Purple martin magic

Here are 7 tips to starting and housing your own purple martin colony.

Laurie Potter

Chuck Abare, Athens, Alabama, has raised purple martins since 1985. Because he didn't educate himself to begin with, he ran into all sorts of problems. "I didn't know what I was doing," he admits.

It's not difficult to build housing for purple martins, but it is tricky to keep a colony active year after year. If the housing isn't to the birds' liking, it just sits empty or pest birds take it over.

As a purple martin landlord, Chuck Abare, Athens, Alabama, experienced this frustration firsthand. He realized hosting martins is not simply placing a house on a pole and waiting for the birds to arrive. There is a right way and a wrong way to attract and care for these birds.

If you're thinking about becoming a landlord, consider these points first.

1. Educate yourself

Look for information not only on the birds themselves but also on how they live. Research what they need for proper housing, where to locate the colony, how martins feed and drink, and how they raise their young.

Learn about different insect pests that can infest the nests and predators, such as raccoons and snakes, that feed on martins and their young.

Another problem is invasive birds, such as the European starling and English house sparrow, that can take over martin houses.

Martins nest exclusively in North America and migrate to South America each fall. Scouts, the first birds back, begin arriving in January in the southern region. Birds will continue arriving well into May and even June in the more northern regions.

2. Select a suitable nesting site

Purple martins have very specific nesting requirements. Most importantly, they like wide open spaces. Martins don't like nesting near large trees. In fact, they don't like any sort of tree or bush near their nesting site. They instinctively know trees and bushes harbor predators, and those predators will gladly eat them or their young.

The general rule is trees or bushes should be no closer than 40 feet from the martin houses. However, Abare feels martin housing shouldn't be any closer to a tree than the tree is tall. For example, if the tree is 60 feet tall, the housing should be 60 feet away from it.

In addition, martins do not like wires attached to the martin pole. Wiring allows climbing predators, such as snakes and raccoons, easy access.

Martin houses can be made from many different materials, including wood, metal, and plastic. Gourds can also be used for housing (see below). They can be natural or made from plastic.

3. Choose a housing type

Housing choices range from many different styles of wooden, metal, and plastic. Gourds are another option and are available in two types: natural and manufactured. Natural gourds are grown and made into martin housing. The manufactured version is made of molded plastic.

Choosing the housing type may depend on where you live. Martins in certain regions of the country might be used to a specific type of housing, and it may be easier to attract them using the same style. Before choosing a style of housing, look around and see what's being used in your area.

4. Make fresh water available

Martins don't drink from birdbaths, but, instead, drink in flight. Open, fresh water near the nest will improve your chances to attract them. However, martins have been known to fly miles for water.

Purple martins are very friendly toward humans. If you spend enough time around their houses, they will begin to accept you as part of the site. It is believed martins feel that with human activity close by, there is less of a chance predators will be in the area. "In fact, it is well documented that the more human activity there is near a martin site, the more martins will show up," says Abare.

5. Inspect nests

Any housing you choose should be easy to access for inspection. It should be placed on a pole so it can be raised and lowered. Recent studies have shown colonies receiving regular nest checks are much healthier because the landlord can correct any problems that may exist.

6. Use predator guards

Guards (or barriers) can be put on poles to prevent ground-based predators from climbing the pole. There are also guards that can be put on housing to prevent attacks from owls. In addition, there are devices, known as Starling Resistant Entrance Holes (SREH), to replace round entrance holes so starlings cannot gain access. The devices are developed for specific types of housing.

7. Keep records

Since you're going to be in the nests anyway, there's no reason not to keep records. If data is kept accurately, it is a valuable tool to organizations that track martins.

"Having and hosting a purple martin colony can be a lot of work. But I also strongly feel it's worth it. I am amazed at these beautiful birds. To this day, I still sit and watch their antics and aerial acrobatics hour after hour," says Abare.