Successful Setup and Maintenance of Purple Martin Houses (6/23 Update: I can now get you 15% off!)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 เม.ย. 2012
- *June 2023 UPDATE* I'm very happy to report that I am now a Lonestar Purple Martin house dealer and CAN BEAT ANY OTHER ONLINE DEAL by 15%. Email me directly at TexasPurpleMartins@gmail.com or text me at 8I7.8O8.74O2 with a screenshot of what you've found online and I'll get you a much better deal. Note: I have had my Lonestar Goliad House w/ Crescent (SREH) holes and pole for nearly 20 years. It's the one I recommend, but Lonestar Purple Martin homes makes other models as well so please check them out.
About this video: Learn from my past mistakes in setting up a successful purple martin colony. In the first two years, I have had my apartments decimated by mite infestations, sparrow invasions, and murderous starlings. I have since had full apartments and a few hundred fledged martin babies using these simple tips which I have refined over the past eight years. Many have asked what brand of house I have. It is made by Lonestar, and is the "Goliad" model. In this short video you will learn about choosing the proper housing, figuring the proper placement of the apartments, and doing the regular maintenance that is essential for a healthy Martin habitat. I'll explain the importance of Starling Resistant Entry Holes, the importance of stripping out invasive nesters, what to clean your housing with, and how to prevent mite infestations using completely inert pool filter "Diatomaceous Earth" (not the insecticide version!).
To get information on building your own starling trap, check out "melcher NBT" on TH-cam. (I have no affiliation or relationship with him) And lastly, if you liked my video, please give me a thumbs up so that others will be drawn to it. Enjoy!
Great video, clear, spoke slowly and clearly, never had a house and taught me what I need to begin.
Cheers for this, I have been researching "birdhouse patterns free" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Ever heard of - Daniliana Birdfly Babar - (should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my work buddy got great success with it.
I had seen these in neighborhoods before and just loved the whole idea. It took me years of mistakes before I figured out how to attract and raise them. Thanks for asking!
Thank you RmeyPilot! I love these birds! They are fascinating to watch. I've been wanting to put up a house for several years. I've now purchased the house and with your guidance will be installing it this weekend. Wish me luck.
I absolutely found this video to be informative & very well composed. I think I'm going to give it a whirl!!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me, great video, very helpful for me to be successful in providing our beautiful Martin's a safe place to raise their babies.
I am waiting on my new 8 node gourd setup as a first timer. Thank you so much for this information!
My son has Martins in his eves. Your video will help him avoid a half dozen mistakes. I really appreciate this video.
You fly safe Brother. ⚓️
Thanks . A great video. I’m new to purple martins home building and really enjoyed you passing on great tips. Thank you.
Wow...thanks so much for taking the time to record and post this.
Thank you for posting. I had three Purple Martins checking out a house I built for Bluebirds. This was on 4-15-15 and I am in Southern New Hampshire. I had no idea what they were at the time but was outside and like you had said, they really had no fear of me at all and I was talking to them low and soft and they seemed to like it. From then on I have been on a mission to learn about them. The opening in the house was 1.5 inches and they never went in, but one was on the front of the house for the longest time just looking in and checking it out. Thank you for the tips, I can't wait to build a sweet complex for them and have some new friends to visit each year!!!.
+hurleyinnh The sounds these friends make and knowing that you are in this relationship will make you so happy. haha ;)
absolutely great attitude and charisma...keep up the good work!
Thank you for posting this me, and my seven year old son are so...excited, he got me house for mothers day just now getting it up, however I should not expect any intell Feb? This was so...helpful I look forward to teaching him about these birds enjoying them together!
Great job, very informative. As someone who is contemplating setting up as a landlord, I must say that some of the information (about the need for evictions) gives me pause, but you did an outstanding job of spelling out best practices. Thanks!
Good idea, thanks
I was heading out to my shop to build a Martin House and decided to get some info first ,,, so glad I did !! Thank You soooo much for a wealth of info !! Happy Birding from the INNER NANKS of NC !! !!
I miss my annual purple martins now for over 4 years. I used to have an open field/area like yours bet 2008 - 2014. Since I've been in an apartment for over 3 years, I am trying to see if they will attract to a small apt. balcony behind an Academy store. I love the sound and flight of your Martins. I had bought the plastic gourds with Mason screw off lids to see the nest/babies when I lowered the telescoping pole. They were so precious and I miss their return every year....
Great video, thanks for sharing, it was well done.
The starling resistant half-moon holes have made the difference with my starling free purple martin houses . I use traps I bought a few year years ago that fit in the actual entry compartments to catch sparrows (my houses have two-room compartments). Sparrow nests are easy to identify since they fill the whole compartment and those are what I target. Unfortunately, I have learned you can not take trapped birds away. They will come back. A quick stroke with the pruning shears removes the head almost painlessly, don't let them go!
I live in a populated Dallas suburb, but I have five foot rat snakes that are never seen in daytime, so I use a 4-inch PVC around the pole (my pole is three inches diameter), covered with 4 ft tall metal hardware cloth. I use large ring clamps to hold the hardware cloth off the ground, and electrify the hardware cloth with a Fido Shock. My wench is above that. Don't let the hardware cloth touch ANY metal, or it will kill the shock. I left my electricity off one night two years ago, and all my purple martins were killed by a snake. The other snake guards have been completely ineffective, and I lost the previous year fledge and parent birds to a hungry snake. The snakes don't eat one bird and stop killing, they kill all birds with the first attack. Last year was the first successful fledge, and I will never be without the shock system again.
Also, I hope TheRMey will agree you should use "food grade" diatomaceous earth, not the pest control kind, because it is safer for the birds and landlord. We have some chickens we control mites with effectively using DE, his information is great. We order ours over the internet.
This is an excellent video with so much useful info. This kind of public info is appreciated very much by people who love purple martins. This guy is spot on.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences, we are just starting on this adventure so any advice is welcome.
Thank you. That was interesting 😁. I am going to put my purple martin house out for the first time. Wish me luck. 😊
Fascinating. I just got a martin house and I knew almost none of these things. Thank you.
GEEZUS! Thank you. Very easy-to-follow info that's very important.
Most informative video I've seen on martin houses.
Making my first attempt to attract these beauties this year. Your video was extremely helpful and informative. Thanks for taking the time!
+Bryan Kuhler Thanks, Brian. So sorry for the slow reply. Been out of the loop. Let everyone know how it has turned out for you!
Thank you RmeyPilot, I enjoyed the video and feel this will be a big help to me. I am putting up my first Purple Martin house and look forward to using your tips, especially the bug ridding tip as well as adding egg shells to the porches.
Happy birding,
Dave
Informative video! That looks like an attractive house in the background.
Great video. Thanks for putting it together
Army Pilot... we really liked your video and all your tips (diatomaceous earth, egg shells, etc.). We're second yr. novice landlords so we're definitely still learning. Love these little birdies. ;)
this is a very good video on how to take care of the house. I had no idea. Thanks.
Thanks for your terrific video. Am just beginning to think about doing this and am getting ready to move to another state, but your informative talk gave me things to think about. I plan to include my grandchildren in the project.
+1946humble Sorry for the slow reply. I've been out of the loop for a while. Your grandkids will love it and hopefully take that knowledge with them as adults. We need good landlords! ;)
So much great information. Thank you!!!
An extremely well done video. Very informative!
Great hearing from another warrior in arms. Thanks for your service Top! Be careful about the weight of the wood houses. They get heavier with each nest. Let me know how things go and send me a picture when you get a chance. ~RmeyPilot
Thanks for mentioning the melcher nbt, thats a great trap!!!
Excellent video. Thanks so much for sharing.
I know this is an older post...have a good colony going and super excited..about 14 pairs of birds...also tree swallows are here this year in a bluebird box about 50 feet from the purple martin guords. Lot of fun to watch. I have the starling resistant entry whole entrances.
Slow reply, I know. Haha. You sound like a good landlord and are enjoying the fruits of your labor. God bless you!
Thanks for all the information. Great ideas. 👍
LOTS OF HELP THANK YOU
Great Job on this very informative video.
Great information, thanks for sharing.
Very helpful!!!! I got my first PM house today, I am very excited to get it put up :-)
I've been researching into building an aviary and discovered a great resource at Aviary Magic Method (google it if you're interested)
I want to give two thumbs up just excellent thanks for a great vid
Thank you! Very, very helpful.
Simply Outstanding! From one veteran pilot to another, thank you for your service.
I also have honeybees ,should I be keeping martins?
I
+Susan Battista, martins feed very high up in the air above the flight path of bees.. And contrary to popular believe they don't eat mosquitos. I'm a bee keeper too and never had a problem with them.
+aburlesonintomartins So sorry for the slow reply! I have been out of the loop. Same to you, brother (or sister, haha)
Good video . I had 2 / 18 hole apartment boxes that l made myself . Had birds 11 years . Next year they didn't return 😥😥 A storm could have wiped them out ?? I didn't have cranks to raise and lower . This was back in the late 60s-thru the 70s
I tried for several yrs , to no avail . Not much info about demiting the houses etc .. Didn't have any problems and didn't loose any birds . At least not aware of . kept my houses stored . Getting ready to start up again , give it a whirl . At 75 , don't travel hardly . This would be a vacation watching the birds l loved to watch . Im excited all over again . There are 2 boxes in the general area , approximately 3/4 miles away . Praying to attract them back .
Hi Rick. I’m not sure what your land looks like. Could It be possible that your trees grew so large in that decade to the point of making the houses too risky to predators. (Owls, hawks, falcons?).
Make sure your houses are clean and start off with a layer of inert DT (like pool filter DT).
I wish you the best! Blessings!
Dennis
Great video lot of good information thank you
Thanks for the tips. Last week, I bought one of those beautiful 14 holers that weighs 30 pounds and is made of cedar. It has the round holes. I need to find a plate for the bottom of the house that will attach to the house with screws and sit on top of the pole. I wont worry with trying to set it up right now after all. I need to make the entrance changes and get a sturdy pole in the ground. Glad that I saw your video beforehand just to have sparrows move in. Vr, 1SG (Ret) Lori Greco
Thank you very much, Great video hope all is well with your Purple Martin.
Same to you!
Really enjoyed video, i'm a new landlord and this video helped a bunch.
+Victor Courville - Thanks Victor!
Thanks very much! Let us know how it turns out. ;)
I have spent months studying building aviaries and found an awesome website at Aviary magic method (check it out on google)
I'm hoping this year I'll actually get some martins to nest. I had a few interested in my house last year, but some sparrows had moved in and chased them off. I have a recording of the dawn song that I'll play in the morning to try attract them back.
I really enjoyed the video!
wonderful info. I will be a first timer in NW Indiana, and my house is almost ready but a bit early, so I need to be careful of my sparrows! Keep up the good work!
Dave McCracken you don’t have to be careful with sparrows what you have to be careful is with humans that is the animal more dangerous and extremely cruel never in the history of this planet one bird can bring to extinction others birds nature knowns best but humans activities directly or indirectly Audubon have a list of the birds already extinct because of people is very sad list because some of the birds was beautiful.
Great information!! Thank you!!
Adding Martin Houses to Denton County! Thank you for your advice!!
Any time!
Thanks so much, best video I have seen, just getting started , I am professional woodworker and was wondering about the pole, can you recommend one,. Thanks, Greg
Great video! Thanks!
Very informative video! Thank you for posting this. :)
+Ashley Rosenn Sorry for the slow reply. I've been out of the loop for a while. Let us all know how it turned out! :)
Thanks for posting
Nice video and it's quite a few years old, so maybe you know this now, but a couple of things... A pole that close to a fence gives predators an easier time of getting to your PMs. Once away from the fence a baffle and snake netting should be added near the bottom. Also, PMCA now states that DE is not good from the PMs and they suggest 1/8 tsp 5% Sevin in the bedding. I change out my bedding when the chicks are ten days old as well. I put in about half the bedding, add the Sevin, shush it around and then add the other half of the bedding.
Great video! We have martens around us all the time, and I'd love to get them proper housing so they have someplace safer than our garage! I love your pole system and your apt set-up. Can you possibly let us know what brand they are and where we can purchase? I especially love the way the pole can crank up and down, but have not been successful at finding any. Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you again for an informative video.
Good job with your Martins.
Great video
Great video. Do you happen to have any suggestions on houses? Good prices for a good product?
Very informative video sir ! Love your purple martin house. Also like the square pole.Where could I buy a pole like that ?Thanks again, for all the information!
Very good video. Thanks!
Latest news. I found out a few weeks ago that we had a rat snake attack on one of the houses across the street. Decimated the lower apartments before the landlord took care of it. My birds all successfully fledged but I am definitely installing a guard for next year! ;)
Where did u get the pole and houses and my friend Fran told me to move mine houses away from my tall trees and fix to do so. Very interesting to see your video and thanks a bunch
Great video! I am a GA pilot just getting into Martins.
thank you for the information
very informative, thank you.
Thank you so much for your time in doing this video my brother. There is only one thing I can add to it HOOAH!. I would love to build one and I have been looking for a site where I can get the blue prints. If any of your followers would know where I can get free prints so I can build one. I would really be grateful. I have always felt. If you build it with your own hands. There is a much better satisfaction. Once again. Thank you.
Brant. Good question. It really depends on the height of the trees and the type of birds of prey that are around. It never hurts to try. As shown in my video, I actually put the gourds up in my neighbors yard since it allowed me to space the houses out a bit. Maybe you have an understanding neighbor too but without the tall trees around? No matter, get the house as far away froom the trees as possible and try it. Good luck and thanks for the question!
I have a S&K 12 room plastic house. I used it for 10 years. I don't yet have a starling problem, just an occasional sparrow which I dispatch. I started out using the half moon opening, but after adding a nest tray and the Martin building it's nest, made it difficult for the bird to exit. So I opened up the round holes. Good video.
House sparrows are in my purple Martin house please help me to stop them I have every other day to get them out
Roy G what a ignorant and savage you are I hope you pay for what you doing unfortunately bastard with putrid heart like you are for everywhere
Great video! Thank you
You are welcome!
Loved this video. Lots of great tips for the beginner. I am getting ready to install a martin house. The handle and easy operation of the pole for lowering the martin house is impressive. Do you have a video that explains how to build this type of pole set-up? Thank You for this post.
Hi, I have this house. It’s manufactured by Lonestar Aluminum in San Antonio, Texas. They ship directly to you. It’s a fantastic house! Lots of really thoughtful features. I ordered the cavity boxes, too, although, if you’re handy, you could make your own. The pole/wench system is theirs as well. It wasn’t too complicated to set up and once you have, it’s great! There are some nice safety features. (which is how I convinced my husband we needed the bird palace: cheaper than the medical bills if the old house came down on my head.) The only pole/wench that I’ve seen that might be better had a stainless steel cable.
Thank you for the informative video. What are your thoughts on the gourds or gourd shaped homes?
We have the same house.😊 I actually grew up in Goliad.
Great video, lots of well explained advice...im trying to attract purple Martin's to nest in my yard. I bought an expensive house from the Amish but I'm going to have to convert the doors now. I wanted to tell you that everyone should be careful to only buy food grade DE as they sell a pool grade one that is toxic. I raise chickens and use it for them...plus rub it on my dog and cats for flea control...great stuff just be careful which kind!
Also I had to install it on a 4 x 4 so now I have to get a ladder...kind of wishing I'd gone with a different house but I figured the Amish would know what they are doing! Oh well...ill have to make sure as I'm not buying another just yet...ive had purple Martin's in the yard before just in passing I think so I'm really hoping I can get some to nest here!
This is been very helpful. My wife and I just put up an S&K purple Martin house in the backyard. I do have a question though. Most of our backyard has a lot of trees around it and I put it in the most open area that I had but it still within 15 feet of a tree. Will they still come nest?
Thank you for your service to our country. Also TY Jesus. Juliett, Echo, Sierra, Uniform, Sierra.
Hi Marcus. I have seen martins steal nesting material from other nests, but a fight usually breaks out. That one sounds pretty sly. haha. Thanks for providing a home for the martins! RmeyPilot
Thanks for the helpful tips!
+Nicki Greenwood Sorry for the slow reply. I've been out of the loop for a while. Thanks! let us all know how it turned out. :)
Thank you! I've been considering a purple martin house for my mother. She has the perfect property. I'm just looking into maintenance for her. :)
Thanks great Vid!
I have always loved the "Lone Star" brand of houses. They are not cheap but will last you for many years. They are aluminum and built well with deep apartments. The model I have is called the "Goliad". You can stack apartments to add another 4. Some have 12 and some starter ones come with two levels for 8. You can google all this and find a distributor closer to you. Make sure you order one with the SREH entry holes. Thanks and enjoy the Martins!
Thank you for these helpful tips! We received one of those plastic 12-apt. ones from Tractor Supply. Have you heard any negative comments about them?
RmeyPilot, thanks for your reply. I already bought one where I had bought the house. I hope it is ok. This one has pins to pull in and out when lowering. Thanks again. I love the birds, but now I have lots of problems with squirrels eating birdseed and cats pooping in my garden. Thanks again.
Really cool demo. Just found it. You made this look easy. I don't have 25 or 40ft from trees, can I still give it a shot?
Hey Army Pilot !! Loved you video LOTS of info !! Have had an old metal Martin House for years with No success !! Only Starlings !! Hope to try some new things, live i n Ohio from Michigan, have been a bird watcher all my life as a hobby !!! Have heard about putting swallows or Blue Bird Houses near helps attract Martins ??? True ???
Thanks for tips. Recent article by Purple Martin Conservation Society states that they no longer recommend the use of diatomaceous earth. See their forum archives.
Thanks!
That looks a lot easier than what I’ve been tryinh
Sorry for the very slow reply. I actually put up another pole with plastic gourds and have been pleased with how well they worked for the birds. I bought the black plastic inserts that are supposed to help with air circulation. Still, if you ask me, the Lone Star houses are easier to maintain and check on the chicks. Thanks for your question!
You can also buy a fifty pound bag of feed-grade diatomaceous earth from a grain facility - they use it to put with wheat to kill the weevils. It works the same but is much cheaper than buying the small bag. If you have a bunch of birding friends you could go together on it. I think I paid around $25.00 - $30.00 for the fifty pound bag, it has been extremely useful.
AP....Just got our first pair of nesting purple martins after about 4 1/2 years. Lots of visitors over that time but these are the first that have stayed and nested. After watching your video, I see that I may have made a few mistakes about the location of the house, so I am going to buy a second house and pole and position it properly. I was wondering where you got the square pole and winch. Is it the S&K SP2? Also, what type of house is that? That is a great set up for regular maintenance and upkeep. Love the video and thanks for sharing.
where can I get a pole like that . and how much was it. Thanks for great video i have had purple martins her in Canada for 5 years and just love them .
Hi there! Can you recommend a PM house sold on Amazon for us first timers? Also, will they inhabit a house in a busy town?? Or is this a country bird only?
Thanks so much!
This was well organized and informative. I do have a question: Are gourd houses more likely to be used than others? Thanks for the excellent video and your informed opinion. Gene
Gene McLoud so very sorry for the slow reply. The martins will take to either houses as long as they are clean. ;)
Hi Julie. The pole needs to be matched to the house. The manufacturer of the house will normally sell the pole as well. I have the Goliad house and pole from Lonestar. This is an expensive setup as houses go (about $400) but the house is easily lowered and raised with a crank and cable. Many houses use pole extensions that you physically lift up. Some use rope. I did a lot of checking before I chose mine. Google Lonestar Goliad Purple Martin and you will find all about it. Thanks for asking!
I live right buy a slue about an acre. and I have a bog behind the house during the wetter times here in extreme West Central Minnesota. I bought this house from an old couple and the Martin house was in disrepare and never cleaned I'm going to build a mansion and try to get them back because the mosquitoes are voracious here. How much will the Martin's help me out? Btw thanks for the clear concise video. P.S. any tips on starting a colony?, getting them to move in... when to set up and so on.
That's a great video 👍
With all the crazy mandates now, I wonder how hard it would be to mandate that everyone with a yard has to have one of those?
you said the rooms should be larger, what's a good depth? ji'm going to build some rooms soon