Purple Martin Bird Houses

Martins are a delightful bird to have in one's yard. Martins take to existing nests. The following topics discuss purple martin bird houses, maintenance and construction.

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martin-Houses-ftopict9365.html (Purple Martin Houses)
I am wondering if it is necessary to put nesting material in PMH? We always put wood shavings in the Wood Duck houses but, I am new to PMH -- Rick Fargo, ND N 46 53.251 W 096 48.279 ---------------------- Chaos reigns within. Reflect, Repeat and re-boot. Order shall return.
« It is not necessary. If you have some of the plastic gourds then you should do something to ease ther trip to the exit hole. This is particularly true of the horizontal plastic gourds. I do put nest.. »
« Necessary? No, but it is a good idea. The birds migrate from Brazil and providing a base nest material will go a long way to help them in getting settled and begin the reproductive cycle. Your loc.. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martin-nests-ftopict9450.html (Purple Martin nests)
Most of the material I have been reading recommends that the "apartments" in purple martin houses should be cleaned annually. Does this mean that the nests built by the martins should be removed every year, allowing (compelling?) the martins to build new ones each year? Or does it just mean that ..
« you should clean everything out of each apartment. it gets rid of pests, and when they move in next spring, the nest building activity is an important part of bonding. Steve »
« There are two schools of though about this. One is: if there was a successful nest, those occupants will return to that same cavity and 'fix' the nest for the new season. The landlord can deconta.. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Pole-Purple-Martin-House-ftopict8000.html (Pole For Purple Martin House)
Hi, Just purchased a 12 Room Purple Martin House, designed by a company called Outdoor Decor & More. It comes with a metal base plate, which accepts a round pole. The company does not sell poles, so I am looking for a local company that would sell a pole for said birdhouse. I live in St Thomas, On..
« Hi Joe, It is very important that your martin house can be raised and lowered vertically so that you can easily evict undesirable tenants like house sparrows and European Starlings. I hope the house.. »
« Are you kidding? You live in St. Thomas? My MOTHER lives in St. Thomas!!!!! She grew up there. Half my family is there. That's just nutty! She's actually down here visiting (N.C.) as I write this. V.. »
« It may not suit your needs, but when I built my last two purple martin houses, I attached them to 1 1/2 OD galvanized pipe in two sections, one 72" (6 ft.) and one 120" (10 ft.). I drove the shorter.. »
« 72" house. Sorry, that is actually 1 1/2 ID, not OD. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Found-purple-martin-refuge-ftopict5670.html (Found a purple martin ""refuge"")
Hello, Was going to garage sales today when I spotted a beautiful pair of purple martin condos in someones suburban lawn, each one draped with four white gourd houses. I think to myself, hey great, someone cares about pueple martins. So I drive up to the place...ok house sparrows chirping, perhap..
« All the cubicles in my Martin House are closed up, but hanging from the South Corner and the North Corner and the North corner are gourds. For the third or fourth year in a row, Tree Swallows starte.. »

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-martin-house-inspection-ftopict9686.html (Purple martin house inspection)
Almost everything I have read says it is important to lower , open, and inspect purple martin houses weekly during the nesting season. But not much is said about what to look for, and what to do if you find it, whatever it is. One thing is mentioned is to remove sparrow nests. What else?
« Dead things. Insects. Spiders. Junk. I had some, and they just need housekeeping like anyone's house. Steve »

http://www.petforumz.com/Martin-bird-house-ftopict10085.html (Martin bird house)
Have a second Martin bird house, going to put it up in a few days. circular type wood... 12 compartments. got it from a guy that makes them for ages in the area. befor he slowed down a bit. painted it white and green... going on top of a twenty feet pole. trying to have it mounted on a type of hin..
« I have two martin houses that I built myself. They are both single-level with a removable roof for easy cleaning. I have them mounted about 13-14 feet above the ground. I can reach them with a 9' .. »

http://www.petforumz.com/late-put-houses-ftopict8335.html (Too late to put up houses?)
Any chance of attracting anything (other than the ubiquitous house sparrow) to a birdhouse at his time of year? Dan
« Put 'em up anyhow, Dan. Maybe you'll get a second nesting or prospects will notice them for next year. I'm still hoping I'll get purple martins this year. Al »

http://www.petforumz.com/Purple-Martins-ftopict10099.html (Purple Martins)
wow, the Martins are flying all over the two martin bird houses I have ... about thirty of them.. they must be checking out the area... my first house has six martins. were did the other ones come from. Just out of no where... it seems... hope the decide to stay...
« Maybe they will! PMs do 'stop bys'/'check outs' of other sites when migrating. All that information goes into their memory banks, so ya never know what might happen. The fact that they are in the.. »
« Hi Dave, that would be great, nice to know they are checking out the location. cheers jak »