Stayed at a vacation house that used pinwheels hanging near likely nesting places to scare them away. Seemed to work great, but they had them right next to their favorite nesting places.
Thanks, Jerry, great idea. And Kokopelli, another good idea. I’ll have to get my husband to climb that ladder, though. And, we’ll probably have to rent a ladder, because our eaves are really, really high up.
Patty (and Kevin), Thanks for sharing first-hand experience. I was getting ready to walk down the path of good intentions…
I am no expert, but I think you guys would be OK trying to attract tree swallows with nest boxes for bug control.
A small part of the reason I’ve thought about attracting Purple Martins is because I want to custom build one of those cool bird condo’s that are commonly used for Purple Martins.
Martins arrive here normally the first week of April. Was just outside cleaning houses.
S.E Ohio
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Well I never ended up building a purple martin house like I had hoped. I stead last year I built a mason bee house which in the end was not very successful. Today at tractor supply I saw purple martin houses for sale and picked one up along with a 15 foot pole. Guess ill give it a try this spring. Not sure if I’ll attract and Martin’s but ill give it a shot. One concern I have is if I do attract Martin’s if they will eat my mason bees? Guess that’s a risk but my mason bees were very successful last year anyway.
Anyone know the best time to put the Martin house up? Bobs in the same zone as me and says they start showing up around April 1. How far ahead of that should I put the house up?
I follow the Purple Martin Org map and watch the reports as they head north. After the many years I’ve had my houses, I pretty much know when they will arrive. I will hear them before I see them.
I normally will clean them out in March and close them off to all the sparrows and speckles. I raise the gourds up and give them a place to hang out until I get all up the houses up and open.
I have bees and they do eat some of them. But the hives are far enough away to make them not the prime target.
I like my Martins but they can be noisy.
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I’m sure these houses arernt as good as those tear drop pods but this is the one I got from Tractor Supply. I was surprised at how large it is.
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It will work!
I installed my tractor supply purple martin kit. Pole looks awful thin. But seems relatively sturdy. I dont suspect ill have any martins stop by but worth the try.
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Why do you want martins?
Becuase they eat a lot of nasty bugs and insects while leaving my fruit alone. And they should be fun to watch with the kids.
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I’m pretty excited. I think I actually have purple Martin’s already! Can anyone confirm? I realize the pics are blurry but it’s the best I can do for now. @BobC do these look like Martin’s. They are quite noisy. There is at least two of them but maybe three.
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Although burry, I think you are the proud owners of some Martins
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Now you will have a new hobby and have to build more houses or grow gourd and put them up
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I’m excited! I assume they are juveniles looking for their first apartment. They aren’t super colorful but there is unmistakable blue/purple coloring on them.
They won’t mind you visiting. If you get a better picture upload.
