How Far Away Should Martin Housing Be From Power Lines?

Bird Brain · Sat Jan 25, 2020 8:10 pm

I have a neighbor who's been trying for years to get martins. His setup is far enough away from trees, but is only 4 or 5 feet away from power lines. Would this discourage martins from nesting? Are martins fearful of close power lines? I know a squirrel can jump around 10 feet sideways. Shouldn't the martin pole be at least 10 feet from power lines? Thanks for any info.

rrmartins · Sat Jan 25, 2020 9:14 pm

I have some about thirty feet from mine and they love sitting on the wires. Good luck!!

jhcox · Sat Jan 25, 2020 9:32 pm

I have phone lines and even the very large power lines with in 20 to 40 feet from my sight and like rrmartins said they do love to perch on those. lines. It is and excellent area for many of them to sit and see any predators coming from a good distance and sound their alarm so all other birds in the cavities have time to take to the air. Hope this helps have a blessed season.

God bless JHCOX Heiskell Tn

C.C.Martins · Sun Jan 26, 2020 7:36 am

Yep they like them a lot, its not a worry.

Bird Brain · Sun Jan 26, 2020 10:02 am

So power lines 30 feet away are fine. What about 4 to 5 feet away? Is that OK too?

ToyinPA · Sun Jan 26, 2020 12:04 pm

I have power lines only 3-5 feet from my martin houses. They love them. I live in town & my yard is pretty much surrounded by power lines. The martins sit on them a lot. They like to sit at a distance & watch the houses. One of my neighbors upgraded his electric service & they took down the one power line that ran diagonally across my property, right past the one house. We got the wire & attached it to the upper back of our house & ran it past the martin house to the garage. It's now a fake wire, but the martins use it all the time. The close power lines are a good thing. Also if a squirrel got close the martins would chase it off. I've seen them chase squirrels off my garage roof.

Toy in PA

Bird Brain · Sun Jan 26, 2020 12:25 pm

Thanks for the replies. One never stops learning as a result of the knowledge on this site.

rrmartins · Sun Jan 26, 2020 12:43 pm

I could see the worry you have also. Can you add tunnels to your entrances?

Laverne · Sun Jan 26, 2020 5:58 pm

Hmmm. I have not been thinking about the squirrel. He's never been a problem for us. Thanks for the heads up. You are correct in keeping that potential predator in mind when locating housing. Best wishes to all for a successful season

John Barrow · Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:16 pm

I have 3 systems about 10 feet from power lines with cable lines beneath them. Power lines are about 10 feet above systems. Systems are 14 and 16 feet high and martins use all three as well as perch on power lines. Lower line is ground line. I have seen squirrels cross lines, but none have ever jumped off and I doubt any will. They would prefer a cavity attached to a pole or tree. Martins love power lines. The pertinent question to consider, IMO, is whether the system might come in contact with the power lines and electrocute whoever is holding it (and those standing around him/her).