Alternatives to Human Housing
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Guest
I have read in many places that Martin Houses should be near human housing / activity. I have a small farm but no barn or housing until later this year (open pastures). Ever the optimist, I put up Martin housing anyway and am wondering if I can find an alternative to no "human Housing". For example, would it be helpful to park my truck, tractor, near the martin bird-house as a subsitute for not having a residence built yet?? Thanks Dave.
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Donnie Hurdt MN
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
- Location: North Prairie, MN
Welcome to the forum Dave. A lot of people do say that martin housing should be near human housing but that is not necessarily set in stone, so to speak. If you or others are going to be active around whatever buildings that are already there you should be ok. Down south in martin rich areas you should not have much trouble attracting martins. Keep the starlings and sparrows under controll and you should be a landlord soon.
I am sure others will chip in here too.
I am sure others will chip in here too.
PMCA member and Martin fanatic....
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
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Joe Zorn
Hi Dave,
Here in Louisiana, I was amazed to see a very large PM house on a pole in the middle of a sugar cane field, about 200' from a minor highway, and about a 1/4 mile from an Interstate-like four lane highway near Houma, La at the intersection of LA 311, and HW 90w.
There must have been a hundred birds swarming that house in the early afternoon. That was many years ago. I seldom traveled that road, and had never seen that house before. The next year, it was not there, when I went back there during the active season.
I often wondered if vandals or PM predators caused it's one year reign.
So to answer your question, this particular must have been built well. The Martin took right to it. I did not know about cresent entrances or SREH's or any of the rest. At tht time, I only had a small house up every year with round holes, and they were successful. So I cannot tell you which kind of entrances they used.
But the house wa about 4 stories high, with about 4 rooms on a side.
I say, put it up. Put a scarecrow or something in it's proximinity. Might keep the starlings away, but draw in the PM's, who knows?
Joe
Here in Louisiana, I was amazed to see a very large PM house on a pole in the middle of a sugar cane field, about 200' from a minor highway, and about a 1/4 mile from an Interstate-like four lane highway near Houma, La at the intersection of LA 311, and HW 90w.
There must have been a hundred birds swarming that house in the early afternoon. That was many years ago. I seldom traveled that road, and had never seen that house before. The next year, it was not there, when I went back there during the active season.
I often wondered if vandals or PM predators caused it's one year reign.
So to answer your question, this particular must have been built well. The Martin took right to it. I did not know about cresent entrances or SREH's or any of the rest. At tht time, I only had a small house up every year with round holes, and they were successful. So I cannot tell you which kind of entrances they used.
But the house wa about 4 stories high, with about 4 rooms on a side.
I say, put it up. Put a scarecrow or something in it's proximinity. Might keep the starlings away, but draw in the PM's, who knows?
Joe
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Martins may know to look for martin houses in proximity to human population, but I suspect that human activity doesn't necessarily appeal to them.
We know with certainty that martins are more easily attacted to a very open site. I get concerned folks sometimes sacrifice openness to be near "human activity." Put your house in the most open spot you've got, yet in an area where you can observe and enjoy it.
John Miller
We know with certainty that martins are more easily attacted to a very open site. I get concerned folks sometimes sacrifice openness to be near "human activity." Put your house in the most open spot you've got, yet in an area where you can observe and enjoy it.
John Miller