Purple Martins Share Their Gifts

By Bob Fitzsimmons
Working outside in the fresh air, you can really learn to appreciate nature and all the giving, taking and sharing that takes place in our own backyards.

Purple Martins come back to the same yards year after year to share songs, to entertain, and to catch insects. The “scouts” arrive early to check out the living conditions of their “old digs” and to pave the way for the rest of the family.

January is the time to clean out old Martin houses or to build new ones to prepare for these playful friends or to invite new ones. The older birds will return to the same nesting area every year, if you have kept the Sparrows and other non-native birds away. The one-year old birds will colonize new sites and will begin to arrive four weeks after the first adults. At new sites, opening your house decreases the chance of attracting Martins by giving House Sparrows and Starlings a chance to claim spots. Wait until you know that the older birds are all back before opening new sites.

They dart back and forth, soaring at will, snacking on flying insects as they go. They only consume insects that fly and do not have an appetite for vegetables or fruit. These flying acrobats love to fill the air with beautiful sounds as they amaze the onlooker with their antics.

Purple Martins migrate to the United States from South America and arrive around mid February. They hatch their young in May/August and leave in September. Martins are the largest member of the swallow family, and if your eyes are sharp, you can spot the adult males by their blue-black color. These very friendly birds only reach about 8-inches long and have a wing spread of 12 inches.

Purple Martins are the only birds that are totally dependent on humans for erecting their houses. Martins have very specific living space requirements. Their houses should be at the center of the largest spot in your yard. Space at least 50-100 feet from the closest house and no closer than 40-60 feet from the nearest tree. Martin houses need to be raised to a level of 10-15 feet off the ground. Aluminum houses are suited for martins and should be light colored with compartment dimensions of 6”x 6” and easy to clean. The entrance hole should be 1” above the floor and 2 1/8” wide. Make sure there is good ventilation and drainage.

Protect the eggs and babies from predators by installing guards on poles. Snakes, raccoons, owls, squirrels all have appetites for young birds and eggs. Starlings and House Sparrows are the main non-native species that will kill and take over Martin nests and will prevent them from nesting in your carefully planned Martin community. Check the nests frequently and keep the invaders nests removed .A sparrow nest can clog up a compartment with a jumbled mess of straw and hay, in comparison with a Martins nest which is neat and tidy. Martin eggs are white and Sparrow eggs are speckled. It is your job as a Martin Landlord to check and keep the invaders away.

Purple Martins are extremely social and love the company of people. Don’t you think that it is time to share your outdoor space with a very useful and entertaining member of the swallow family, Purple Martins?

For more information, visit purplemartin.org