Advice in planning

[BHULL]

I am preparing for this season and last year I finally got a couple to stay and fledged 5.(all)This year I am trying to see if I set up exact housing as before for two reasons. One is one of my neighbors sold his house and had perhaps 5-6 pair of martins. The housing last fall was taken down by new owner.I don't know if they are going to continue the housing and thus no martins.My second thoughts were if I get a larger house I might be able to attract more martins.I currently have a house converted to six with two super gourds hanging on each end(nesting pair).I have a second location for another pole I could put up as a back up or overflow housing unit.(location not great)
A. Keep the housing as it is.(no expansion)
B. Better housing with gourds hanging.
C. Set up a back up housing unit about 75 ft away but close to trees and my house.
Any advice appreciated .

[~Ray~Gingerich]

You might have the ideal situation coming up depending on what your new neighbor does. My choice would be leave what you have and place a new gourd rack half way between point A. and your home in the most open spot and away from trees.

[KathyF]

I agree with Ray. Don't worry about getting it close enough to your neighbor's old spot. The homeless martins will find your housing *IF* you put it in a wide-open flyway. Martins will fly miles & miles during the day from their base site to get a drink of water or go find a mate. They'll find your setup. Remember the number one rule: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

The fact you had a pair last year speaks well of your chances. I'd put up more housing and place it about 10-12' from your original housing.

[Dave Reynolds]

BHULL -- Take Ray's and Kathy's advice... I would also add a gourd rack, with six or eight gourds if you can. The Martins will find it ... Have a good year, and let us know how things worked out for you.

Dave

[Leandortree]

BHull,
Perhaps you could approach your new neighbor, and ask him/her what his/her intentions are regarding the martins. You can always expand your housing. Martins like to nest in close groups, but also like their space. Porch domination can be a problem in some martin house types, and larger cavities are best (6.5 X12) is a good choice. I'm not familiar with the type of housing you have now.
I have read your past posts, and see you have had a long hall in establishing a colony; it must have been trying for you to have had a pair one year and have them not return the next. I would feel very sadly if that would happen to me. Anyways you had three last season, and could get a lot more this year.
Purple Martins need good access to their housing .I would put up the second house close to the first house given the access is good. If you have a poll let's say about 16 feet above the ground, I would not worry about a tree or two 30 feet or so away. You could get all your neighbor's birds this year and then some. If you're new neighbor does not put the housing back up. The better the housing you put up the better your chances of attracting nearby martins, even if the housing in question go's back up. You could also use the 75 feet away location, if the birds have good access to the housing there. Martins will not be afraid to nest close to your home. I have a large number of beautiful TREES on my property, full of nesting birds, and a thriving Purple Martin Colony!
The most important thing (IMO) is to keep your martin housing free of cavity nesting competitors, and parasites.
Good Luck this season

[BHULL]

I will keep same housing and consider another house if the people who bought new house don't plan on putting up the housing .If they are going to put up the housing I will advise them on maintaining their housing. The advise is sort of what I was thinking and will be putting up my housing today and have them closed off.

[Bob Fraser]

If they're not going to put the housing up, perhaps they'd like to let you have it ? I'd ask them. If they're not at all interested in becoming martin landlords, what they have might just be taking up space.