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Purple Martin House Building ??

Konrad___far_north

17 years ago

Finally made the commitment to build

a house, 14 compartment's for now,

I can add on in the future, hopefully

get some to nest,...I know it can take

several years to attract some.

My first question.

When looking at several house building

plans I see all of the boxes or condos

have a ledge in front of entrance,

[except gourd's] is this a must have

thing?....natural tree cavities don't have this.

Konrad

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Comments (5)

kendra2003
17 years ago
Konrad,

I am not an experienced purple martin landlord. I am also trying to attract them for the first time this year. That said I believe the reasons for the porches are that the birds like to sit and watch from their entrance porches. And if you are using starling resistant entrances, it gives the martins something to push off of to get through them more easily. Since starlings have longer legs, they can't hunker down to get through the properly placed entrance holes. Try visiting the PMCA. They have tons of good information there.
Konrad___far_north
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you Kendra,
It makes sense when you have a starling resistant entrance,...had a hunch for this respond,
I will put the half moon shape in, McEwen SREH, apparently designed by a Canadian
30 mm x 3 inch. supposedly the porch is to be placed 3/8" to 1/2" below the entrance
....according to this local Purple Martin lover, [click below].
Perhaps some other landlords can share their experience and hints.
Hope you will attract some this year, Kendra.

Konrad

Here is a link that might be useful: Starling control
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chinamigarden
17 years ago
The lip is supposed to keep babies from falling off the porch. A Martin house of that size built from wood is going to be very heavy and difficult to lower and raise for cleaning. Good luck.
kendra2003
17 years ago
Thanks Konrad. I hope you are able to attract them as well. I have no delusions that I will be successful, but there's always hoping. I certainly won't attract them if I don't try. I am ready with SREH entrances, a pole with a winch for raising and lowering, a climbing predator guard, owl guards, etc. I have purchased the dawn song and some decoys. I have a nice open space with a conservation area across the street that has a nice pond. The air around here just fills with dragonflies all summer, so I figure why not try to attract birds that love to eat dragonflies.
Konrad___far_north
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you all!

OH wow...this sound's soooo...inviting, Kendra, I want to be a Martin myself..LOL
I will try for a couple of years without the dawn song...I'm not there most of the time.
You're well ahead of me, I still have to cut the SREH, porch and look for a pole and winch.
I should be painting white too because Martins prefer this, since I build it with cedar, I will
try without paint for a couple of years.

Konrad

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