BIRDS
Purple Martins....
One of the greatest loves in my life are Purple
Martins
This Page Updated 07/2001
There are several reasons why any bird lover would want to raise and house
Purple Martins.
The song. Purple Martins sing a beautiful
song. No matter what is going on in your life, if you walk out to your site,
and hear a Martin song, you'll find yourself smiling.
Insects. Martins eat a *lot* of insects.
They are great to have around the garden. As people we need to move away
from pesticides and towards natural forms of insect control, like birds.
Put a Martin house near your garden. Not only will they keep the insect
population down, but they'll be great companions to you while you are out
in the garden.
Purple Martins need our help. The population
of Purple Martins is on the decline. Purple Martins do die during migratory
flights. Also, predation is a major problem. Starlings, Sparrows, Snakes,
Raccoons, Hawks, to name a few, all play a role in the decline of Purple
Martins. Proper housing management is one way to ensure that predators have
a minimal effect on your site. Read up on Martin housing, do your research,
and make sure your housing will meet the needs of the Purple Martins.
These fine birds arrive each year, and help us control the insect population over much of North America, as shown on the map below.
There is much to learn about Purple Martins, and one of the best places to start is at the
The Purple Martin Conservation Website here, where you
will find plenty of information on our feathered friends, the Purple Martins.
There is much debate regarding Martin Housing. Some great building tips exist on the
web. Here is a link to some building plans Building A Purple Martin House
Here are some other great links to Purple Martin sites on the web.
The North American Breeding
Bird Survey
Chuck's Purple Martin Page
The
Purple Martin Site
Danny's Purple Martin
Site
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This is the first Martin house I made. I renovated it last year after reading about how much better Martins do with larger dwellings. I had 6"x6" compartments. I converted them over to approximately 7"x12". Things went much better in the 2000 season because I enlarged the housing. Also, aside from the Super Gourds, research indicates that wood is the best insulator, keeping babies warm in cool weather, and cool in warm weather. Don't forget to drill out drain holes, and vent holes in wooden housing.
They aren't the clearest pictures, but do note the water supply in the form of an old birdbath below the gourdrack. If you want to attract and keep a Purple Martin site thriving, it is absolutely *essential* that they have a source of water to aid in nest building, and for sustenance. Also, note the space around the houses. If you want to attract Martins, you must make sure you give them lots of space. Do not put housing too close to trees, or your home or outbuildings.
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