| As Adult Purple Martins begin their migration and | | | | Tracking arrival times, can easily be done by |
| start arriving in the southern most parts of the | | | | visiting This site does a great job at providing all |
| eastern U.S. by mid January. Our thoughts turn to | | | | the information needed to become a Martin |
| becoming Martin landlords. | | | | landlord. |
| This migration will continue northward with colonies | | | | Types Of Housing |
| nesting primarily east of the Rockies through early | | | | There are many types of Martin Houses available. |
| may. Sub-adults, those in their first breeding year, | | | | The most common types are made from wood, |
| arrive 3 to 6 weeks after the adults. | | | | aluminum, and plastic. Heat absorption is a primary |
| If you've ever consider attracting Purple Martins | | | | consideration when selecting houses for Martins. |
| to nest near you, now is the time to learn what | | | | Dark paint colors hold more heat and should not |
| you need to know to be a successful Purple | | | | be used. Ease of lowering the house to perform |
| Martin landlord. | | | | monitoring checks should also be considered. |
| Unlike most backyard birds, It's not as simple as | | | | Personally I prefer the telescoping poles. These |
| placing a Martin house up and walking away. | | | | are made to slide into each other keeping the |
| The location of the house, height, habitat, water, | | | | house level at all times. Pulley systems can be |
| and many other considerations need to be taken | | | | more costly, and any type that tilts the house |
| into account. | | | | can cause eggs and birds to slide out. |
| Becoming a landlord to Purple Martins shouldn't be | | | | Gourds can also be used. These can be natural or |
| taken lightly. If not taken seriously, you could be | | | | commercially made. |
| causing more harm than good to the Martins you | | | | When choosing to purchase a Martin house, buy |
| are trying to attract. House sparrows and | | | | from those who are familiar with birds. At the |
| European Starlings compete for nesting sites with | | | | very least, learn from the experts first, then shop |
| Purple Martins. | | | | for the best price. Start small and build up as you |
| A martin landlord must be diligent towards these | | | | establish your colony. |
| non-native species. Removing any nesting material | | | | Attracting Martins comes with no guarantee. Even |
| or eggs that these two species may bring or lay | | | | when all conditions are met, you still might not |
| in the martin house. | | | | successfully attract them the same year you |
| This may have to be done twice a day and | | | | start. But do not dispair, keep your houses up and |
| continue until the martins have established | | | | maintained through the fall migration. Sub-adult |
| themselves. These non-native species are more | | | | Martins may take note as they migrate |
| aggressive than martins at claiming nesting sites. | | | | southward. The following season may surprise |
| When starting a new colony it's important to | | | | you. It takes patience to attract martins. Although |
| know that sub-adults are the ones you'll be trying | | | | many have success their first year. |
| to attract. Exsisting colonies (those that nested in | | | | Get Started! |
| previous seasons) will generally return to the | | | | If you've considered becoming a Purple Martin |
| same houses each year. One more reason to | | | | landlord, the time has come to get started. |
| attract these insect eating birds to your home. | | | | It's easy to put it off year after year, we all think |
| New Martin housing should not be raised before | | | | up excuses only to regret it later as the season |
| the expected arrival of the sub-adult birds. | | | | ends... what might have been. |