Unorthodox Location Leads to Success

[BDR]

I wanted to share my Purple Martin story. The house I grew up at as a kid had an unmanaged Purple Martin colony. The only management it got was cleaning nets out once a year, if that, on the three aluminum bird houses. They were all round entry holes and I remember House Sparrows and Starlings nesting beside the Martins. I didn't know a thing about Purple Martins growing up. My dad loved watching them. I didn't really understand his affection for them.

Three years ago I received a S&K 12 family Purple Martin House as a gift. It is plastic with crescent shaped holes. I don't even remember what time of the year I put it up. I placed it on a telescoping pole right beside a 7' tall picket fence. I had it placed approx. 10' in the air. My large metal barn is to the south of it 7' away. There are 3 trees in close proximity. They are all about 30' tall. To the north one is 25' away. To the east one is 20' away. The closest tree is just 15' away to the north west. My house is approx. 100' to the west. I live on the flat plains of Texas in the panhandle. Other than what I described the rest of the area is open. There are good flight paths all from the north east, west, south west. Not so much as a sparrow even looked at the bird house for the past three years.

May 1st, 2017, I noticed a pair of Martins sitting on the bird house porch. A day later 2 more birds showed up and 2 more the following day. During their first week, they started taking a very small amount of nesting material into the bird house. I didn't see them for a couple days, then 2 pair returned. ASY male and female have what looks like a completed nest including some leaves to finish it off. The other pair has a SY male and their nest isn’t as far along. Neither pair have any eggs yet. I know my title says success, but I’m not going to call this a success until I have some fledglings and they in turn return next year. I’m still scared they are going to leave again.

Getting to watch these Martins and hear them sing has been so awesome. Like I said above, I knew basically nothing about Martins prior to 17 days ago. I didn’t think to read up on the placement of the house 3 years ago. I just assumed you put it out and they show up. I’ve spent countless hours sitting outside watching and worrying about them. I’ve read countless online articles and forums trying to learn all that I can. I’ve read the other posts where people have tried for years to attract Martins. I don’t know how I got the dumb luck, but I’m glad I did. I can’t help but to think that maybe some of these Martins are the descendants from my late dad’s colony.

Owl scare…read my other post.

Signed
New Purple Martin Enthusiast

Martin House.jpg

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[stan davison]

Actually your site is perfect for Martins. If that was my place j would put up a gourd rack Asap two feet further away from fence with snake netting and a predator guard. You will have more martins than you'll know what to do with.

[Bcorbs1217]

I had the same experience with my dad growing up! We had an aluminum house in our backyard in Virginia Beach. The martins used to perch on the telephone lines just behind the house. Those are fond memories for me as I can tell they are for you as well. I've read that once the leaves go in the nest, eggs will soon follow. Good luck this season and thank you for sharing such a sweet story. Becky

[BillieJR]

How exciting for you! I look forward to hearing more about your new colony!

[C.C.Martins]

BDR,
Gotta echo Stan, put up gourds ASAP! Same thing happened to me and like you will not consider myself a landlord until (if) they fledge young ones and return. Very nice

[Luv Ya Purple]

Ahhh yes that first year getting martins good feelings and nervous ones .Your site looks decent. I have seen worse sites than yours and they had martins.

[BDR]

I actually did put a gourd rack. During the time I wasn't for sure my birds were coming back, I was desperate. I bought a six pack of S&K gourds from my local chain farm and garden store after work one night. I couldn't find a suitable pole to mount them on that night so I bought some supplies and welded my own setup. It's nothing pretty, but it was fast. I set the pole in concrete that night at midnight with the gourds attached. I smeared some mud on and in a few. I also placed some pine needles in a few and placed two decoys on the overhead perch rods. The Martins that took up residence in my Martin house have checked the gourds out a few times, but I haven't seen activity at the gourds in the last week or so.

[C.C.Martins]

we aren't far removed from each other...as soon as those martins showed up I went a little crazy too. Checked this web site for gourds, bought cheap (didnt know) gourds from a local place, smeared mud and put bedding material in and hung them from the martin house. terrible idea, swung everywhere and they ignored them. two days later I ordered the 4 bundle gourd rack with crescents from this site and couldnt wait till they showed, checked every day. Finally, arrived...dug a nice deep hole near the fence, put quick crete in it, shoved a 6 foot 2inch pipe in it and screwed it all into the fence. Then poured quick crete in that pipe and set the pole in it giving it a 4-5 foot lift. Very quietly I snipped a few branches from the neighbors bush (happens to be under the gourds ) it was about 1130pm when I finally got it all up. 0345 got up for work and checked the pole first thing...GTG. three days later two martins claimed a gourd each. My place is not martin friendly but who knows, I guard them and am glad they are here. heres a sidways pic...sorry.
Tom

[Luv Ya Purple]

Don't think a snake cant get up that pole and wreak havoc. Get that predator protection on asap.

[C.C.Martins]

YES! Its up, used netting about 3 feet from the gourds...old picture sorry. couldn't get the cone to fit.

[BDR]

1st eggs ever!

Wow, I hadn't checked my nests in a few days. I have two Martin nests. One has 4 eggs and the other has 3.

1st Eggs.jpg (110.29 KiB) Viewed 7280 times

[BillieJR]

BDR!! Hooray for you!! You must be having so much fun!