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Purple Martin Project

How to attract a Purple Martin Pair

By Candice Tremblay, 2006
Camrose Wildlife and Greenspace Stewardship Coordinator

This is the fourth year that the Camrose Wildlife and Greenspace Stewardship Project conducted their annual Purple Martin Survey.

Throughout the month of June, I cycled around the City of Camrose and observed 88 Purple Martin Houses. Of these, I had the joy of observing 68 Purple Martin (PM) pairs. This is a substantial improvement from last year, when 37 pairs were counted. In 2004, 16 PM pairs were observed. In two years, we have increased the PM population in Camrose by 425%.

A fully occupied Purple Martin Nexting Box

Why is this you ask? Perhaps it is because people have become more interested in these insect eating birds. I know that more individuals have purchased appropriate housing, and have placed the houses in suitable locales. This certainly has created superb habitat for these martins that are almost completely dependant on human supplied housing. We are also becoming more aware of how to attract martins. Placing oyster shells on a house ledge is one method. Oyster shells enrich the PM diet with calcium.

While it is an excellent accomplishment that the population of PMs has increased throughout Camrose, we have to recognize a threat to these birds: the aggressive House Sparrow. During the 2006 survey, of the 88 houses designed to house PMs, 28 were occupied House Sparrows (HOSP). HOSPs and PMs do co-exist, however if a HOSP has already claimed a house, it is doubtful that a PM will colonise it as well. HOSPs are extremely defensive of their territory and will repel PMs. HOSPs will actually take over other birds’ nests and build their own nests right over top.

Would you like to attract Purple Martins?

Purple Martins are a very particular Songbird that will not live in a house unless it meets specific requirements. The following are some guidelines to help attract martins to your yard:

1. Sufficient swooping grounds: Martins need a high house approximately 12-15 feet above the ground. They also require an open area (ie. no trees taller than the house within 40 feet).
   
   
2. Clean out nests: HOSPs are very aggressive and will try to take over all the compartments in an entire house. If you are serious about attracting PMs, it is important to remove HOSP nests or block the compartment holes so that they won’t return. You can also purchase HOSP traps if you wish.
   
   

   Lowering a Purple Martin Nest Box for Inspection and Maintenance

3. Place PM housing close enough to human housing: Martin houses placed farther away than 120 ft from human houses have a lower chance of being occupied than ones that are closer. The reason is that martins have learned that the closer they are to humans, the safer they are from predators.
   
   

   Children observing Purple Martin chicks in a nest box

4. White House: Why are PMs attracted to white houses? a) white reflects the heat from sunrays the best, causing fewer nestlings to die due to heat stress; b) white highlights the darkness of the entrance holes best, making the cavities conspicuous to searching martins; and c) white is believed to enhance the male martin’s courtship display. Trimming can be any colour, so have fun with it!
   
   

   Maintaining a Purple Martin nest box

5. No underbrush: PMs associate vegetation with ideal hiding places for predators. Therefore, if you have a vine crawling up the pole, or have a hedge or other shrubs below, it is unlikely that you will have success in attracting PMs.
   
   
6. Housing built to requirements: PMs live in colony style, where more than one pair live within a house. There are many compartments per house. One compartment should measures at least 6"x6", however 7"x12" is preferable. The entrance hole should be placed 1" above the floor and have a diameter of 2" to 2-1/4".
   
   

It is a good idea to purchase a housing system that is easily manageable. This makes cleaning and maintenance quick and easy, reduces the risk of ladder use, and allows the keeper to enjoy the progression from nest building and egg laying, all the way until the young begin to fly. PMs are very tolerant and don’t mind keepers lowering the house and removing nests.

Purple Martin nesting sites in 2004.

For more information please visit the Purple Martin Society Website at www.purplemartin.org or Northern Sky’s Purple Martin Colony at www.wtc.ab.ca/northernskys/.

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