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Purple Martin Bird Houses

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Purple Martin Bird Houses

The purple martin is a regular visitor to most backyards east of the Rockies. West of the Rockies, the purple martin will lay its nest in cavities hollowed out by woodpeckers. But, east of the Rockies, they are completely dependant on the purple martin bird houses that we provide for them.

The main reason people fail to attract any visitors to their purple martin bird houses is location. Purple martin bird houses should not be situated under any tress because of the threat of owls, hawks and other predators. They should be erected in the most open space available. Also you will want to install it anywhere between 30-60 feet away from your house. Martins feel a sense of security from being close to humans.

Predators will not only come from above, they will also come from below. Make sure your bird house has a predator guard to protect from raccoons and other animals. Purple martin bird houses are also susceptible to other predators who are not looking for food, but instead just want to steal the nesting area. The European starling and the English house sparrow are the two biggest invaders to a purple martins nest. The key to preventing the invasion of these two species is to manage the bird house properly. You should regularly inspect the bird house to make sure the martins are living peacefully. If a starling or sparrow has taken over the colony, plug up the entrance hole and force the unwelcome guests out. Most people are unaware just how much damage these two non-native species are doing to the native cavity-dwelling population.

Another way to make sure that only a martin will take up residence in your purple martin bird houses is to buy a house with a crescent shaped entrance hole. This makes it virtually impossible for a starling to enter. Although this will make it impossible for a starling to enter, it will not keep out the smaller sparrow, so you will still need to pay regular attention to the bird house. With proper management and appropriate placing of the bird house, you can enjoy being landlord to this native visitor and do your part to ensure the continuation of the species.