I'm a newb. I am just beginning to learn about Purple Martins. Being near the northern limit of their range I realize my success may take years. I just need to be patient.
I am getting close to finishing the building of an eight apartment house inspired by Bernie Nikolai's design I found on the main PM website. Being in the north an insulated house seems to make sense.
My question is about location. To improve my chances for success I am considering a location on the local river (The Menominee on the WI/MI border). The easiest install would be on a walking trail on my side of the river. Another option is to locate the house on an unoccupied island in the river. How often is it recommended to monitor nest boxes? Have you experienced vandalism? I don't mind walking or canoeing to the location and carrying the equipment is not a problem.
Thanks for your advice!
Tim
Locating my first house
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3699
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
How far are the locations from your house or normal human activity? Martins seem to like to have humans around, most assume the more people around the fewer the visits from predators. So you should find a place somewhat near a house, or other public place that has people around. I have seen colonies of golf courses, at hardware stores, and other similar locations. Also you mentions along the river, near a walking trail. I have not seen may places along a river that are open from trees. You will have a hard time attracting martins to a site with trees near by (closer then 50 feet or so). If you can post a Google earth image of a few of the spots you are thinking about, that is the best way to get advice.
2025 HOSP count-7
2024 60 pair, HOSP count-44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP count-8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP count-14
2021 62 nest fledged aprox. 230, HOSP count-9
2020 42 nest, Fledged 164, HOSP count-8
2019- 31 Pair over 100 fledged
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair nested, 12 eggs total, fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles away, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2024 60 pair, HOSP count-44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP count-8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP count-14
2021 62 nest fledged aprox. 230, HOSP count-9
2020 42 nest, Fledged 164, HOSP count-8
2019- 31 Pair over 100 fledged
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair nested, 12 eggs total, fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles away, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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WI/MI Border
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:54 pm
- Location: WI/MI Border
Thanks. My first thoughts about my home site were that I would give it a shot even though the only positive PM requirement is homes/people. After spending many hours on the PM house build I think I'd like to increase my odds a bit.
I'm not sure how to capture a Google image but I'll look into it. I should have the house ready by weeks end so I need to get a final location figured out.
When I get home I'll attach photos of sites I'm thinking about. One site, maybe 50 acres of a former fly ash landfill, is about 200 yards from the river with its many sloughs. The drawback of that site is I install ten or twelve Bluebird nest boxes around the landfill perimeter each summer. I'm not sure if that would conflict with the PM's house location. The other site is nearby and right on the river and has a much smaller field. Either site is visited by hikers frequently. Frequently meaning a couple folks might walk through every day.
Tim
Edit:
Landfill site... Riverside site... On google maps I have a location link. I hope this works. On the map the landfill site is the rectangular field in the center and the river site is just a bit southwest of the landfill. Neither is near a residential area and is only a mile drive from home and a 20 minute hike on the trail. I have permission to enter the sites by car to deliver nest boxes but not everyday access by car.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DwLYmsNVuCdYwrx49
I'm not sure how to capture a Google image but I'll look into it. I should have the house ready by weeks end so I need to get a final location figured out.
When I get home I'll attach photos of sites I'm thinking about. One site, maybe 50 acres of a former fly ash landfill, is about 200 yards from the river with its many sloughs. The drawback of that site is I install ten or twelve Bluebird nest boxes around the landfill perimeter each summer. I'm not sure if that would conflict with the PM's house location. The other site is nearby and right on the river and has a much smaller field. Either site is visited by hikers frequently. Frequently meaning a couple folks might walk through every day.
Tim
Edit:
Landfill site... Riverside site... On google maps I have a location link. I hope this works. On the map the landfill site is the rectangular field in the center and the river site is just a bit southwest of the landfill. Neither is near a residential area and is only a mile drive from home and a 20 minute hike on the trail. I have permission to enter the sites by car to deliver nest boxes but not everyday access by car.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DwLYmsNVuCdYwrx49