Purple martins differentiate from other birds in that they need to roost in man-made birdhouses to produce off-spring. In addition, they are very particular in where they nest and have several deadly predators such as sparrows and starlings. These issues make starting and maintaining a martin colony pretty challenging. However, if you take a few extra steps in placing your birdhouse, your efforts can be greeted with success.
Martins migrate during the year, so the first step is to have a birdhouse available as soon as martins enter your particular climate zone. Do a little research to find out when martins generally enter your area. Adult martins typically nest in the same place every year, so if you are trying to start a new colony, it is last year's hatchlings that you will want to attract. Newly adult martins usually arrive a few weeks after their adult counterparts migrate to your area.
Birdhouse location is important when attracting and maintaining a purple martin colony. Martins prefer their birdhouse in a wide open space, away from your home, trees, or power lines that can aid natural predators from preying on your martins. However, be sure to keep your birdhouse in a visible location so you can enjoy watching your martins from your home.
Once you have found the perfect location, you can concentrate on finding the perfect birdhouse. Martin houses should have multiple compartments for nesting. Martins prefer birdhouses light in color and well ventilated. You can even go the extra mile and put clean straw in each compartment. Once you're martin house is up, you can provide nesting material such as pine needles, straw, and twigs to aid your martins in building their nests. A platform feeder in a nearby area will also help make for an inviting purple martin home.
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