Very interesting, I’ll be putting up a Martin house this spring. With all your information I’m sure my success rate will be more successful. Thanks Mark for your time and expert advice and look forward to your next video.
Hello Mark, I’ve been out doing some spring cleaning on my bird feeders and thought this could make a great topic and interesting video. I’m very happy I found your videos and send you a big thumbs up for your time and the first hand knowledge you share. Happy Spring and look forward to your next video, Darren
Our “scouts” always show up on March the tenth ! My wife’s birthday. Lol. We have had them circle the field while my wife and I are putting up all our gourds. As soon as we have the first pole up they will start landing and singing to us. Or fusing at us ! Lol. Anyway we love our martins ! There song is beautiful. I do have a question. Why did a few years back, my flock almost completely disappeared ? After three or so they are back. Thank goodness. Thank you for the video.
That is a great way to remember their return date! I think that when people lose a big part of a flock, it happens in migration or even more likely on their wintering grounds. A bad storm during migration can be devastating and despite a strong educational effort in South America, they are still killed as pests down there.
I built a bat house 2 years ago and have hundreds of them now but I don't think their eating the Leaf Footed Bugs since they are probably in branches at night. Do martins get inside the tree branches and chase down bugs or do they only catch bugs as they fly? Can they eat all the honey bees which I need to pollinate my fruit trees on the one acre I have? Thanks.
The term "Scout" is the First returning purple martin to their home site. It can be either a male or a female. It is just the first arriving. I had a females come home first for 8 years.
@@MarksBackyardBirds this is from PMCA website. Under Scout. Purple Martin “Scout”: The term scout is given to the very first martin(s) observed back at an active colony site each year. Scouts are the oldest individuals in the population, who migrate north as early as weather allows. They can be either male or female. People once thought that martin scouts flew North in search of suitable breeding sites and then returned South to guide their colonies back to the sites they had selected. This is not true. A martin “colony” is a random aggregation of unrelated birds attracted to a common breeding site. Colony members do not travel in or function as a flock. They arrive in Spring, and depart in late Summer, independently of each other. Martin scouts will stay at a site if they nested there the previous year, or move on if they are migrants, resting on the way to their breeding sites.
@@MarksBackyardBirds I've only had males first. I just put up a new pole with 12 gourds today in Souther IL, on May 7 and I'm curious if any will nest in it.
Enjoyed the info. We just settled on a 3 acre homesite on the coast of Tx and want to start attracting Purple Martins to our property. Where is a good place to buy these gourds? Thanks in advanced
Like most items, the gourds have been affected by supply chain issues. We have been able to get a few in during the pandemic but shipping the poles is very costly. I would check in your area soon as they start returning to that area just after the first of the year.
@@MarksBackyardBirds thanks so much for the reply-I might be a little too excited. The past 2 mornings I have blasted the sounds of purple martins singing for 2 hours a day, lol
Mark, I am trying to set up a bird house in Houston, TX. Do we get purple Martins down here? Sorry about the question but I’m just starting out my bird nest journey and want to be a good steward to any birds
Here in southeast Virginia 2 of my neighbors have had houses (plastic gourds) set up for years and the past few years no martins have nested there. They think it’s owls. I’m wondering if the nests need to be cleaned out?
It is quite possible that sparrows or other birds have filled the gourds to the point the martins can't use them anymore. Cleaning them out would be a great start. The other culprit is often trees that have finally grown too tall, too close the gourds.
How far away do trees need to be?! I set mine up about 25-30ft away from a tree that’s taller... I’m thinking I need to move it but Martins visited my house just yesterday!!! I’m so excited but nervous they won’t pick it! My grandpa had purple martin houses is why I wanted to get this one, in his memory! So hoping for a quick reply!!! Thank YOU!
I put up a Martin complex last winter and had one nest occupied. At the end of the season, whether it was the fledglings or others, there were about nine on the perches. I want to add a Lonestar complex on our farm. Question: do you recommend putting it beside the one I have or, if I put it in another part of the farm, would it draw Martin's away from what they chose this past summer? Please advise. Thanks.
@@MarksBackyardBirds Thx so much. My family loved Martin's but could never get them to take up residence. I got them the first year. Really appreciate your insight. Come to visit in VA.
How sure are you on the Mosquitoe thing? I live on the river in NC with marshland beside me Very heavy on Mosquitoes here. I have a tree line about 300-400 feet long. My martins treat it as a race way. I call it the Martin 500. They zip around on the back side of the tree line. Come around on the front side and skim the ground to 5 feet or so up zipping around. Pretty sure they are grabbing up plenty of mosquitoes.
I base that on available scientific research. I know plenty of folks who believe that they eat lots of mosquitos but all studies that have be conducted show that they make up less than 5% of their diet. Maybe more research will come out in the future. I would love to be able to say it with science behind me.
🚨I have a problem I’m hoping someone can help me with... this is my first time putting up a Martin house and I successfully attracted 2 families at least... we did one nest check and we have at least 3 hatchlings in one and some eggs still in the other.. a bunch of other martins visited recently and today I noticed a bird coming out the other side of the house that had no nests when we checked, the bird jumped down to the ground which caught my attention grabbed some nesting material and went back up and when I opened my back door to get a better look I noticed this bird is NOT a Martin?!!! I assumed martins would chase off any other bird since they were there first... and I know it’s a problem if other birds nest in ur Martin house, what should I do?!!! Plz help a girl out I can’t find any info on this and I’ve gotten solid advice from this channel before!!
Could you identify the bird? It is likely a House Sparrow or European Starling. Both of these birds you should rip out their nest. In some cases, an Eastern Bluebird will nest in a box. Those you cannot touch their nest while they are nesting. Raising and lowering the box doesn't discourage the martins but having an aggressive species like the sparrow and starling so close does occupy the adults attention too much. Time they should be out gathering insects is spent guarding their young against these other birds.
Purple martins are my dream bird. I am still not quite ready to invest in gourds yet, as I spend most of the year over seas so I would miss most of their breeding season. But your gourds did not look Starling proof.
Small rectangular openings have stopped sparrows and starlings. No issues past few years, I have 48 pairs this year so far
As a hopeful first time Purple Martin Landlord in Northeast Ohio, I found this video to be very helpful! Thank you!
Thank you Heather. Good luck this season.
This was a very helpful video to me as a first year landlord. I would recommend this video to anyone wanting to get into this hobby. 10/10
Thanks!
how did it go? did you get plenty of martins? any issues with sparrows or starlings trying to use the gourds?
Well that video had more useful information than the magazine subscription that came with my 3story house
Very interesting, I’ll be putting up a Martin house this spring. With all your information I’m sure my success rate will be more successful. Thanks Mark for your time and expert advice and look forward to your next video.
You are most welcome. Best of luck!
Hello Mark, I’ve been out doing some spring cleaning on my bird feeders and thought this could make a great topic and interesting video.
I’m very happy I found your videos and send you a big thumbs up for your time and the first hand knowledge you share.
Happy Spring and look forward to your next video,
Darren
@@darrenmcguin9031 Thank you. I will address the cleaning soon!
Our “scouts” always show up on March the tenth ! My wife’s birthday. Lol. We have had them circle the field while my wife and I are putting up all our gourds. As soon as we have the first pole up they will start landing and singing to us. Or fusing at us ! Lol. Anyway we love our martins ! There song is beautiful. I do have a question. Why did a few years back, my flock almost completely disappeared ? After three or so they are back. Thank goodness. Thank you for the video.
That is a great way to remember their return date! I think that when people lose a big part of a flock, it happens in migration or even more likely on their wintering grounds. A bad storm during migration can be devastating and despite a strong educational effort in South America, they are still killed as pests down there.
I built a bat house 2 years ago and have hundreds of them now but I don't think their eating the Leaf Footed Bugs since they are probably in branches at night. Do martins get inside the tree branches and chase down bugs or do they only catch bugs as they fly? Can they eat all the honey bees which I need to pollinate my fruit trees on the one acre I have? Thanks.
They do not enter trees. They hunt wide open country and generally 15 ft above the ground and higher. The bees are safe from them.
@@MarksBackyardBirds Thank you.
@@Carperama You are most welcome!
I ordered and I am going to put one up in St Peter’s Missouri in the next few days. I hope I’m not too late.
You may get lucky this year.
I have a male Sparrow that will not enter the Bluebird house since I added the van ert trap. He leans into it, but backs out.
Some individuals are smarter than others.
The term "Scout" is the First returning purple martin to their home site. It can be either a male or a female. It is just the first arriving. I had a females come home first for 8 years.
That is good information. I have only had people report males to me over the years.
@@MarksBackyardBirds this is from PMCA website. Under Scout.
Purple Martin “Scout”: The term scout is given to the very first martin(s) observed back at an active colony site each year. Scouts are the oldest individuals in the population, who migrate north as early as weather allows. They can be either male or female. People once thought that martin scouts flew North in search of suitable breeding sites and then returned South to guide their colonies back to the sites they had selected. This is not true. A martin “colony” is a random aggregation of unrelated birds attracted to a common breeding site. Colony members do not travel in or function as a flock. They arrive in Spring, and depart in late Summer, independently of each other. Martin scouts will stay at a site if they nested there the previous year, or move on if they are migrants, resting on the way to their breeding sites.
@@MarksBackyardBirds I've only had males first. I just put up a new pole with 12 gourds today in Souther IL, on May 7 and I'm curious if any will nest in it.
Check arrival dates in your area at www.purplemartin.org/research/8/scout-arrival-study/
Thanks Mark, I’ll check that out...probably be 2-3 weeks before they make it to our area. Near Ottawa, Ontario.
@@darrenmcguin9031 You are a bit farther north than us!
Love the arrival map so I can make sure to get my houses ready.
@@212acres3 Excellent. It is a handy tool.
Must the complex be taken down each winter?
It really depends on the type of box and pole system you have. Ground sleeves make it much easier.
I was just thinking of installing a nest at my new house and I wasn't expecting to find someone in missouri
Well done
Enjoyed the info. We just settled on a 3 acre homesite on the coast of Tx and want to start attracting Purple Martins to our property. Where is a good place to buy these gourds? Thanks in advanced
Like most items, the gourds have been affected by supply chain issues. We have been able to get a few in during the pandemic but shipping the poles is very costly. I would check in your area soon as they start returning to that area just after the first of the year.
I just saw them at Tractor Supply Company.
Waiting for the concrete around the pole to set up overnight. I hope it’s not too late in the season to attract some
You definitely have time. I have put up boxes in the Kansas City area on June 1st and had eggs in it within 2 days.
@@MarksBackyardBirds thanks so much for the reply-I might be a little too excited. The past 2 mornings I have blasted the sounds of purple martins singing for 2 hours a day, lol
@@shrimpymacdougall3134 I don't blame you!
I have had my houses up for 3 years still no Martins, I get some lookers every year, but they don’t build nest here🤷♂️!
It can be very frustrating. Sometimes there is really hard to know why they don’t take to a house. Have you tried hand some gourds up with the houses?
Yes sir I have gourds and a condo up with decoys and play the song that attracts them!
@@timfowler77 You are giving it an Eagle Scout try for sure.
Mark, I am trying to set up a bird house in Houston, TX. Do we get purple Martins down here? Sorry about the question but I’m just starting out my bird nest journey and want to be a good steward to any birds
Absolutely no problem. Yes, Purple Martins should start arriving down there during mid to the later part of February. Good luck!
Here in southeast Virginia 2 of my neighbors have had houses (plastic gourds) set up for years and the past few years no martins have nested there. They think it’s owls. I’m wondering if the nests need to be cleaned out?
It is quite possible that sparrows or other birds have filled the gourds to the point the martins can't use them anymore. Cleaning them out would be a great start. The other culprit is often trees that have finally grown too tall, too close the gourds.
@@MarksBackyardBirds yeah one set of houses next door has a fig tree that’s grown up tall right underneath it.
@@browntownorganics2172 Could be the issue for sure.
@@browntownorganics2172 They may tolerate the trees growing up for a while but will eventually abandon those sites.
How far away do trees need to be?! I set mine up about 25-30ft away from a tree that’s taller... I’m thinking I need to move it but Martins visited my house just yesterday!!! I’m so excited but nervous they won’t pick it! My grandpa had purple martin houses is why I wanted to get this one, in his memory! So hoping for a quick reply!!! Thank YOU!
I put up a Martin complex last winter and had one nest occupied. At the end of the season, whether it was the fledglings or others, there were about nine on the perches. I want to add a Lonestar complex on our farm. Question: do you recommend putting it beside the one I have or, if I put it in another part of the farm, would it draw Martin's away from what they chose this past summer? Please advise. Thanks.
They are such social birds, clusters of boxes are better. Especially early in the development of a colony.
Thanks. I appreciate it. Is it your experience that the Lonestar Houses deflect owls and hawks, with the long, deep nest cavities?
@@eddieandrews3854 absolutely. The deep nesting cavities are ideal for that. Plus it is better for the chicks as they grow.
@@MarksBackyardBirds Thx so much. My family loved Martin's but could never get them to take up residence. I got them the first year. Really appreciate your insight. Come to visit in VA.
I feed my scouts crickets. Prolly the wrong thing to do, but they like it and so do I.
How sure are you on the Mosquitoe thing? I live on the river in NC with marshland beside me Very heavy on Mosquitoes here. I have a tree line about 300-400 feet long. My martins treat it as a race way. I call it the Martin 500. They zip around on the back side of the tree line. Come around on the front side and skim the ground to 5 feet or so up zipping around. Pretty sure they are grabbing up plenty of mosquitoes.
I base that on available scientific research. I know plenty of folks who believe that they eat lots of mosquitos but all studies that have be conducted show that they make up less than 5% of their diet. Maybe more research will come out in the future. I would love to be able to say it with science behind me.
I'm pretty sure they're eating cicadas above the tree lines, I've seen that happen a lot in my colony.
Your mic must be turned down it's hard to hear you.
The mic was going out and we didn't know it. I am going to shoot a new Purple Martin video later this month..
Have you ever heard of a wind draft, it's where it lift insects up and carries them way up in the air and that includes mosquitoes.
Can you leave meal worms on each pod for them?
I know people have success doing just that. Others build a platform feeder they can land on to eat them.
@@MarksBackyardBirds very cool, I found a nice large martin house on pffer up just now. Will have it for next season
@@baldemar2102 nice!
🚨I have a problem I’m hoping someone can help me with... this is my first time putting up a Martin house and I successfully attracted 2 families at least... we did one nest check and we have at least 3 hatchlings in one and some eggs still in the other.. a bunch of other martins visited recently and today I noticed a bird coming out the other side of the house that had no nests when we checked, the bird jumped down to the ground which caught my attention grabbed some nesting material and went back up and when I opened my back door to get a better look I noticed this bird is NOT a Martin?!!! I assumed martins would chase off any other bird since they were there first... and I know it’s a problem if other birds nest in ur Martin house, what should I do?!!! Plz help a girl out I can’t find any info on this and I’ve gotten solid advice from this channel before!!
Could you identify the bird? It is likely a House Sparrow or European Starling. Both of these birds you should rip out their nest. In some cases, an Eastern Bluebird will nest in a box. Those you cannot touch their nest while they are nesting. Raising and lowering the box doesn't discourage the martins but having an aggressive species like the sparrow and starling so close does occupy the adults attention too much. Time they should be out gathering insects is spent guarding their young against these other birds.
Purple martins are my dream bird. I am still not quite ready to invest in gourds yet, as I spend most of the year over seas so I would miss most of their breeding season. But your gourds did not look Starling proof.
They do require a lot of attention. Especially at first. Their are gourds that are highly starling resistant.
Dragonflies are actually a top predator of mosquitos. So, by having Martins, you eliminate a huge number of mosquito eating dragonflies.
They do eat dragonflies, but studies show that flies are their favorite food and flies transmit all sorts of bad things.
My most expensive empty house. Thinking to take the decoys down
I've had them show up and build a nest as late as early June (here in KC)