PM-built nests in entryway

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scott41677
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon May 19, 2025 8:28 am
Location: Medina, Ohio

Good morning! Has anyone else ever had PM's build their own nests in or around their home? I have 2 nests this season and I had another one a couple seasons ago. These nests are right above our front door. I just find it odd that they are so willing to build in a high-traffic area. Has anyone else seen this?
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randyM
Posts: 254
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2015 2:30 pm
Location: Long Lake SD
Martin Colony History: * 2016 - 1 pair (ASYM + SYF) 2/3 eggs hatched 2 young fledged.
* 2017 - 4 pairs, 16/17 eggs hatched, 16 fledged, 16 banded - 2 banded SY returned in 2018 (12.5%)
* 2018 - 10 pairs, 46/52 eggs hatched, 45 fledged, 29 young banded - 3 banded SY returned in 2019 (10.3%)
*2019 - 32 pairs, 145/160 eggs hatched, 139 fledged - 87 young banded - 12 banded SY returned in 2020 (13.8%).
* 2020 - 35 pairs, 180/199 eggs hatched, 178 fledged - 150 young banded & 42 SY returned (28.0%)
* 2021 - 89 pairs, 363/446 eggs hatched, 355 fledged - 150 young banded & 19 SY returned (12.7%)
*2022 - 116 pairs, 495/579 eggs hatched, 471 fledged - 150 young banded & 27 SY returned (18.0%)
*2023 - 160 pairs, 708/828 eggs hatched, 572 fledged - 150 young banded & 38 SY returned (25.3%)
*2024 - 235 pairs, 950/1153 eggs hatched, 865 fledged - 100 young banded & 18 SY returned (18.0%)
*2025 - 200 pairs, 795/953 eggs hatched, 739 fledged - 200 young banded

Are these nests made of mostly mud shaped like a cup stuck to the side of your house? If so, those are most likely barn swallows (a smaller relative of the purple martin). Otherwise, it would be very unusual for a martin to build a nest in the open and not in a bird house or other cavity.

Randy
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Thomas Maddox
Posts: 580
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 5:23 pm
Location: Sulphur, Louisiana

I agree with Randy. We have tons of Barn Swallows here in SWLA. Mud nests on the porches almost every time. They are cool to have around and eat the lower flying insects like mosquitoes. Watch out for the bird poop though!
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Martintown33
Posts: 1366
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

Agree.. they are barn swallows… but , hey..enjoy them!
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
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scottfreidhof
Posts: 355
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:13 am
Location: Kentucky/Morehead

Can you post a photo to help us identify? It is certainly possible for martins to nest on buildings. Martins used to nest on the large, thick letters of the local stores here in the town of Morehead. For example the local Food Lion grocery store letters just above the entrance were popular with the martins. The letters "O", "D", and "R" were the most used because of the shape.
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scott41677
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon May 19, 2025 8:28 am
Location: Medina, Ohio

Thanks all. They are 100% purple martins as I’ve watched them build them over the past few weeks (since about Easter). Here are some photos of the nests.i also hung some gourd nests over our back patio and most of them are filled with nests. I even have an eastern blue bird in one lol
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Martintown33
Posts: 1366
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

Interesting.. Is it possible to get a picture of the birds in or around the nest?
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
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scott41677
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon May 19, 2025 8:28 am
Location: Medina, Ohio

“The true measure of a real man is that he has the ability to admit when he is wrong, apologize, and make amends to those he wronged”
-Richard Ashworth

I apologize. I was wrong. You were right. It is a set of barn swallows. I thought for sure they were PMs. Thank you all for your advice!
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Martintown33
Posts: 1366
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

No problem. They can look similar from certain angles. Enjoy them..
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
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