Where is the Best Place For a Purple Martin House?
It seems to me that a lot of people who want to attract purple martins to their yard are slightly confused as to what exactly the birds are looking for.
Many people simply avoid getting into the hobby because they think they have a poor location to be able to attract such birds.
However, unless you are simply in a region where the martins do not migrate, that is more than likely a huge myth.
Assuming you have a decently sized yard and live somewhere on the Eastern half of the United States or the coast of California, you should be able to get martin's to visit you year after year if you are a good landlord for the purple martins that do stop by.
Below are a few tips for finding the best place to put your martin house.
First off, remember that your purple martins are not humans.
Therefore, they do not want to be tucked under an awning of your house or placed underneath an overhang directly next to the house.
They want a little room.
Ideally, you should not place your martin house within 15 feet of your home or any trees.
This will help with them feeling more secure and it seems to me that it is logical that they would be able to find your bird house a little easier if it is clearly visible.
Secondly, you do not want to place your purple martin house in the middle of a forest.
There are a couple of reasons for this, but one of them is for your own benefit.
Part of having any birdhouse is being able to walk outside and see them flying around and hearing their chirping.
It is a really enjoyable time of the year for bird enthusiasts.
If your purple martin house is too far away, you will not be able to enjoy them, and likewise, for many who have purple martins far away do not do a very good job of maintaining their homes.
This leads to many colonies dwindling to nothing, or never becoming established.
Lastly, always keep your predators in mind.
Purple martins are very picky about where they nest due to the problems with predators.
If you have trees overhanging towards the birdhouse, this may cause them to skip your house in favor of another one that looks more like a safe place for them.
Make sure trees are trimmed 10 - 15 feet away from the martin house.
Also, ensure that brush at the bottom of the poles is kept low.
They want a clear opportunity to be able to escape if a predator does come in to attack.
They are smart enough to realize whether your birdhouse offers this opportunity or not.
Many people simply avoid getting into the hobby because they think they have a poor location to be able to attract such birds.
However, unless you are simply in a region where the martins do not migrate, that is more than likely a huge myth.
Assuming you have a decently sized yard and live somewhere on the Eastern half of the United States or the coast of California, you should be able to get martin's to visit you year after year if you are a good landlord for the purple martins that do stop by.
Below are a few tips for finding the best place to put your martin house.
First off, remember that your purple martins are not humans.
Therefore, they do not want to be tucked under an awning of your house or placed underneath an overhang directly next to the house.
They want a little room.
Ideally, you should not place your martin house within 15 feet of your home or any trees.
This will help with them feeling more secure and it seems to me that it is logical that they would be able to find your bird house a little easier if it is clearly visible.
Secondly, you do not want to place your purple martin house in the middle of a forest.
There are a couple of reasons for this, but one of them is for your own benefit.
Part of having any birdhouse is being able to walk outside and see them flying around and hearing their chirping.
It is a really enjoyable time of the year for bird enthusiasts.
If your purple martin house is too far away, you will not be able to enjoy them, and likewise, for many who have purple martins far away do not do a very good job of maintaining their homes.
This leads to many colonies dwindling to nothing, or never becoming established.
Lastly, always keep your predators in mind.
Purple martins are very picky about where they nest due to the problems with predators.
If you have trees overhanging towards the birdhouse, this may cause them to skip your house in favor of another one that looks more like a safe place for them.
Make sure trees are trimmed 10 - 15 feet away from the martin house.
Also, ensure that brush at the bottom of the poles is kept low.
They want a clear opportunity to be able to escape if a predator does come in to attack.
They are smart enough to realize whether your birdhouse offers this opportunity or not.
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