Purple Martin Colony

[tor]

Anyone else keep Purple martins as a hobby? We currently have 3 racks with 24 gourds each for a total of 72. We usually have 70 pair every year. We fledged approx. 315 little ones last year. Fun fun.

Beginning of the 2020 Martin Season

 

[skeets]

It is sad but I have not seen a Martin or swallow around here for years

 

[AndyM]

So you have that all set up? Looks quite impressive.

 

[tor]

So you have that all set up? Looks quite impressive.

I do. Currently have a 72 pair capacity, which it is getting close to already.

 

[rokhunter]

I've seen these nests around my area. What's the draw with these birds?

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[Q tip]

I live I CT I have had a purple Martin house for years with great success
There are many people with purple Martínez house near me
They are a very cool bird

 

[D2Cat]

We have 5 houses set up. From 6 to 18 nest boxes each house. Got them all cleaned out and ready for occupancy 3 weeks ago.

One benefit of Martins is each bird will consume 2,000 (two thousand) mosquito per day. Yep, fighter jets that eat mosquitoes.

 

[NHSleddog]

Have you seen the new tenants that just moved in up stairs?.....

 

[rokhunter]

One benefit of Martins is each bird will consume 2,000 (two thousand) mosquito per day. Yep, fighter jets that eat mosquitoes.

Well that's a selling point right there! We've got plenty in my area to keep them fed.

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[shootem604]

Swallows are endangered here. Occasionally see barn or cliff swallows.

 

[D2Cat]

Martins and Swallows are in the same family. The both do a good job of vacuuming mosquitoes.

 

[dlsmith]

Quite often when I am mowing the yard, barn swallows from the neighboring farm will swoop around me picking off insects I stir up. Masters of the air, they get pretty close sometimes.

 

[AndyM]

I put up 3 swallow houses about two weeks ago. Had some lookers but no takers yet.

 

[D2Cat]

They always send scouts out early to determine where they will settle. The rest will show up in a couple of weeks.

 

[D2Cat]

Here's their main meal!

 

[Outnumbered]

We had martins for several years and then had some tree swallows move in to one of the houses near by. Last year the tree swallow ran off the martins and now all I have are a couple of tree swallows that I am trying to run off. They do not colonize like the martins they just take over a set of gourds and fight the martins off for all the other houses that are near by. I would rather have the martins. I have a couple of barn swallows raise in the horse barn every year as well.

 

[AndyM]

Seems like we are on the very fringes of the Purple Martins range. I do see some local efforts to encourage them but Audubon lists us as "Breeding Uncommon". Guess I will have to be happy with a swallow or two.

 

[tor]

Sorry to break you alls bubble, but Martins really don't eat much in the way of mosquitos. The favorite food source are dragon flies, but other insects as well.

In fact, they eat few mosquitos.

Article here

"Purple martins have an insectivorous diet, eating primarily flying insects such as moths, gnats, flies, and mosquitoes. They catch most of their prey in midair and they even drink in midair, flying over a pond, lake, or stream and scooping water into their bills while on the move.
Purple martins do most of their feeding between 160-500 feet high (50-150 meters). Because of this height, mosquitoes make up only a small portion of their diet, despite rumors that the birds can eat up to 2,000 mosquitoes per day. They could consume that many, but mosquitoes are not generally found at a purple martin's feeding height in such large numbers."

 

[Newlyme]

Quite often when I am mowing the yard, barn swallows from the neighboring farm will swoop around me picking off insects I stir up. Masters of the air, they get pretty close sometimes.

I have them following me all around when I’m mowing. I describe it to people, it’s like being on the ocean and having the seagulls following in the wake of the boat to see what gets stirred up. Then they go over and skim the pond to get a drink.

 

[SidecarFlip]

We have them both but more barn swallows and I encourage them to nest in the equipment sheds. The do make a mess on the equipment but so do the regular birds that eat at the feeders and poop on my car so no big deal....

The swallows come back every year to the same nests and I like to watch them eat those little bugs that cause me to itch. Martins do to but more swallows than Martins here.