When Martins successfully breed at a location, they tend to return to the same location the next year. Once the invaders have moved to their new housing, you may reopen the holes of the martin house. In the case that native birds try to take over your empty martin house, you can temporarily plug the holes and place single-unit housing elsewhere on your property. If another species is allowed to claim the martin house, the martins will not be likely to stay. Take a peek inside a purple martin nest in the following video: White housing tends to attract martins the best there are specific houses created just for purple martins. Housing should be opened about 4 weeks after the first martins are scheduled to arrive and left open through June. In Tallahassee, purple martins are scheduled to arrive between January 15 th and February 1 st. Purple martins prefer to roost near a body of water where there are plentiful insects. Ensure that no wires are attached to the housing connecting it to trees, buildings, or the ground, as it may allow predators to access the housing. The orientation of the housing entrance is not important, but make sure the orientation does not change once the purple martins arrive. While they may accept housing placed within 25 feet of trees, open areas are always best. Try to choose the center of the largest open spot available that is 30-120 feet away from human housing and at least 40-60 feet away from trees. They tend to prefer housing that is placed in open areas with clear flyways. One of the most important considerations when it comes to attracting purple martins is location. In fact, Native Americans were hanging empty gourds for the purple martins before Europeans arrived in North America! In the East, they live almost exclusively in nest boxes and martin houses. Purple martins are highly entertaining installing a house for them can be very rewarding as you will get to hear them chirping all summer and watch them perform aerial acrobatics as they hunt for flying insects. Purple martins are colonial, feeding and roosting in flocks, and often living in communities with other swallows. They fly rapidly, flapping and gliding through sky as they feed midair, and often exceed 150 feet (and sometimes 500 feet or more) off the ground.
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