Purple Martin Forum

I currently have a 8 space house and put it out about 2 weeks ago and initially got some attention. I would have 2-3 single scouts come and hang around but not stay. I’m getting more sparrows than martins. A neighbor has gourds out and they seem to be attracted to those, should I switch to gourds an...

Living in Michigan the PM's have move on, so my question is do I take the house down or leave it up for the winter and put it back out in April?

Thank you.

Still having issues with HOSP and have tried blocking the hole and removing the nests and haven't had alot of success trying to shoot them. They see me coming and just fly away. Now all I hear pretty much during the day is their chirping? I've had a pair come by the house but don't stop. Should I co...

So I think we had either 2 scouts or a pair briefly come to the house I just put up, but haven't seen them since? It's been about 2 weeks and I continue to use the Dawnsong CD but no luck bringing them back. HOSP's try to make several nests daily and haven't dialed in the pellet gun yet to get them....

I purchased the DawnSong and Daytime Chatter CD's and two decoys and I think I have 2 scouts checking out my house. However, I have HOSP who are trying to build a nest each day. I haven't been able to shoot them because as soon as I get ready they fly into the near by tree! Should I close any of the...

Good Luck, anything you can do to your housing to make it lived in will help. Dawn song, decoys, prenesting, a little smeared mud around the openings. Purple Martins want to be with other Purple Martins, make it look like some already live there. Jeff, I was able to get the house up this weekend. T...

Thank you . I think i’ll try there and see what happens. Going to try and get it up this weekend and hopefully we’ll get some this year..

Jeff,
Do you think I could go to the left of the dock? We usually swim on the right because it’s the sandier of the two sides.

Thanks for the suggestion and help.

Mark

Jeff,

Hopefully this link will help show the frontage on the lake. We have the house with the red roof.

I do not want to put it near the firepit as we use that very often during the summer and there is usually alot of activity around that.

Thanks,

Mark

https://goo.gl/maps/9k3TDibFiQxPrBfH7

I am researching the best spot to put my PM house up and just wondering if there are specific distances from trees or other nesting areas?

The ideal location is about 15 feet away from the nearest tree as well as a dead tree that HOSP's used to nest last year.

Thank you.

I do want BB's and are trying to get them to use the nesting box and dead tree where they have hollowed out a hole. My biggest issue would be with the HOSPS and Starlings. Mr. Hancock, curious why you don't want Bluebirds? They are not a nuisance or danger to PMs and the 2 species coexist just fine ...

Thank you all for the replies and help. I have seen other PM houses around the lake and the poles were in the water. I'll look for a area along the shoreline far enough away from a few trees that surround our property. I'll also keep an eye out and watch the nests for House Sparrows and pay attentio...

I am brand new to Purple Martins and just looking for a little advice to hopefully attract them this year and for years to come. I recently purchased an 16 room aluminum house with a telescoping pole. I live on a local lake in SW Michigan so just wondering about a few things? When should I put the h...