New member needing help

[Bllmrtn]

My Dad had a martin house with martins each year. He passed away years ago and the martin house was taken down due to the deteriorating condition. Three years ago...we placed a martin house in the same location thinking we would immediately get martins and we have had a martin or two fly over but no renters. Not sure why...Maybe today's martins are pickier and prefer a more open area??? Here is a picture of the lowered house. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[scottfreidhof]

The location looks great. I don't have experience with that brand and style of house. From limited observations here in Kentucky with that style of house, I see very few occupied by martins. I would add 4 natural gourds by hanging them from each corner of the house.

[Bllmrtn]

Thank you for your suggestion. Actually I had a gourd rack with 6 gourds on the pole with the house originally. Just took them down and put up a new pole in a more open spot to see if that would bring any martins. Maybe that will change my luck. So frustrating! Here they are lowered in the more open location. Keeping fingers crossed till February!

[G Saner]

It is really hard to be sure about the location from the photos but both locations look good. Martins also like to be near human activity. So, keep that in mind. I would also suggest playing the dawn song CD available from the PMCA. That will bring in some martins for a look, but it can't make them stay.

Also, take a look at the PMCA Mentor page on their website. It is under "Get Involved". If you are lucky, there is a mentor nearby that would come in person to pick the best location for a house or gourds.

[flyin-lowe]

it is not uncommon for it to take a few years to get martins to take up a new location. Even though your father had martins their before, those martins have found a new place. Once they successfully nest somewhere they will stay there unless there is a reason to leave (predators, house taken down, etc.). They have strong site fidelity and they also prefer to nest in groups. So it can be tough to get started, but once you get a few pair there they will likely keep coming back and can draw in more pair. Good news is, "usually" the further south you are the easier it can be. Keeping the house in an open spot and keeping predators away (snakes, raccoons, sparrows, starlings, etc.) will greatly increase your odds.

[Bllmrtn]

flyin-lowe and G Saner...
Thank you for your suggestions! I will order a purple martin cd and use it each morning at the beginning of February. Also will search for a mentor in my area. Many thanks!

[Bllmrtn]

flyin-lowe and G Saner...
Thank you for your suggestions! I will order a purple martin cd and use it each morning at the beginning of February. Also will search for a mentor in my area. Many thanks!

[Carlton]

That looks like a great site, to me. Make sure you add a predator guard once the season begins. Yes, the Dawnsong CD is a big help in luring martins to the site. I have had active colonies now for 20 years, but it took several years to get any martins to stay and nest. I remember how frustrating it was when they would show up and just look, and look and look in the entrances and not go in! Be sure to keep the housing house sparrow and starling free. Good luck this season!

[John Miller]

Do those gourds have porches? Makes it easier for martins to enter. Might also consider working in a couple of natural gourds (painted white for heat reduction) with round holes; just makes it easier for investigating martins to check things out and of course natural gourds are widely used in Mississippi.