sure to place the martin house close to your own house and be sure to place it within eyesight of your favorite window where you can sit and watch the martins come and go. This will also allow you hours of enjoyment and give you an early warning of predators along with watching for sparrows and starlings.

Speaking of sparrows and starlings. For some readers this is going to be a major problem if you put up a martin house. Sparrows and starlings will take over all the compartments, destroy the eggs of any nesting martins or even kill the adult martins. In order to be a successful martin landlord you will need to control any sparrows and starlings. Since both of these birds are not native and not protected by laws they can be legally trapped and destroyed. Remember if Tree Swallows or House Wrens move in they are protected by federal laws and can not be killed.

Once your box is up you will need to conduct weekly checks of your martins to make sure no sparrows have moved in. It is also a good idea to keep track of how your martins are doing and count the number of eggs or chicks.

Be sure to keep your martin house in good repair and while we are on the subject, painting your martin house white is always a good idea. White will reflect the sun and keep the interior cooler. Some say that martins prefer white houses but I have also seen studies that showed it really didn’t matter what color the house was.

Opening and closing the martin house is also very important. Manufactured martin houses come with plugs or doors for each compartment. Opening or removing the doors too soon in the spring only invites nest site competitors to set up shop and keep out the martins. Closing the compartments after the season is just as important.

So there you have some basic information on being a martin landlord. For more detailed information check the Purple Martin Conservation Association web site at www.purplemartin.org. Until next time

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