Get Ready For Purple Martins Now

After wintering in South America, the gregarious purple martins are on their way back, and several sightings of adult birds have already occurred in Texas and south Florida (mid January 2010). By mid March, expect martins to be arriving in northern Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and the Virginias.

The first arrivals in a given area are adult scouts, who are returning to the nests they occupied the year before. Most are not seeking new nesting, and will bypass vacant nesting on their way to their previous nests. Yearlings, also called sub adults begin arriving four to ten weeks after the first adults have arrived.

Therefore, it is not necessary to open martin housing when the first scout appears. Opening houses too soon will give starlings and sparrows the opportunity to take over the housing before the nesting martins arrive.

Purple martins are one of America's most enjoyed backyard birds. They are fun to watch, pleasant to listen to, and they can eat up to 2000 flying insects per day.

These birds are totally dependent upon humans for their housing. Once a colony is established, martins will return to raise their young year after year, as long as the housing is maintained.

Birdhouses are major breeding grounds for all kinds of mites, fleas, scavenging ants and spiders. All parasites and arthropods feed on the very young birds and may even cause their death.

Prior to the return of your martins, its important to remove winter door stops and thoroughly clean the houses. There are all-natural sprays available to make this an easy task. Reinstall sub floors if used. This will ward against spiders or ants that may have taken refuge in your martin house while vacant.

Unlike birds such as cardinals and finches that can be attracted by simply setting out feeders, attracting martins is more of a challenge. Martins, while they are very enjoyable to watch, are picky about their surroundings, and a little effort is required to attract them.

Here are some tips from the Purple Martin Conservation Association to help you get started.

1. Martins require specific purple martin housing. These may be painted (on the outside only) gourds, or specially designed houses that hold up to 24 or more pairs of birds. Such houses may be made from wood, plastic, or aluminum. Aluminum seems to be the preferred material because it is strong, light, maintenance free, and with proper ventilation, is cooler.

Other features to look for are Starling Resistant Entry Holes (SREH), porch dividers, and owl guards. Martins prefer white houses, but the trim can be of any color. The minimum compartment size should be 6x6x6 inches. However, recent research by PMCA indicates that larger compartments such as 6x12 inches result in greater occupancy.

2. Martins are also picky about where the house is located. There should be no trees within 40, or preferably, 60 feet of the martin house. Martins like human company, so locate their house within 40 to 100 feet of your own. Experts believe that these birds, over many years, have learned that houses near human activity reduce predation.

3. Martin houses should be mounted on a free-standing pole, about 10 to 20 feet off the ground. This pole should either telescope or use a hoist feature so that the house can be raised and lowered easily for cleaning.

Another important point is that the orientation of the house should not change. That is, the side initially facing south should always face south. Martins recognize their own nest based on orientation and location within the house. So if the house turns 90 degrees for example, the martins won't be able to locate their own nest.

4. One of the biggest problems people have in attracting and keeping martins is preventing predation. Starlings or house sparrows will occupy a martin house unless the entrances are blocked until the martins arrive.

A guard on the pole is necessary to keep raccoons and snakes from climbing it. An owl guard will keep owls and hawks away from the compartments. Martin "landlords" should check their houses at least weekly for signs of predation.

Purple martins are one of our most desirable backyard birds, and with the right site and maintenance, you can have them return year after year.