Purple Martins: How to Attract & Protect These Aerial Acrobats

Purple martins—glossy, gregarious, insect-eating—have nested near humans for centuries. Native Americans hung gourds; settlers copied them. Today, east of the Rockies, martins depend entirely on human-provided housing.

Why Host Them

• They love human activity—don't flee like wild birds.
• Spectacular fliers: 17–27 mph, dives, glides, hours of entertainment.
• Pleasant dawn chorus.
• Fierce loyalty: return yearly to the same houses.

Myth buster: They don't control mosquitoes (day feeders, high altitude; mosquitoes are nocturnal, ground-level).

Landlord Duties

1. Exclude competitors. European starlings & English house sparrows (introduced 1800s) destroy eggs, kill adults, steal cavities.

• Crescent-shaped starling-resistant entrances.
• Mount houses 12–15 ft on lowerable poles for monitoring.
• Trap & relocate/destroy sparrows.

2. Block predators. Raccoons, snakes, cats climb poles—install guards/barriers.

3. Owl reality. Owls reach into houses. If owls nest nearby, don't attract martins.

Ideal Housing

• White (cooler), minimum 6×6" per compartment, larger better.
• High (12–15 ft), away from trees.
• Near water—martins eat/drink on the wing (pools work).
• No feeders/baths needed.

Work? Yes. Reward? Years of loyal, high-flying companionship.