Hi Bub, Are they the ones that you can lower? Since you're not sure that purple martins were in there, I would clean them all out and watch for other birds, like house sparrows that might try to set up house in them, and then evict them. I had some tree sparrows hanging around mine one year, and the bird people told me that they were a good thing to have there too. Unfortunately, nobody stayed. You can get covers for those holes. And If I'm remembering right, you keep them covered until you start seeing Purple Martins, then uncover them. That will keep the house sparrows out. Good luck.

I had a Purple Martin House for about 10 years until we moved to a different house with a heavily treed lot. Purple Martins need lots of room around their houses, at least 20 feet from trees. Are there house sparrows nesting in the house? PMs will be chased away by them so the Martins will not use a house that already has sparrows in it. They migrate back to South America in June and July. I think they're gone for the year and will be back next Feb/March. That said, I bet the drought has something to do with it. They eat flying insects like bees, wasps, and dragonflies, so if those insects around around, neither will be the Purple Martins.

Thanks for the advice :) I have read that website, most of it - it has a lot of info. I did read a paragraph that said: MYTH: Bluebirds behave the same way, all the time, everywhere. REALITY: Eastern, Mountain, and Western Bluebirds in different areas behave differently and show different preferences. Even the same birds may behave differently as they age; as seasons, climate, and conditions change; and from one year to the next. Some people who aren't following any of the "rules" still successfully fledge amazing numbers of bluebirds year after year. Avoid "never" and "always" and do whatever works in your area! This made me a little more confident in this nest box. Even though have not seen a single HOSP, I will certainly cut off the perches if need be. And I will not host the Starlings, if need be take the whole thing down. Who knows, I could be as successful as the woodworker down the road!! For cleaning, he recommended taking a hanger and yanking out the old nests, and I will pull it down and rinse it out with a bleach solution at the end of the year. If others (besides Starlings and HOSP) take up residence I will most likely buy the more recommended house to put up in another location. While this one is pretty, I would rather a lighter and easier manageable house to take care of!!! Unfortunately I can't just return this one, so hopefully it will work :) Thanks again for your advice!! Christy :)

Hi Lisa, Yes, I would think that they would have their houses up already. My friend who lives in North Dakota has just had her Martins arrive, so it is time. It is absolutely NOT too late to get nesting Martins. It is VERY important to place the house in the very best location possible. Martins need large open flyways from all directions. They do not want to nest next to large trees, but they do not like to be too far away from people either. Location is EVERYTHING to them. Proximity to the Bluebird housing should not be too much of a problem for them. I wouldn't put them side by side intentionally, but many Martin landlords have BB's nesting in close proximity to their sites. What you absolutely cannot do is to allow any other cavity nester to nest inside the Martin house. It must be monitored very closely. If you see another species of bird is interested in the housing, then it needs to be closed up until you see Martins on it or around it. YES, there are many websites where Martin landlords come to discuss their colonies and are very willing to answer questions and offer advice to those who are newbies and trying to learn and establish colonies. Here are some Purple Martin sites: http://www.purplemartin.org/ http://www.pmclubhouse.com/isapi.dll?c=h&htx=page http://www.michiganmartins.com/ http://purplemartin.org/mentorprogram/index.php?loc=MI http://www.chuckspurplemartinpage.com/ Hope that helps you!! Keep me posted on your progress?~~Angie