Purple Martin Houses'

[TWO GUNS]

LOVED purple martins as a kid at my grandparents home in southern Michigan, and I just purchased a house and pole.

I could use some guidance as to best location and orientation (N/S/E/W facing).

We have a 3-acre pie-shaped lot. House is on the flat high part, lot slopes to the lake and there is a band of timber on the lake edge. Between the lake-edge timber and the house, there are sloped, grassy wide-open areas that I felt would be suitable.

Also trying to attract and keep some orioles this year! My brother tells me he swears by putting either grape jelly or orange marmalade in a cone feeder, and orange sections held by nails on a board. Anyone have other ideas on the orioles?

Thanks!

Davooda

My suggestion is keep away from trees. And put your house as high as you can.
The higher, the better >>>>
Do research on the internet, that will be your best tool for information on the
purple martins.
I know some folks, when they first got started, used some purple Martin decoys to bring 'em in and make them feel comfortable.


.... be sure where you put it is where you want it and it will stay. Don't move it around at all !!!!

 

[oldhat]

We have a martin house but have only had birds 1 out of the last 3 years ?

 

[TWO GUNS]

We have a martin house but have only had birds 1 out of the last 3 years ?

This is just a theory, in the last three to six plus years. There is been many storms. Atmosphere changes. Hurricanes change area of their homes.

Also, as we all know, the weather is not anything like it used to be a few years ago.

Don't believe it's anything we as people are doing wrong, thinks it's a nature thing.....

 

[TWO GUNS]

OK<
Put up the new "Martin Hilton"

Now, it's the waiting game for the scouts.

 

[TWO GUNS]

Scouts are here, showed up this morning right after daylight.
Way early they are ......
We just put up three new houses'. ( Happy Tractor Supply had them on sale )

As I type this now, Mrs. Two Guns says she can hear them "cutting up" outside. All I can do is go look and see. I could not hear one if it was sitting on my shoulder screaming at me......

 

[Davooda]

Two Guns - what part of the country are you in? I'm in central Illinois and wondering how much time I have to put up my new Martin House...

Thanks, Davooda

 

[Heatwave]

Good news! They usually arrive up here in North Mississippi about a week after Valentines Day, so we should be hearing them soon. I have the gourds cleaned and prepped, ready for new inhabitants. Thanks for the report.

 

[TWO GUNS]

Two Guns - what part of the country are you in? I'm in central Illinois and wondering how much time I have to put up my new Martin House...

Thanks, Davooda

I'm down here in God's Country. LOUISIANA !!!!

I would start right now.... ASAP

If I had to guess, maybe a week or so..... But they are swarming here, so
might want to put that on top of your list !!!!!