Need help on housing, Kind of long but important!

[Jim Spetzman]

My wife and I spend the winters in a RV park about 10 miles west of McAllen, Tx on the US, Mex boarder. We own our lot that is about 40ft by 80ft. For the last 2 years I have had Martins and had a 8 room alum Coates house that is about 10ft high and right next to the road. There is a lot of bicycle traffic and people walking their dogs but the Martins do not care. I have been told there are owls there but havent seen any. Last year, I modified my Coates 8 room house to 4 rooms extra deep for the potential owl problem. When we leave, the first part of April, I have a lot of Martins building their nests, but they have to fend for themselves because there is nobody to do nest checks or sparrow clean outs. I want to put up a large house but I cant go crazy because there are a lot of motorhomes there and some think the martins poop on there RVs even though we are on one of the biggest bird migratory flyways in the US. I have gotten my neighbors to believe they eat all the bugs and mosquitoes, so they are happy with that. There are no covenents that prohibit Martin houses but I dont want to start a war. I was thinking of putting up a 24 room Heath octagon house modified to 12 rooms to solve the owl problem and I dont have to have easy access to the rooms because when I leave, I will clean it out in the fall when I return. I also dont want to spend a fortune on a house in case it gets damaged with the wind or theft. There are alot of sparrows but no startlings. No one is there in the summer. Any help or ideas?? Thanks, Jim

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I would hesitate to add more housing since you already had some complaints about poop on trailer houses, and since you have such a small lot. If you really want something else that has more large cavities, I would remove the old house and replace it with a newer house. When a person has such a small lot, and neighbors so nearby, its really looking for trouble if you add too much housing, and you probably would be happy with just one house. You can wrap it with 2inx4in garden fence, and that would probably stop most owl problems.

However, this is just my opinion, so its really up to you...

[Jim Spetzman]

I want to only have one house there but I dont want goard racks or anything large. If I put up one house to replace the other one, they probably wont notice or care

[John Miller]

I'd also keep it small. One other thing, if you go to aluminum crescents for the deeper compartments, suggest adding the PMCA wing guards to reduce risk of entrapment, especially since you won't be monitoring. I think adding one of the signs about purple martin sanctuary also might be good idea. Otherwise at some point, some idiot may think nothing of removing the housing during the nesting season. (I actually need to take my own advice on this for a particular public site I manage..will do.)
John M

[Tony]

I have looked at the PM sanctuary sign in the PMCA store to post at one of my remote sites but I don't think it would do much too deter vandals or someone messing with the site.
I wish they had a sign available that stated these Purple Martins are protected by federal migratory laws. Then maybe in smaller print on the sign quote the federal law and penalties for violations.

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

Since you are not at the RV park to monitor or enjoy the martins for their nesting cycle, I tend to agree with Emil. I would concertrate on the housing you currently offer to make it as safe as possible for the martins using the housing. Make sure you have guards in place for any ground predators and, as John mentioned, if you have crescent openings, put gurads in place to help deter any possible wing entrapment.

If you haven't already, I would speak to the owners of the RV park and if they live on site, maybe they could keep an eye out for any problems after you leave. You might also contact the local Audubon Society or birding associations for that area, explain the situation, and see if they have any members who live nearby who would be willing to check your housing for you after you leave.

Tim

[Jim Spetzman]

So do you all think I should just leave the 4 compartment that I have or add a floor or two to the existing one or get a 24 room and make it into 12? I dont think anyone would notice anything is different if I just keep one house but it would have more housing

[John Miller]

I don't think we can say absolutely...of course, we got opinions - ha.
To me, a modest amount is about 6 cavities, so maybe add one floor.

If martins there tend to perch on a powerline where their droppings cause a problem, then maybe leave well enough alone.

the sign...I agree it would not deter vandals. My thought was somebody being short-sighted and wanting more space to park their RV there during the season..a sign at least would cause them to think...maybe being too optimistic. (grin).

John M

[RC Moser]

I would rethink your choice of housing replacement by looking at the design. I had one years ago and the floors just slip into slot and the top ceiling was open allowing unwanted birds to jump over and build in other adjoining compartments. Also, if McAllen is subject to high winds that style housing may blow apart in 70 plus straight line winds or down burst. On mine the compartments was held togather in the center with one screw for each layer sandwiched togather. In my are winds seems to blow hard enough to loosen these sections and allowing the floors to sometimes blow off. After the third year I got rid of it after 80 mph wind blow it apart. JMO others may disagree or maybe the manufacture made changes to correct the potential problems?