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