Archive for the ‘Purple Martin Houses’ Category
Imposing Presence
We have lived in our home for over 5 years now, and as neighbors have come and gone, it has been a learning experience as well as fun to watch it develop.
One of our neighbors, who lives well behind us, put up a purple martin house not too long after they moved in about four and half years ago. It sits high in the air on a pole behind their house and has quite am imposing presence. I have yet to see a purple martin in the direct vicinity of our home, though I have heard of people with more open areas around us having success with the purple martins. And although the purple martins have never to my knowledge taken up residency in the one behind us, it has been so much fun watching other birds find it fascinating. At this time of year, it is impossible to look over ther with my binoculars and find it bird free, as it is usually covered with a number of birds who will use it for roosting, or just plain hanging out.
We have yet to meet the neighbor with the purple martin house, but if ever have the opportunity to do so, I know I will throughly enjoy a conversation and let them know how much I have enjoyed their addition to their backyard.
Welcome Back, Purple Martins
With their violet-hued plumage and memorable courtship vocalizations, purple martins are a desirable bird to have frequenting one’s backyard. But the trait that really sets them apart from the other flyers in the animal kingdom has more to do with its habitat. Martins travel in large groups, and they spend much of the winter in the temperate climates of the Southern Hemisphere.
By setting up a few purple martin bird houses during the interim, you’ll be ready to greet them when spring arrives. Since martins live in large groups, their houses are built accordingly. The homes should be placed out in a yard by February at the latest to catch the first few groups of martins on their way back up north. With a bit of luck and persistence, you could be enjoying a bustling purple martin habitat in your own backyard.
Just A Bit About Bird Houses
There are about 2 dozen bird species in North America that will make their homes in bird houses. How do you know which of them are visiting your backyard, and where they prefer to nest?
1. Bluebirds
Bluebird houses should be placed near an open field, a park or cemetery or even a golf course. If you do it, you wil have an great chance of finding a pair of bluebirds nesting in it. It appears that Bluebirds prefer to have their next boxes mounted on a wooden fence post or even on an old tree stump. It is important when making or purchasing a Cluebird house that the hole is the right diameter. It should be one and a half inches and that that measurement, it will be small enough to keep the Starlings and House Sparrows out. They have a bad reputation for killing the baby bluebirds, and even adults sitting on the nest.
2. Robins
Robins, our largest thrushes, prefer to build their nest in the branch crotch of a tree. If you don’t have an appropriate tree, you can offer a nesting platform. Find a place six feet or higher up on a shaded tree trunk or under the overhang of a shed or porch. Creating a “mud puddle” nearby provides a further attraction, as they use mud to line their nests.
3. Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Titmice
Chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches like to indulge the same food, feeders, and habitats. If you place a properly designed nest box in a wooded yard, at least one pair is sure to check it out.
Chickadee houses should be placed at eye level. Hang them securly from limbs and tree branches. For these, the hole should be 1-1/8″ to attract chickadees yet exclude house sparrows. Secure houses for titmice and nuthatches on tree trunks five to six feet off the ground. Continue to keep your suet basket and peanut feeders full througout the summer and you are sure to attacted these fun birds.Brown Creepers and Prothonotary Warblers
Look for brown creepers to nest behind the curved bark of tree trunks. In heavily wooded yards, slab bark houses will appeal to creepers. Prothonotary warblers also prefer slab bark houses, but theirs must be placed over water.
4. Wrens
These guys will nest almost anywhere. They are a bit picky. You can place a nest box with a 1″ x 2″ horizontal slot in stead of the more traditional circle. The slots make it easier for the Wrens to use. The male Wren iwll build several nests. Then the famale gets to decide which one will be used. So don’t be surprised if you put a Wren birdhouse up, that the male will go about filling the cavity with twigs, and then may not even nest there.
5. Swallows
The Tree swallows like to have their nest boxes attached to dead trees. They should be spaced about seven feet apart for these white-bellied birds with iridescent blue-green backs and wings. Tree Swallows are insect eaters so ideally the nest boxes should be on the edge of a field near a lake, pond, or river.
6. Purple Martins
Bring on the Purple Martins and lower the mosquito and flying insect population. It has been said that these birds can eat 2,000 mosquitoes a day, and while it is true that they eat flying insects, they actually prefer dragonflies - insects that prey on mosquito larvae. So don’t expect the Purple Martins to wipe out your mosquitos. Purple Martins are one of the most entertaining birds and are a very favorable bird to attract. They will put on a great show for you every time. The best chance of getting them to house is to put the Purple Martin house near a pond or river that has a large lawn or open field. They need a radius of at least 40 feet of unobstrcted flying space near and around their house. They like to perch in sociable groups, so a wire nearby is helpful as well.
You will need a house with at least 4 large rooms as Purple martins like to nest in groups. Ventilation and drainage are important factors too. Make sure the rooms are 6 or more inches on all sides with a 2-1/2 inch entrance hole about 1 - 1/2 inch above the floor. Purple Martin Houses should be mounted between 10 and 20 feet above the ground.
Needless to say we have only covered a few here. You must decide what birds you want to attract and depending on your surroundings, make your decisions on which bird houses to provide.
Are the Colors and Sounds of Spring in YOUR yard?
Some of us are alternating between snow flurries and sin this Easter week, and it’s hard to imagine that the bright colors and cheery sounds of Spring are soon to arrive, if they haven’t all ready. But surely as “He is Risen”, the male birds are starting to change into their bright, fancy, Spring attire in hopes of attacting that perfect female for the season. There’s never any guarantee that this year’s migration of birds back from their Winter vacation grounds will be as bright as last year, but it sure to be a brighter and more colorful bunch than we have seen over the winter.
We already have a a couple of new arrivals. The Purple Martins are making ready to make residence in the new Purple Martin Houses. I welcomed them with some mealworms. I know the nights are still cool, but find comfort in the fact that the insulated attics in the house would keep them warm. I was heartened see a very grateful Robin hopping under the Purple Marting houses, greedily picking up the mealworms I had dropped. Oh, Spring, just keep on comin!