Purple Martin Bird House
Every year, beginning in late January, purple martins begin the migration into the United States. During this same time, purple martin “landlords” are raising their purple martin houses in anticipation of their annual guests. Purple martin houses are not just a passing shelter for the birds during inclement weather; they are the place that a single colony will return to, year after year. Hence, owners of purple martin houses are referred to as “landlords.”
Erecting a purple martin bird house has as many benefits for humans as it does for the purple martin. Martins are the largest species of sparrow, and they are completely reliant on humans for their shelter. In exchange for room and board, martin colonies will consume large quantities of flying insects, and they are immensely enjoyable to observe. Martins live in colonies and purple martin houses come in various sizes to accommodate them: some with as few as 8 units, others with up to 28 units.
Purple martin bird houses come in a range of styles and prices. Most houses are made of aluminum or other lightweight material that stays cool. They are made up of multiple compartments and perches. Often martin houses will come with door stoppers to keep nuisance birds from taking over the houses while the martins are wintering in South America. Purple martin gourds are another housing option for martin landlords. Originally, real gourds were dried and hollowed. Martins would use the gourds for housing. Our synthetic gourds feature all of the attractiveness of real dried gourds with a few extra conveniences, such as perches and clean-out and inspection holes. Purple martin gourds should be used in quantities of 4 or more. Purple martin gourd racks are the best way to mount the gourds. The gourd racks have room for multiple gourds, and they can be raised and lowered all at once for easier maintenance.
How do your raise and lower your purple martin bird house or gourd rack? Purple martin poles are specially designed to be easy and safe to use. To effectively maintain and care for your colony, purple martin houses and gourds should be checked regularly. Purple martin poles come with telescoping mechanisms, lanyards, or winch systems. This makes it easy for anyone to move even the largest houses, which can be quite heavy. The poles traditionally come in 12’ or 15’ heights, which allow you to position your purple martin house at the proper height for maximum occupancy.
