Bed & Breakfast Distance/Height from PM House

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vicente21
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2020 8:04 am
Location: Vineland, NJ

Good morning. Can anyone please tell me how far & how high I should install my Bed & Breakfast Feeder from my Purple Martin house? Thank you!
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Curtis Reil
Posts: 119
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2013 7:51 pm
Location: Alberta/Tofield
Martin Colony History: I inherited this colony when I purchased the property from my Great Uncle. To the best of my knowledge, he had hosted Martins since 1977. Housing consisted of three twelve compartment units that he had built. Small compartments, round holes and no way to lower for managing. There were maybe 6-8 pairs here when we moved in. Through reading up on information provided by the PMCA and that provided to me by Bob Buskas, the decision was made to upgrade the housing. We are now fully switched over to North Star houses and hosted 58 pairs this season(2017). 60 compartments open for business and being so close to 100% occupancy, I believe we may expand housing offered next season. Expansion will continue contingent to high occupancy, being able to keep up on management and or until it starts to feel like work.

I don’t believe there is any real set distances to follow for placement. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong here. Somewhere they can easily access and see it obviously. Mine is on a telescoping pole and sits 7’ from ground to platform. Closest house is 20-25’ away. Furthest being probably 80’ or so. Offering oyster shell on it got them using it. I did all my active feeding right beside it and now it is used for the stationary feeding as well. I place a decoy on a single upright of my oyster bar as well. It has been nailed many, many times by hawks as the birds escape.
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Dave Duit
Posts: 2146
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
Location: Iowa / Nevada
Martin Colony History: In 2026, 88 pair with 333 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.

There is no set distance. Just make it easily seen and high enough off the ground from predators. My feeding tray is about 20 feet from my colony.
ImageMite control, heat venting, predator protection and additional feeding during bad weather add up to success.
ImageIPMO LOGO1.jpg
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vicente21
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2020 8:04 am
Location: Vineland, NJ

Thank you to both posts! I appreciate your feedback!
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alfie
Posts: 103
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2020 2:54 pm
Location: Cedar Creek, Texas
Martin Colony History: None as of Oct 2020, hoping to become a landlord in 2021
2021 - 1 pair, 5 eggs, all disappeared I think a snake got them
2022 - 1 pair, 4 fledged, 4 HOSP, 1 Rat Snake, again many visitors
2023 - 2 pair, 10 fledged, 2 HOSP, starting to get visitors as they migrate
2024 - 0 - Did not show up this year

I appreciate the info also. I just purchased one, hasn't arrived yet, and I was going to ask but this saved me from repeating a post.
2021: 1 Pair 5 eggs No Fledglings
2022: 1 Pair 5 eggs, 4 Fledged, 4 HOSP, 1 Rat Snake
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