Purple martins are elegant aerial acrobats known for their speed and agility. These large, glossy swallows spend summers in North America before migrating to South America for the winter. Purple martins are also extremely social birds that nest in colonies, making them a delight to watch. If you want to attract these captivating creatures to your yard, follow this guide to create an ideal habitat. With some planning and DIY skills, you can entice a colony to take up residence.

Why Attract Purple Martins?

Before diving into the specifics of preparing your yard, let’s look at why you may want to attract purple martins in the first place:

Natural Insect Control – Purple martins are voracious insect eaters. A single martin can consume thousands of flying insects per day, including mosquitoes, midges, flies and more. Establishing a colony is like hiring a natural insect extermination squad.
Free Fertilizer – The droppings (called guano) from a martin colony provide excellent fertilizer for your plants and lawn. The nutrients boost growth and flowering.
Beautiful Birdsong – From dawn until dusk in summer, expect to hear the musical chirping of a busy martin colony. Their cheerful sounds add life to your yard.
Entertaining Acrobatics – Martins are agile, swift fliers. Watching them dart, dive and soar through the sky hunting insects is mesmerizing.
Help Native Species – As habitat loss increases, native cavity nesters like purple martins need human help to thrive. Putting up housing aids conservation.

If you want an active, vocal bird colony that eliminates pests, fertilizes plants, and provides free entertainment through the seasons, attracting purple martins is highly rewarding.

When Do Purple Martins Arrive?

Purple martins summer in North America and winter in South America. On their migratory journey, timing is everything. Here are key dates for martins:

January – Some pioneers start scouting nesting sites in the southernmost states like Florida and Texas.
Early February to March – The main early wave arrives, spreading northwards through the Gulf States.
April – Martins continue advancing north, reaching the northern states and Canada.
May – The full breeding population has arrived and is settling into nests from coast to coast.
June to August – Martins raise their first and second broods through summer.
September to October – Martins begin migrating south again for the winter.
November to December – Most martins have left for South America, with stragglers departing by early winter.

If you see scouts in spring, your habitat is promising. You want housing up and enticing before the main wave hits your area, so check local arrival times.

Setting Up Purple Martin Housing

The key to attracting a colony is providing suitable housing. Purple martins are cavity nesters that originally nested in woodpecker holes and natural cavities. But they’ve adapted readily to human-supplied nest boxes. Here’s how to set up quality housing in your yard:

Mounting

Purple martins prefer nesting sites elevated 15 feet or higher above ground, with clear flight access. There are two main mounting options:

Martins Pole – Install a freestanding metal martins pole, at least 15 feet tall. Top it with a pole-mounted housing unit.
Mount on a Building – Affix housing to a high porch, balcony, or the side of a garage or shed.

Whichever you choose, the housing should not be obstructed by trees, wires or other structures. Allow open flying space above and on all sides. Face the entrance holes east or southeast.

Nest Compartments

Purple martins are communal nesters that prefer apartments or houses with multiple separate nesting cavities. Aim for at least 6-12 individual cavities or compartments in your housing unit.

You can buy ready-made multi-room houses or DIY your own with a nest box plan. Inside, each cavity should be about 6 inches x 6 inches x 6 inches. Make sure the entry holes are 2 1/8 inches in diameter – martins are very picky!

Protection from Predators

Predators like crows, owls, squirrels or snakes sometimes raid martin housing. Safeguard your colony with these features:

Guard at Entry Holes – Attach plastic or metal guards around entry holes to prevent access.
Predator Ledge – Add a sloped metal flashing ledge below entry holes. It discourages climbing predators.
Poles or Baffles – Place slippery predator poles or cone baffles on mountings to inhibit climbing.
Routine Checks – Periodically check the housing for any signs of intruders. Promptly remove any nests from competing species.

With sturdy construction and vigilance, you can keep your martins safely housed.

Housing Maintenance

Purple martin housing requires regular seasonal maintenance:

Fall/Winter – When martins depart in autumn, clean out all old nests and debris. Disinfect cavities if needed. Repair any damage.
Early Spring – Just before martins return, thoroughly clean and sanitize housing again. Make sure entry holes are still 2 1/8 inches.
During Summer – Monitor nests weekly. Gently remove any that fail or parasites take over. No need to lower or access housing when nests are active.
End of Summer – After all nests fledge, repeat a thorough housing cleanout. Your colony will return next spring to a clean residence.

With proper seasonal care, your housing can host generations of martins for years to come.

Landscaping to Invite Martins

Beyond setting up housing, martins favor yards with some specific habitat features. Tailor your landscaping and property to appeal to them:

Open Flying Space

Martins spend nearly their entire lives on the wing catching insects. Provide open flyways above your yard:

Trim back tall trees near housing.
Avoid overhead wires, clotheslines or other aerial obstacles.
Position housing at the highest cleared point of your property.

Water Source

Martins need an open water source like a pond, fountain, birdbath or stream. Make sure it has:

Shallow sides for easy access when drinking or bathing
Clear sightlines from housing (within 30-60 feet)
No dense cover for predators to hide
Moving water or daily fresh refills

Short Grass

Keep lawns mowed around housing so parents can easily spot aerial predators when feeding chicks.

Specific Trees

Plant native trees that attract the insects martins feed on:

Oaks
Hickories
Hackberries
Birches
Alders

Avoid placing housing right next to trees, which can provide access to predators.

Minimal Human Disturbance

Martins prefer quiet, peaceful settings away from loud noises, vehicles, machinery or other commotion.

With the ideal landscape features, martins will feel completely at home on your property.

Attracting Scouts in Spring

The first challenge of getting started is enticing those early pioneer scouts to check out your new housing. Here are some tactics to employ in spring:

Start Early

Have housing up and ready to go well before the first scouts hit your area. Being first gives you an advantage over neighbors.

Use Decoys

Place plastic or wooden purple martin decoys on housing to show other martins it’s already occupied.

Try Mirrors

Hang mirrors outside housing so reflections mimic a colony. The flash of “wings” can attract attention.

Play Audios

Broadcast audio recordings of other martin colonies from a speaker near the housing. Let scout martins hear the chatter.

Offer Feathers

Collect discarded purple martin feathers and place them in compartments to suggest previous occupants.

Be Patient

It can take weeks or years for scouts to fully investigate and accept new sites. Persist through multiple seasons.

With clever signaling tactics and persistence through spring, those critical first scouts will discover your martin mansion.

Attracting a Mate and Colony

If scouts claim a compartment in spring, you’re on the right track. But a single martin won’t stay long or breed alone. To grow a robust colony:

Wait for a Mate

If a lone male claims housing early, he will likely wait there singing to attract a female. Enjoy his beautiful dawn song.

Temporarily Close Extra Rooms

To force pairs together in your smaller space, fill unused cavities with plastic bags or cardboard. Open more as pairs form.

Limit Starling Use

European starlings sometimes compete for cavities. Monitor often and remove any starling nests.

Discourage Hawks and Owls

Set up owl boxes on your property so these natural martin predators nest elsewhere. Remove any hawk perches near housing.

Avoid disturbances

Minimize activity near housing while pairs are forming and females are nesting.

With luck and patience through the season, paired couples will fill compartment after compartment, until your martin housing is brimming with boisterous life!

Feeding Your Martins

Though martins naturally forage on flying insects, you can supplement their diet:

Live Mealworms – Offer containers of live mealworms placed up on housing posts for parents to grab easily.
Crickets – Release bulk orders of live crickets into your yard to create a moving buffet for martins.
Feeders – Use tray or gourd-style purple martin feeders stocked with crunchy kibbles to provide extra calories.
Fruits and Berries – Skewer grapes, berries and other soft fruits on porcupine quills. Insert into housing holes or stash on feeder trays.
Emergencies Only – Avoid feeding unless extreme weather makes finding natural insects hard. Don’t let feeders attract problematic prey.

With the right habitat, martins will find ample nourishment on their own. But providing backup meals can help your colony thrive.

Enjoying Your Martins

Once you succeed in attracting a lively colony, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the show:

Listen for their fluty Dawn Song as the day’s activity begins.
Watch parents swoop acrobatically to snag insects midair.
Witness the nonstop conveyor belt of food deliveries to hungry nestlings.
Count the number of times parents enter the house – up to 400 trips per day!
Listen for subtlenest exchanges between mates and raucous chatter between juveniles.
Watch closely for fledglings’ uncertain first flights from the house. Celebrate successes!
Observe color changes as dull juveniles gradually gain flashy adult plumage.
Note when martins appear fully engorged before migration, fattening up for the journey.
Say farewell as the colony departs together, ready for their extraordinary odyssey south.

Your martins will reward your efforts with a lively show all season long outside your door.

Frequently Asked Questions

New martin landlords often have questions. Here are answers to some common queries:

How long do martins live?

The average lifespan is 5 to 10 years but can reach 15 years or more. To enjoy colonies for years, provide safe, high-quality housing.

Do martins return to the same house?

Yes! Martins are extremely site faithful and often return year after year to successful nest sites. Some even inherit their parents’ nest cavities.

What’s their migration route?

Martins follow coastlines south along Mexico’s Baja Peninsula down to South America. They winter mostly east of the Andes Mountains from Brazil to Peru and Bolivia.

Should I lower housing at end of summer?

This used to be advised, but no longer. Keep houses raised year-round now for safety. Lowering can trap late fledglings or expose birds to predators.

How do I get rid of sparrows, starlings or owls?

Check weekly and promptly remove nests or block holes of any competitors. Don’t let other species claim housing before martins’ return.

When should I take down housing?

Leave up at least 1-2 weeks after all martins have migrated, in case stragglers return. You can remove to clean and store anytime after that.

Do martins reuse the same nest all season?

No, they build a new nest in a new compartment for each brood. Gently remove and discard old nests once chicks fledge.

With the right information, you can avoid common mistakes and create ideal conditions for your martins to thrive.

Conclusion

Attracting a wild colony of purple martins to your yard is a rewarding endeavor that takes knowledge, preparation and patience. But the fascinating antics of these social swallows are well worth your efforts. Follow the proven tips here to entice martins to settle into housing you provide. Once a colony forms, enjoy a vivid demonstration of nature on your own property. The sights, sounds and activities of martins will enhance your home all summer long. With some DIY skills and the right habitat, you can look forward to these aerial acrobats returning each spring – a dash of sophistication and pest control for your yard!

How to Attract Purple Martins to Your Yard

Purple martins are one of the most entertaining and beneficial birds that can visit your yard each summer. But attracting these fast-flying swallows takes the right setup and skills. Follow this guide to entice a lively colony to take up residence on your property.

Install Suitable Housing

The most critical step is installing suitable housing in the proper location:

Place on 15+ foot pole or high building location with clear flight access
Include compartments or gourds with 2 1/8″ diameter entry holes
Add entry hole guards and predator deterrents
Maintain cleanliness yearly

Housing must meet purple martins’ specific requirements before scouts will consider moving in.

Modify Landscaping

Modify landscaping to suit purple martins’ needs:

Keep open flyways above yard
Provide water source like pond or fountain
Maintain short grass around housing
Plant oak, birch, hickory or hackberry trees
Minimize disturbances from noise and activities

Altering habitat encourages visiting martins to settle in for the season.

Attract Scouts in Spring

In spring, use tactics to grab attention from scouts:

Get housing up early before competitors
Use decoys and mirrors to simulate occupants
Broadcast audio of other martin colonies
Place discarded martin feathers in compartments
Persist over multiple seasons

Creative signaling is required to attract those critical first scouts.

Foster a Colony

As pairs start claiming rooms, promote colony growth:

Wait patiently as lone males call for mates
Temporarily close extra rooms to force pairs together
Discourage competing species like starlings
Control predator threats like hawks and owls

With luck, pairs will multiply until housing overflows with active martins.

Offer Supplemental Feeding

Supplement natural insect diet only when needed:

Provide live mealworms in housing
Release crickets into yard
Use martin feeders with kibble
Skewer berries on porcupine quills for parents

Avoid over-feeding, which reduces natural foraging.

Enjoy the Show!

Once your colony forms, sit back and enjoy:

Listen for dawn songs and social calls
Watch aerial insect-catching maneuvers
Witness nonstop food deliveries to chicks
Count parents’ hundreds of daily trips
Observe fledglings’ first flights from housing
Watch juveniles transform into flashy adults
Say goodbye as colony departs together in fall

With the right habitat, purple martins offer free entertainment!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do purple martins live?

The average lifespan is 5-10 years but can reach 15 years or more in quality housing.

Do martins return to the same site each year?

Yes, martins show strong site fidelity if previous years were successful. Some even reuse parents’ exact cavities.

When should I take down empty housing for winter?

Leave up at least two weeks after migration ends in case stragglers return. Then remove, clean and store.

How can I prevent problems with sparrows, owls or starlings?

Regularly monitor and promptly remove nests of competitors. Limit access before martins’ arrival.

Why shouldn’t I lower housing at summer’s end?

Keeping houses elevated year-round is now recommended. Lowering can trap fledglings inside or expose martins to predators.

With the proper setup and techniques, you can avoid common martin landlord pitfalls.

Conclusion

Attracting breeding purple martins is a labor of love but yields huge entertainment rewards. Follow this guide to create ideal habitat, attract scouts, foster colony growth, supplement feeding and enjoy the show. With the right pole-mounted housing and yard landscaping, you can look forward to these boisterous aerialists returning summer after summer!