Trees close to PM housing

[mayboy]

I'm hoping maybe against odds to become a PM landlord, and I have a question - Is anyone successful in attracting PMs at your site regardless of trees close by? I have trees on all sides of the housing but none closer than 45 ft to the upper part of the trees. Two sides are no closer than 75 feet and 100 feet. So, again none are closer than 45 feet. I've read many times that a minimum of 40 ft is recommended. Just wondering if anyone has defied this and still have Martins? My new housing stands now where I had a huge oak cut last year - which will be firewood for the next two years - however I can't do anything about the other trees. I do have a wide open field about two hundred feet from my house but that's probably too far away. Feedback is appreciated!

[bootjack farm]

Mayboy, I have two very large (80 ft. or so) spruce trees w/in 50ft. of two housing units. It was an ideal location except for the two trees. I tried for 9 years w/o any nesters.

Finally, I had my mentor(Ed Pace) look at my site. Besides discouraging Tree swallows he recommended moving some of my housing to the back side of my home which is farther from any trees. I did one better and bought a third unit and placed it where he recommended. Finally success! Each housing unit (including the ones near the big trees) had a nesting pair...go figure.

My thought is even though your field is farther than recommended from your house, if possible provide some housing out there. PM's don't seem to follow all our rules. Good luck.

[wmfamily]

You never know with Martins... I have two houses with trees closer than 40' but a clear flight path in from the east. They don't seem to mind flying around the trees and seem to enjoy it. Last night they spent ~1 hour flying around among the trees before going in for the night. I think something else in my favor is I have a very tall roosting tree with a clear line of sight to the house ~150 yards away. They spend a lot of time sitting in that tree watching over their house.

It may take several years for them to find you but if you have a colony nearby you may get some of their "overflow" if you are fortunate.

[flyin-lowe]

I live in Indiana where the martin populations are not near as high as they are in the south. Near my old office I found two location where martins were nesting in houses surrounded by trees. One of them was right in town, the other was out away from town. This was years ago and I posted pictures one here of the one site which actually had trees touching some of the houses, large trees. It is not impossible but as others have said, if that wide open field you described is your property then I would put a house up there too, it can't hurt.
Ill have to see if I can find the old posts and pictures of the tree encroached houses, it was probably 8-10 years ago....

[flyin-lowe]

Heres a link with some info...


https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... 23#p148798

[-=DKC=-]

I have trees very close to my gourd rack on 3 sides. The 4th side is clear of trees. I finally got resident Martins in my fourth year of trying and that was only after I added an extra pole section to raise my pole to around 15 or 16 foot. I try to keep my trees trimmed to provide clear flyways in as many directions as possible.

There's a photo of my setup in another thread on this subject here...
https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... 87#p274587

My theory is that southern birds may be more tolerant of trees than northern birds because Accipiters are largely gone from the south by the time the Martins start laying eggs.

I could easily be mistaken but I know my (South Texas) colony this year were very nervous until our overwintering Accipiters disappeared about 3 weeks ago. They wouldn't hang out on the gourds or power lines. They would either fly high or tuck quickly inside the gourds. They are acting totally different now. They casually hang out all morning and intermittently throughout the day. Northern birds won't get a break from the hawks.

[Tengai]

I’m new to the purple Martin thing
I’ve seen occupied houses up fairly close to trees. In every instance there was a clear flight path from more than one angle
The only downside I can see from a site close to trees is hawks can get close using the trees as cover before they are seen. At wide open sites they can be seen from a distance
At my house we are lucky in that there are no trees close and my property backs to a cornfield
Just Saturday the martins harassed and chased a hawk away that they saw before he could surprise them!

[BillieJR]

Hey, Phil - good for your martins! I hope they are always on their toes like that!

[Rockchalk]

My lake martin site has been around a long time but trees grew in on pretty much three sides. One side trees are very close... maybe 25'. Lake side is open. Three years ago I decided to rebuild my house and work on the trees some. I got one nesting pair that year and I think the same nesting pair the following year (last season). Apparently they were not deterred by the trees and the fledglings (9 total two years) did not have an issue with them. This weekend the same house had eight martins using the house. I'm not sure if they are just taking refuge from the cold or if they will stay... time will tell that. There is another site on the same lake I'm on that has trees packed around it. That house had more martins then mine last year. So... I Think it depends on how determined your martins are and how much housing is available. I think in your spot if I had an open field I'd be inclined to move the house or put another up.

[CapnJack]

Mayboy

I like some have a colony mostly surrounded by trees. 1 Conifer within 45' and 2 deciduous trees at 40'
and another deciduous tree at 45' and many more too numerous too mention. I believe this is where patience
pays off in establishing a colony as I was at the end of mine more than once. All it takes is 1 pair and if
you treat them like royalty you will be rewarded.

I do believe DKC has done it right by adding a little more height to the pole.

Sincerely

[Indiana_Tom]

Keep in mind that trees not only can block the glide path of martins returning to their homes but also give predators like hawks an advantage. If a tall tree is close, a hawk can leave the tree and glide silently, surprising a martin setting on a perch or porch. Hawks coming from a distance will have to flap their wings making them much more noticeable to the martins.

I have a lo of trees on my place but did have a large open field (3 acres) that I put my two gourd racks up in. I was lucky and got a nesting pair the first year. Then of course you worry all winter, wondering if they will live to make it back the second yer. Just like bringing up kids.

I would recommend going to the closest or most convenient open area.

[Purple Man]

I Know my aunt has trees and martins ,put housing in as open area as you can

[Indiana_Tom]

I have had Martins since the first year I put housing up. I have a neighbor that has been trying to get martins for 6 years now and has some each year the look at his housing but, do not stay. His aluminum house is 15 feet from a 35 ft tall tree. I have told him more than once that martins do not care for trees and that he need a more open area but each year he does the same thing. He could move the house 150 feet to the left and be in a large opening next to the county road but, he doesn't. I feel bad for my neighbor but after trying to help him over the years by telling him to just move the pole to an open area, I have somewhat lost most of my interest.

So, here is my thought. If you want martins, try to put their home where they would want to be. It is hard enough to get martins the way it is but trying to get them to live and raise their family in a place they do not want to be is just that much harder. It is bad when a person just does not have a choice but if you do have a choice, don't accept all that frustration of trying with no results. When I go outside, I can hear my martins singing and see them soaring the sky overhead. I have to take a little walk to get a good look at they house but since they are happy, I am happy.

good luck all