Help! I just purchased a PM house and was reading about where to locate it, and it says not around trees-I assume that means pine trees also? I was wondering if it would be okay in the center of a flower bed, about 20 feet from my house? My neighbor has one also, but where I wanted to put mine is in front of the pine trees, and his would be in the next lot. I really didn't know if you just stick it in the middle of the yard or what. I have even been riding around to see where people had theirs! With the price of Gas, I am riding around looking for PM houses!
Hope you can help me out.
Thanks!
Barb
Help-new owner of PM house!
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John Atteberry
The house needs to be at least 40 feet away from trees in all directions, more would be better! Why? They like to fly around thier houses in all directions and the houses or gourds would be predator proof too from hawks, owls, and other predators! So the more open it is, the better! I hope you have the room, because the martins are great birds to have! I hope I helped in some way! John!
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robndebby
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:25 pm
- Location: VIRGINIA/POWHATAN
- Martin Colony History: Established colony in 1990
Barb, Martin houses need to be out in the open. Martins rarely go to the ground, they soar around their "area" and trees would hinder their approach to their houses. However, at this time of the year, most of them will be on their way to Brazil. I'm in central Virginia and all 85 babies have fledged, most have already left. I noticed today some sparrows checking out the empty nests, and that is what you don't want. Trees also have hidden dangers. I have a stand of white pines away from the Martin houses, but close enough that a hawk can sit and watch from a distance. Having quite a lot of trouble with that fellow all of a sudden. Good luck to you, but the houses really need to be in the open.
ROBNDEBBY
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Guest
yes...you want as open a space as you can get. However, when they are talking about 30 - 40 feet away from trees, what they really mean is trees that are now or soon will be taller than your bird house.
in my yard, I have very tall trees on most sides, but there are places in between the trees than give a flight path.
I also put my house up 20 feet so that the martins can more easily clear the trees and house.
you could put it in a flower garden ....but better in a yard. In a flower garden you will have more trouble seeing if any babies fall out, and the height of the flowers may make it easier for predators to get up the pole and attack the babies.
the best way to figure out your yard is to stand in the yard, and look around at how a martin would have to fly to get to the sky....remember they don't fly straight up like a sparrow. they need the 30 - 40 feet to get over a ranch house. that's why I have my house up higher...to make it easier for them to go over. But they usually fly out in the open space between my house and the neighbors. so look for a direct flight path with open space....best if in two or three directions.
sharon
in my yard, I have very tall trees on most sides, but there are places in between the trees than give a flight path.
I also put my house up 20 feet so that the martins can more easily clear the trees and house.
you could put it in a flower garden ....but better in a yard. In a flower garden you will have more trouble seeing if any babies fall out, and the height of the flowers may make it easier for predators to get up the pole and attack the babies.
the best way to figure out your yard is to stand in the yard, and look around at how a martin would have to fly to get to the sky....remember they don't fly straight up like a sparrow. they need the 30 - 40 feet to get over a ranch house. that's why I have my house up higher...to make it easier for them to go over. But they usually fly out in the open space between my house and the neighbors. so look for a direct flight path with open space....best if in two or three directions.
sharon
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hello Barb and welcome to the PMCA website and Forum.
No need to be driving around wasting gasoline - you have found one of the best places to educate yourself about the Purple Martin.
Go to the top of the Forum and click on PMCA Home, scroll down to the Download Center and read each of the articles there. Then, there is the Martin FAQs, and the Archives and when you think you've read all of that, you can start at the back of the Forum and work your way up to current times.
I know, a lot of reading, but you've got until next spring to catch up on all the basics. You will find your enthusiasm growing as the time nears for the return of the martins.
If you're trying to get your housing up now so you can get some lookers before next season then go ahead - but, please read all of the PMCA recommendations first. Then, if you've still got questions, feel free to ask 'em all - that's what we're here for.
I'd like to point out that trees provide hawks and owls a place to hide while plotting their plan of attack on our Purple Martins. The biggest problem is convincing a Purple Martin that housing too close to trees is okay for her to lay her eggs in... you just don't get any cooperation.
Good luck to you and best wishes for many successful Purple Martin seasons in the future.
No need to be driving around wasting gasoline - you have found one of the best places to educate yourself about the Purple Martin.
Go to the top of the Forum and click on PMCA Home, scroll down to the Download Center and read each of the articles there. Then, there is the Martin FAQs, and the Archives and when you think you've read all of that, you can start at the back of the Forum and work your way up to current times.
I know, a lot of reading, but you've got until next spring to catch up on all the basics. You will find your enthusiasm growing as the time nears for the return of the martins.
If you're trying to get your housing up now so you can get some lookers before next season then go ahead - but, please read all of the PMCA recommendations first. Then, if you've still got questions, feel free to ask 'em all - that's what we're here for.
I'd like to point out that trees provide hawks and owls a place to hide while plotting their plan of attack on our Purple Martins. The biggest problem is convincing a Purple Martin that housing too close to trees is okay for her to lay her eggs in... you just don't get any cooperation.
Good luck to you and best wishes for many successful Purple Martin seasons in the future.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
Barb:
Don't waste your gas driving around to look at houses. If your area is anything like mine, most of your neighbors are doing it wrong, with their houses too low, too close to trees, on fixed poles (i.e., can't lower house to inspect), or else they are full of S&S (sparrows and starlings.)
As Laverne says, read the info on the Home page for the basics. Things like "Reasons Why People fail to Attract" and "Reasons Why People Lose" their martins are VERY helpful. Don't put up your martin house till you have done your homework - you don't want to have to move it once you have dug the hole, poured the concrete, etc.
Don't put up your house in the middle of the flower garden. Martins don't like shrubs, vines, etc,. around the base of the pole. Put it up in the yard where you can mow under it regularly. Don't worry about lawn mowers, kids, dogs, or other normal yard activity - purple martins like to be near people and aren't put off by the routine things we do.
Put the house where you can see it easily - both for your own enjoyment and because the martins feel more secure near human habitations. Avoid trees, as noted above and in the Home page information.
Here in OH and IN, martins should be in full swing with their nesting behavior now. It is too late for us to attract new birds for this year, but as the colonies around you fledge, the adult birds will take their kids on a tour of the neighborhood, pointing out potential homes for next year. If you can get your house up yet this summer, that will help for next year. However, watch it closely for signs of invasion by the S&S - NEVER let sparrows and starlings set up housekeeping in your martin house, or your chances for an active colony go down dramatically.
If you can't get it up this year, aim to have it up by April 1 next year, but don't open up the compartments right away, or you will be dealing with S&S trying to take over, and maybe tree swallows, too. (S&S can be shot, trapped, or otherwise eliminated; tree swallows must be dealt with by offering alternative housing.)
As you read and learn, many more questions will come up. If you can't easily find the answers in the Download center, the FAQs, or the Archives, ask away - there are many very helpful people here, and they are eager to help. Check in especially with those of us from the northern states - landlords from LA, FL, TX, and other southern states may have different problems than those in IN, OH, and MI.
Welcome to martineering!
Don't waste your gas driving around to look at houses. If your area is anything like mine, most of your neighbors are doing it wrong, with their houses too low, too close to trees, on fixed poles (i.e., can't lower house to inspect), or else they are full of S&S (sparrows and starlings.)
As Laverne says, read the info on the Home page for the basics. Things like "Reasons Why People fail to Attract" and "Reasons Why People Lose" their martins are VERY helpful. Don't put up your martin house till you have done your homework - you don't want to have to move it once you have dug the hole, poured the concrete, etc.
Don't put up your house in the middle of the flower garden. Martins don't like shrubs, vines, etc,. around the base of the pole. Put it up in the yard where you can mow under it regularly. Don't worry about lawn mowers, kids, dogs, or other normal yard activity - purple martins like to be near people and aren't put off by the routine things we do.
Put the house where you can see it easily - both for your own enjoyment and because the martins feel more secure near human habitations. Avoid trees, as noted above and in the Home page information.
Here in OH and IN, martins should be in full swing with their nesting behavior now. It is too late for us to attract new birds for this year, but as the colonies around you fledge, the adult birds will take their kids on a tour of the neighborhood, pointing out potential homes for next year. If you can get your house up yet this summer, that will help for next year. However, watch it closely for signs of invasion by the S&S - NEVER let sparrows and starlings set up housekeeping in your martin house, or your chances for an active colony go down dramatically.
If you can't get it up this year, aim to have it up by April 1 next year, but don't open up the compartments right away, or you will be dealing with S&S trying to take over, and maybe tree swallows, too. (S&S can be shot, trapped, or otherwise eliminated; tree swallows must be dealt with by offering alternative housing.)
As you read and learn, many more questions will come up. If you can't easily find the answers in the Download center, the FAQs, or the Archives, ask away - there are many very helpful people here, and they are eager to help. Check in especially with those of us from the northern states - landlords from LA, FL, TX, and other southern states may have different problems than those in IN, OH, and MI.
Welcome to martineering!
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Guest
All good, solid advice and more than 99% correct. But.... There are always exceptions to the rule. My housing is 30 feet away from a 120ft high weeping willow, my neighbours' house is also within 30 feet of a willow - the branches form a partial canopy over his housing. His house has an occupancy rate of 90% +, mine only 50-60% (my colony is in its 2nd year). In both cases we have good flypaths leading to the houses.
I have never seen any hawks or owls, I guess that neither have the martins. Maybe predators don't like weeping willows?. Under certain circumstance I would not rule out placing a house close to trees - it works for me.
I have never seen any hawks or owls, I guess that neither have the martins. Maybe predators don't like weeping willows?. Under certain circumstance I would not rule out placing a house close to trees - it works for me.
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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
Stan, you are right about different conditions create different amounts of problems. If you never see any hawks & owls, you may be able to put your housing under the trees! If martins come to your place, and if they never get harrassed, they are not afraid.
Advice is so hard to give, nobody knows all the circumstances, so what is given is generally correct. I don't intend to criticize what you said, but it is disturbing when somebody gives very sound advice, and then another person comes along and sezs that it is not true at their house!
Having said that, it must be confusing to a newcomer to read what you said, even though it is completely true, so I will be on the side of the previous good advice givers...best of luck to you
Advice is so hard to give, nobody knows all the circumstances, so what is given is generally correct. I don't intend to criticize what you said, but it is disturbing when somebody gives very sound advice, and then another person comes along and sezs that it is not true at their house!
Having said that, it must be confusing to a newcomer to read what you said, even though it is completely true, so I will be on the side of the previous good advice givers...best of luck to you
Last edited by Emil Pampell-Tx on Fri Jul 15, 2005 6:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Guest
Emil, The last thing that I intended is to discredit the advice given or even worst confuse someone asking for advice , if I did so it was not intentional and I aplogize.
I do believe that all options should be explored when making a decision. I am not advocating disregarding long established methods but I wonder how many houses never went up because potential landlords were convinced that martins will not occupy housing located near trees? I am fully aware that birds have lost their lives because of proximity to trees - not always.
I do believe that all options should be explored when making a decision. I am not advocating disregarding long established methods but I wonder how many houses never went up because potential landlords were convinced that martins will not occupy housing located near trees? I am fully aware that birds have lost their lives because of proximity to trees - not always.
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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
Stan, all options should always be explored. Suppose Barb decides to follow your example, puts her house up against the tree limbs, and never gets martins? Also, don't be shocked if you wake up one morning, look out at your martins, and discover that they have abandoned your housing. Mr hawk or owl may have paid a visit, and enjoyed a good martin meal!
Putting up houses in bad locations is probably the most often made mistake in the martin hobby, especially if you have another choice. I can see people thinking that Stan attracted martins near trees, so that is the place that I want my house, then years go by and they are unable to attract martins. Finally they give up and the martin houses become starling & sparrow houses, which in the long run, causes more problems for martins.
Sorry, Stan, I still disagree. Bad examples usually remain a bad example.
Putting up houses in bad locations is probably the most often made mistake in the martin hobby, especially if you have another choice. I can see people thinking that Stan attracted martins near trees, so that is the place that I want my house, then years go by and they are unable to attract martins. Finally they give up and the martin houses become starling & sparrow houses, which in the long run, causes more problems for martins.
Sorry, Stan, I still disagree. Bad examples usually remain a bad example.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps