New PM landlord - help choose placement

[NewbernD]

Hi,

New landlord here, located in Maryland. My grandfather has been involved in caring for PMs in southern Florida for as long as I can remember and he finally got me to erect a house. Lonestar Goliad showed up yesterday and I am trying to decide on a spot to put it. Looking for suggestions.

Attached is a pic of my rear property. The spot that is dead center might be ideal, except that it is sitting on my septic tank and I am not keen on trying to dig there. And there are several Euonymous (burning bushes) arranged in a circle. I could probably go a little in front if it if I was careful with the digging. Aside from helping predators up the pole, is there any pro/con with locating it close to bushes (they are around 6' tall)

Was also eying up the spots indicated in Red as alternates. Thoughts?

or am I overthinking here?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Dave

[KaraInTexas]

You are not overthinking! Placement is important.
I remember google searching on this topic before putting my houses up. Do not go close to bushes or trees. The martins need to see what is going on clearly around the house in case of predator activity. I think it was 40' minimum distance from your house? Time to google...

Predator guards necessary. Taller the better for poles. Do you have HOSP in your area? Hope not, they are the devil.

Good luck! I hope you get some activity!

[deancamp]

Looks to me like the red dot to the left gives you the most open flyways. How far is that from your house and the trees to the left?

[NewbernD]

Predator guards necessary. Taller the better for poles. Do you have HOSP in your area? Hope not, they are the devil.

Okay, new acronym for me. What's a HOSP?

[KaraInTexas]

Sorry - House Sparrows. They are the devil. They kill Martins and Martin eggs.

[Rodger Drye]

That’s o.k. NewbernD, You’ll learn all the different terminology in time.
I tend to agree with Dean the red dot to the left does seem to offer better flight paths.
Good Luck,
Rodger

P.S. Sparrows and Starlings will peck and break your Martin eggs and kill your babies, then build their own nest right over the top of them. Also if a Starling can catch an adult Martin in a Gourd (Nest) they will peck his eyes out and kill him.! Best to trap and eliminate these non-native bird’s for all concerned.

[Archer]

Another vote for the red dot on the left. Nice open flyways in a couple of directions. Are you playing the dawnsong to attract them. I found that really helpful to get started.

[ZAGAR]

That left red dot, move it to just ahead of those bushes on the left, in that bare spot, put it in the center of your house... Any trees out to the left anywhere?? I'd stay away from those row of bushes..

[Rodger Drye]

Sometimes you must do what you really don’t want to do. I know for me I had to take down a couple beautiful trees to open my site up. I did not want to remove the trees but decided it was the Martin’s or the trees. After the trees came down I was amazed at how much difference it made. Seemed like the bird’s couldn’t get here or occupy my site fast enough.
Thus, I don’t regret for one moment about removing those trees. I only wish I had done it much sooner.!
I don’t know if it is on your property, buy I would also take down that row of what looks like Leland Cypress.
If you do that would open up that whole complete side of your place. Then just watch what happens as your Bird’s just flock in.
Again, my trees were as much as 20 years old and I really didn’t want to remove them. However I bit the bullet and cut them down, and it really made a significant difference.!
Rodger

[John & Linda - KY]

In selecting the placement, in addition to other factors, pick a spot where you can easily watch them. If you have a porch or deck where you regularly enjoy the outdoors put the housing close enough that you can see the show. -- John

[-=DKC=-]

I think it was 40' minimum distance from your house? Time to google...

PMCA says 100' maximum distance from human housing.

https://www.purplemartin.org/purple-martins/attracting/

Hi,

New landlord here, located in Maryland. My grandfather has been involved in caring for PMs in southern Florida for as long as I can remember and he finally got me to erect a house. Lonestar Goliad showed up yesterday and I am trying to decide on a spot to put it. Looking for suggestions.

Attached is a pic of my rear property. The spot that is dead center might be ideal, except that it is sitting on my septic tank and I am not keen on trying to dig there. And there are several Euonymous (burning bushes) arranged in a circle. I could probably go a little in front if it if I was careful with the digging. Aside from helping predators up the pole, is there any pro/con with locating it close to bushes (they are around 6' tall)

Was also eying up the spots indicated in Red as alternates. Thoughts?

or am I overthinking here?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Dave

While you can attract PMs with nearby trees, I have learned the hard way that this makes it very easy for hawks to sneak up on them. Mine are adapting, but you should give them as much distance as possible between their housing and anything that is higher than the level of their housing. I also think they don't like brushy areas near their housing. Mowed lawn is optimal under the pole.

[flyin-lowe]

Just for orientation purposes I will give my advice acting as if the top of the picture is north and the left is west, etc. I think if it were me I would stay with the left red dot for a good east west location but move further south, even south of where the dot on the right side is, south of the circle in the middle of the yard. Assuming you can see then from your house from there. I would opt to go further from your house to get further from the trees, again assuming you can still see them from where you would watch from. I agree they obviously feel safe near human activity but with the house being that size and that close I think they would feel close enough anywhere in that yard. Being too close to your house can be no different then being too close to the trees. It is all about the predators ability to sneak up on them.

[NewbernD]

Thanks everyone for your input. At this point I am not willing to take out any of the trees. While removing that row of trees would open the property up, it really serves as a windbreak and adds privacy. There are fields on either side as you can see some planted to the east. (Up is north) Had the barn raising this evening. I used a spot a little further south of the left red dot. Time will tell.

Good idea about the dawnsong. I need to google and find an mp3 file. There is a stereo in the gazebo.

Dave

[deancamp]

I think that will be a good placement, leaving flyways beside and behind your house. Good luck.