Birds and Squirrels

Now that I’ve read up on the lives and behavioral patterns of purple martins, I must admit I’m a bit jealous. I had always enjoyed gazing at their violet-hued plumage and listening to their striking courtship vocalizations, but that was the extent of it. Then I found out that these winged wonders take to the skies in the fall and fly all the way to the Southern Hemisphere; with the weather the way it is up here in November, I can hardly blame them.

The majority of purple martins don’t arrive back in the States until spring, but it’s always a good plan to have your purple martin bird houses set up and ready to go by February. Since martins live in large groups, their houses are built accordingly. The homes should be placed out in a yard by February at the latest to catch the first few groups of martins on their way back up north. Although it takes persistence and more than a little luck to attract these birds, once they’ve found your specialized house they will return again and again.

If you want to bring North America’s largest swallow and only Martin on this continent to be a guest at your house try putting up a Purple Martin House. However  make sure when putting up your Martin House it is in the center of the most open place available, at least 30 feet from human housing and 40 feet minimum from any trees. 

East of the Rockies, Purple Martins are completely dependent on humans for their  houses. For more than 100 years Martins have nested almost exclusively in Purple Martin Houses put up by us (humans). Purple Martins  are unusual due to the fact that several pairs will nest in a Martin House with multiple compartments. Once you have attracted the subadults to your house they will return year after year to you. They enjoy the company of humans and will reward you with their beautiful songs.Purple Martins are unique that they get their food (insects) and water while in flight. They skim the surface of the  water and scoop it up with their lower bill.