How did you get started?

[Stingray]

I was wondering how other landlords got started in our passion.

Here is my story.
I'm 70 years old and ever since I was a kid, have always liked, had, bred, and enjoyed birds.
All the way from finches to racing pigeons. I really enjoyed the pigeons.

Years ago, my wife and I went for lunch with a couple of friends to a restaurant on the west coast of Florida.
As we arrived, we saw this pole with a birdhouse on top. My friend knew about it and shared that it was for Purple Martins.
I read up on them and was very interested right away.
That year, my wife surprised me with a martin house for Christmas.
I was surprised and hooked.
Fast forward a few moons and this year marks my eighteenth year as a martin landlord.

I have enjoyed each and every year, spending countless hours watching, listening and learning.

Ok, how did you get started?

[C.C.Martins]

Very nice! Seems love for birds runs deep.
Ok, here goes!
56 years old, grew up in south Texas. Always had an appreciation for nature and the outdoors, fishing, hiking long as its outside. We have always had birds growing up I think they are an awesome species...canaries, parakeets, cockatiels...have a Caique, green cheek conure and a cockatiel now.
Joined the military and bounced around the world for 26 years. No settling down during that time.
Settled back in south texas and bought a house, really wanted to put up a martin house....not just for martins, (had hopes) for any bird really. Starlings showed didnt like it, sparrows showed didnt like it then one day in 2016 a male purple martin showed up while I was in back. He went from floor to floor and looked in all the compartments while the female sat on my neighbors roof. They inspected and took off, never saw them again.
I was hooked, love at first sight, learned what I could about them; moved the house, made it bigger and raised it up higher. 4 pair came in the next year, and stayed. Really hooked then!
Actually called the botanical gardens here in corpus the day they all showed up....one day they were not here, next day 3 pair moved in, finally a 4th. Eventually spoke to Louise Chambers who helped me out, owe alot to her and John. A whole lot.
Still learning, always thankful to the good folks here who helped me and those first martins...Wonder that they stayed. Thank God they did. I too take immense joy in watching them and hearing their bubbly calls, they really enjoy life.
Tom

[Jones4381]

March 2020 - Travel Ban...tough on a salesman that covers DC to Miami...needed a hobby to keep my sanity on my 20 acres. Not for sure how I really found out about this but maybe subconciously seeing a gourd rack somewhere and thought it interesting. Studied up and saw the need to give nature a fighting chance as I perceive our planet struggling with deforestation, habitat loss, and the other animal kingdoms in great stress and trending toward extinction. Also PM's are fascinating birds and has also taught me about many other aves along the way and to give back.

Guess i did it for a hobby, to show others we all need to do our small part, and I love all animals and now I look up and listen more. PM enthusiast seem to be really nice and kind people and those are the people I like to associate with.

[MJM]

I bought a horse farm outside Lexington, KY and a lot of farms around me had these big, neat looking white bird houses. So I found one cheap on craigslist and put it up solely for looks (now, I know it is a 4-story Heath house). In the spring it had some barn swallows in it which we enjoyed watching but then all these bigger black/gray birds started showing up in the Spring and giving them a hard time. So I moved those barn swallows to, well the barn. And then the black/grey birds took over residence. I was going to chase them off but my wife liked their chirping so I asked a neighbor and he said I was infested with purple martins! Well geez that didn't sound good so I came on here looking for advice on my infestation... and now I'm a "landlord".

[Stingray]

Very nice! Seems love for birds runs deep.
Ok, here goes!
56 years old, grew up in south Texas. Always had an appreciation for nature and the outdoors, fishing, hiking long as its outside. We have always had birds growing up I think they are an awesome species...canaries, parakeets, cockatiels...have a Caique, green cheek conure and a cockatiel now.
Joined the military and bounced around the world for 26 years. No settling down during that time.
Settled back in south texas and bought a house, really wanted to put up a martin house....not just for martins, (had hopes) for any bird really. Starlings showed didnt like it, sparrows showed didnt like it then one day in 2016 a male purple martin showed up while I was in back. He went from floor to floor and looked in all the compartments while the female sat on my neighbors roof. They inspected and took off, never saw them again.
I was hooked, love at first sight, learned what I could about them; moved the house, made it bigger and raised it up higher. 4 pair came in the next year, and stayed. Really hooked then!
Actually called the botanical gardens here in corpus the day they all showed up....one day they were not here, next day 3 pair moved in, finally a 4th. Eventually spoke to Louise Chambers who helped me out, owe alot to her and John. A whole lot.
Still learning, always thankful to the good folks here who helped me and those first martins...Wonder that they stayed. Thank God they did. I too take immense joy in watching them and hearing their bubbly calls, they really enjoy life.
Tom

Tom,
First of all, thank you for your service.
Great story. Enjoyed the read. Thank you for sharing.
I've had some of the birds you named too, as well as a yellow nape amazon and an umbrella cockatoo.
I did leave out an important source of information, the great knowledgeable people on this site and the archives.

Best regards,

[Stingray]

March 2020 - Travel Ban...tough on a salesman that covers DC to Miami...needed a hobby to keep my sanity on my 20 acres. Not for sure how I really found out about this but maybe subconciously seeing a gourd rack somewhere and thought it interesting. Studied up and saw the need to give nature a fighting chance as I perceive our planet struggling with deforestation, habitat loss, and the other animal kingdoms in great stress and trending toward extinction. Also PM's are fascinating birds and has also taught me about many other aves along the way and to give back.

Guess i did it for a hobby, to show others we all need to do our small part, and I love all animals and now I look up and listen more. PM enthusiast seem to be really nice and kind people and those are the people I like to associate with.

Jones4381,
Thanks for your response,
You make great points about helping nature and our struggling planet. The small part each of us plays helps.
We are nature lovers also and I agree with you about preferring to associate with kind people.

Again, thanks for contributing to this thread. Enjoyed your read.

Regards,

[Stingray]

I bought a horse farm outside Lexington, KY and a lot of farms around me had these big, neat looking white bird houses. So I found one cheap on craigslist and put it up solely for looks (now, I know it is a 4-story Heath house). In the spring it had some barn swallows in it which we enjoyed watching but then all these bigger black/gray birds started showing up in the Spring and giving them a hard time. So I moved those barn swallows to, well the barn. And then the black/grey birds took over residence. I was going to chase them off but my wife liked their chirping so I asked a neighbor and he said I was infested with purple martins! Well geez that didn't sound good so I came on here looking for advice on my infestation... and now I'm a "landlord".

MJM,
Thank you for your post. I like Kentucky. I've been there several times. Beautiful countryside and friendly people.
Yours is a unique way to get into Purple Martins. You were a Purple Martin landlord before you knew it!
They do have a pretty song and are beautiful birds.

Glad you found the site!
Enjoy!!

Regards,

[MJM]

MJM,
Thank you for your post. I like Kentucky. I've been there several times. Beautiful countryside and friendly people.
Yours is a unique way to get into Purple Martins. You were a Purple Martin landlord before you knew it!
They do have a pretty song and are beautiful birds.

Yes, I was told they picked me and now I have to take care of them. So now I am building another house... go figure.

[G Saner]

My best friend's parents had a martin house. I was amazed at how graceful the martins were in the air. My paternal grandmother had already instilled a love of birds in me. My father helped me build a wooden house for the next spring. We attached it to a 21-foot 4X4, and martins were flying around the new house as we raised it. Getting that 21-foot pole home was a sight as we strapped it to the side of my parents 1959 Ford (the back fin came in handy).

The wooden house lasted three years and was replaced with a three-story aluminum Trio. I paid for the new house with money saved from garage band gigs.

I was 13 when we installed the first house and turned 14 during that martin season. Except for college, apartments and some springtime moves, I have hosted martins ever since (over 50 years). I still am amazed when the first martin returns. Best day of the year.

[C.C.Martins]

Very nice! Seems love for birds runs deep.
Ok, here goes!
56 years old, grew up in south Texas. Always had an appreciation for nature and the outdoors, fishing, hiking long as its outside. We have always had birds growing up I think they are an awesome species...canaries, parakeets, cockatiels...have a Caique, green cheek conure and a cockatiel now.
Joined the military and bounced around the world for 26 years. No settling down during that time.
Settled back in south texas and bought a house, really wanted to put up a martin house....not just for martins, (had hopes) for any bird really. Starlings showed didnt like it, sparrows showed didnt like it then one day in 2016 a male purple martin showed up while I was in back. He went from floor to floor and looked in all the compartments while the female sat on my neighbors roof. They inspected and took off, never saw them again.
I was hooked, love at first sight, learned what I could about them; moved the house, made it bigger and raised it up higher. 4 pair came in the next year, and stayed. Really hooked then!
Actually called the botanical gardens here in corpus the day they all showed up....one day they were not here, next day 3 pair moved in, finally a 4th. Eventually spoke to Louise Chambers who helped me out, owe alot to her and John. A whole lot.
Still learning, always thankful to the good folks here who helped me and those first martins...Wonder that they stayed. Thank God they did. I too take immense joy in watching them and hearing their bubbly calls, they really enjoy life.
Tom

Tom,
First of all, thank you for your service.
Great story. Enjoyed the read. Thank you for sharing.
I've had some of the birds you named too, as well as a yellow nape amazon and an umbrella cockatoo.
I did leave out an important source of information, the great knowledgeable people on this site and the archives.

Best regards,

Wow, I love the Amazon's! I'd like one but think the bird would out live us now (and our guys would be insanely jealous) so we opt out. You didn't leave it out sir, just being a member speaks to the support we all give.
Tom

[Stingray]

My best friend's parents had a martin house. I was amazed at how graceful the martins were in the air. My paternal grandmother had already instilled a love of birds in me. My father helped me build a wooden house for the next spring. We attached it to a 21-foot 4X4, and martins were flying around the new house as we raised it. Getting that 21-foot pole home was a sight as we strapped it to the side of my parents 1959 Ford (the back fin came in handy).

The wooden house lasted three years and was replaced with a three-story aluminum Trio. I paid for the new house with money saved from garage band gigs.

I was 13 when we installed the first house and turned 14 during that martin season. Except for college, apartments and some springtime moves, I have hosted martins ever since (over 50 years). I still am amazed when the first martin returns. Best day of the year.

Great story,
50 years as a martin landlord. Wow!
That is wonderful!
You have certainly helped a countless number of our little friends and must have a wealth of experiences and knowledge.
Great to hear that you still look forward to their arrival.
Loved hearing about the 1959 truck!
Thank you for all you have done for these beautiful little birds.
Have a wonderful season.

I really enjoyed your story.
Thank you for sharing.

I'm looking forward to hearing from more landlords.

[starling shooter]

My dad got me a bb gun before I was in kindergarten. Told me to keep the sparrows and starlings off the martin house while he was away at work. I was born with the hunting gene...all I needed to hear.

As a kid (1970s), would sit in lawn chair with bb gun in summer, listening to the Cardinals on KMOX, policing the Martins.

Still got the old Health House...it is full of dents (lol), they were made much heavier back in the day.