Ok folks, help for a new, well former Indiana landlord

[Mike R/IN]

Ok, We used to have houses up for the martins back in the 70s and well into the 80's. With that we (dad) got out and I'm getting back into attracting the wonderful guest. I missed the boat last year by putting up my house way to late, but I did get to see a visitor one day in June or July last year. He stuck around for a few hours but that was all I saw last year. I have an electronic call that I used last year to no avail. So with that and 14" of snow on the ground, when do you recommend I put the house and gourds out? Thanks for your help. MikeR....Indy.

[taxidermy lady]

This varies for everyone. Are you always around to keep starlings and sparrows out? If you are I would have them out for a passing martin. Keep S&S out are your martins will not stay!!

Good luck!

[CraigMo.]

I would put it up the next warm spell and don't give up till the 2nd week of June. Then leave your setup up till late August so all the southern migration pms north of you see your site and maybe they'll come back the following spring. Good luck
Craig

[John Miller]

Martins begin to trickle in by late March into central Indiana, based on the scout reports. But just a trickle, and to established sites. You can hope for visitors to a new site by early April, and as Craig said, into early June. good luck to you. I don't see Indianapolis listed on the scout reports, but often martins are scarce in metro areas, just because of a lack of open space for housing and I fear sometimes the local interest in the birds fades too. So you are cherished here, and know that martins are happy to nest in cities, given some open areas for their housing. In fact, I think they may feel safer there than way out in rural areas. They can be found in metro St. Louis, Louisville, and coming soon in Indianapolis.

[Mike R/IN]

Ok, thanks for the info folks. My site has 2 open fields that have pipeline and power line easements on them. One of those is my property. Right behind that is a small retention pond. Overall I feel pretty good about the site, I just have too nab a few. And as far as keeping pest out of the house.....I love to pop starlings with my bb gun. Seems after I get one or two the word gets out and they stay away from the house. Thanks again. MikeR

[Bob]

I agree with John, you can expect visitors in April. The main thing is to keep the starlings and sparrows away. At a new site, they can easily drive away interested martins.

I am in central Illinois and the very first pair I got to nest 10 years ago did not show up until the end of May first of June. I have hosted martins since then.

Best of luck!

[JohnT]

I'm south of you, but I got my first birds in May of 2011. Because of stormy weather and work I couldn't get my house up until April. I still got birds and they raised babies that year!

A good repeating sparrow trap is your friend.

[Mike R/IN]

Thanks for the help.

[Indiana_Tom]

First let me say Hello John T, Good to see an Odonite on here. I graduated from Odon in 1967.

Now, Good to have you back Mike R. I live Southwest of you in the Paragon area and have had martins since 2009.

I don't know what housing type or entrances you use but the crescent entrances will keep the starlings out.

The House Sparrows will be a constant challenge and should give you plenty of practice with your BB gun.

Another big challenge you will probably have is with Tree Swallows, basically the Martin's little brother. They are a beautiful smaller swallow but can be a real problem when trying to establish martins. If a Tree Swallow is interested in nesting in your housing, they will do their best to run all other birds including Martins off.

Because of that many new martin houses may need to remain blocked off until you see a martin investigating the house or until the younger martins start arriving in numbers. The first part of the migration are typically the older martins with the younger martins following. That is not to say you could not get a Martin interested early, it is just a little lower odds.

There are some ways to prevent Tree Swallows from nesting in your housing and that requires putting up a single house for the Tree Swallows a short distance away from your Martin house. If you get a TS to nest there he will keep other TSs from moving in close to his home. A Tree Swallow house is much like a Blue Bird house so just a basic house set closer to the ground. There are some articles on this site that will give you much more accurate information than I have. Once Martins decide the housing is theirs and return each year, the Tree Swallows are not a problem. The Martins want it enough to stand up for their home.

If I can be of any help, give me a yell. I will begin watching the forum regularly now.

Good luck
Tom

[Mike R/IN]

I have the Red barn 16 compartment house made by SK manufacturing. I see they make a block off kit and a modification open insert too. I'm probably going to hang stuff up in a week or so. Our weather is going to make a big change towards the spring temps. Thanks again. MikeR

[Indiana_Tom]

Mike, do you have it well away from trees? That is always important when trying to attract Martins. I know you said you had had Martins before but I figured the trees might have grown a lot since then.

I used a martin call CD when I started and I don't know if it made the difference or not but was glad to get a pair the first year. They say to play it early in the morning so I was out at between 4 and 5 am. I live out in the sticks on 10 acres so I was not worried about the neighbors and the deer and opossums were already awake.

You may have to block the entrances on occasion to get non Martins to move on.

Good luck