Purple Martins - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

Shannon · 04-12-2006, 06:07 AM

Does anyone have any purple martins, yet? Over the weekend, I noticed a dozen or so roosting at a long-standing martin house (standard house plus several of the white plastic "gourd" houses) just 2 miles from my home, but so far I haven't see any in flight or checking out our purple martin house.

I put up a large (16 or so unit) martin house late last year... too late for the martins, as it turned out. I was hoping the two martins I saw scouting the house out last year, but not using it, would return this year and set up a home... but no luck.

Am I out of luck for another season? I'm told it's still a little early yet, but I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever have martins visiting us. :confused:

ploddinTod · 04-12-2006, 07:52 PM

Go to www.purplemartins.com

Some Texans are already reporting arrivals, one in Pearsall just south of you.

Shannon · 04-12-2006, 08:05 PM

I know they're here, hence the sighting 2 miles down the road from us. I'm just wondering if the ones I'm seeing are early or if I'm going to be sorta outta luck if some don't move in real soon. I'd put a sign out -- "VACANCY -- No waiting! Immediate Move-In" if I thought it'd help. Maybe I should advertise the "Free High Speed Wireless Internet!"

ploddinTod · 04-17-2006, 02:31 PM

I doubt that any of this applies to your situation, Shannon. But I had read or heard that martins are very picky about where they take up residence and that the owner has to take down the house(s) at the end of every season and clean it thoroughly. Also if another species of bird beats the martins in setting up residence, they will avoid the house.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Shannon · 04-17-2006, 02:56 PM

You're right on the money, actually. I had the house down until about a month ago. All compartments were clean though I didn't disinfect anything since there had been no previous residents in the house, yet (aside from a few long-gone wasps and their removed nests.)

Still haven't seen any martins even fly over. Maybe I'm in a no-fly zone or something.

rockhill · 04-17-2006, 05:14 PM

They have been in their houses in North Texas area for a couple of weeks. I think maybe you missed out for this year

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