Hi,
The best spot, it turns out, will be smack in the middle of our vegetable garden. Will the PM's eat our vegetables or ruin our plants? That is our only concern.
Thanks!
Purple Martins in the Garden-- Good or Bad?
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Stephen Cruse
- Posts: 168
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 12:17 pm
- Location: Texas, Hitchcock and Rocksprings
No need to worry. My houses surround my garden. You will probably see them land in your garden to pick up nesting material but that is it. Good luck.
2014 - 72 pairs
2015 - 127 pairs
2015 - 127 pairs
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
The martins will not hurt a thing unless one accidently has a dropping that will hit your favorite tomato. Sometimes they go into the garden during nest building time, they would be looking for nesting material.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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mikeybotta44
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2015 5:59 pm
- Location: NJ/Sparta
Ok, that is great! Thanks a bunch 
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Anthony Neira
- Posts: 1319
- Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
- Location: San Antonio /Texas
- Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !
Yup, ALL you have to worry about is that Hungry Bunny tomorrow ! 
Have a Hoppy Easter!
Have a Hoppy Easter!
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.-
4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Emil,
My father always wore a wide brimmed, straw hat to decrease sun exposure on his bald head while he worked in his garden. But I am sure he did not mind the protection from an errant scat bomb from the purple martins.
With his long sleeve khaki shirt & pants, leather gloves, and straw hat, my mother said he looked like a moving scarecrow.
When he lived in Priddy, TX, his martin house was right in the middle of his vegetable garden and the Chicago Aermotor windmill was on the edge of the garden. Everything lived in harmony together.
Mark.
My father always wore a wide brimmed, straw hat to decrease sun exposure on his bald head while he worked in his garden. But I am sure he did not mind the protection from an errant scat bomb from the purple martins.
With his long sleeve khaki shirt & pants, leather gloves, and straw hat, my mother said he looked like a moving scarecrow.
When he lived in Priddy, TX, his martin house was right in the middle of his vegetable garden and the Chicago Aermotor windmill was on the edge of the garden. Everything lived in harmony together.
Mark.
Last edited by 4th Gen Martin Fan on Sat Apr 04, 2015 11:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
I'd bet those Martins might also enjoy flying through spinkler spray on a hot day! 
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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BobbyG
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 11:13 am
- Location: LA/Laplace
- Martin Colony History: 10 years
My martin houses are 4' from my garden they will fly when I start tilling and then they will land back on the houses and turn there heads sideways like a dog and just keep watching you my wife says as I go past the house they will stick there head from around the porch and just keep watching. I am in my garden constantly and they watch me all the time I even have watched them fly into the garden and grab bugs on the ground.
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madattiver
- Posts: 263
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:44 pm
- Location: SK/Saskatoon
- Martin Colony History: 12 unit North Star + 4 gourds
2014 - 1 pair
2015 - 1 pair
2016 - 1 pair + 1 sub male (until my female died)
2017 - 6 pair
Mine is on the corner of my garden and haven't had a problem yet
Adam
Fifth Year Landlord
Fifth Year Landlord