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Puple Martins Americas Favorite Frequent Flyer

Thursday, April 07, 2011

by Original Article by Grant Toellner

  I'ts spring and America's favorite swallows, Purple Martins, will soon be back in the midwest from their winter home in South America. So how long does the journey take to get back to the U.S.? The answer is a little over two weeks for the Martins that travel through Mexico, and the migration time is a little shorter for those who fly over the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, the Purple Martins that travel across the Gulf of Mexico usually make the 500 to 600 mile trip by flying non-stop for up to 30 hours! They probably get to the states quicker than most Delta flights! At summer's end, a Purple Martin that travels to Brazil will have traveled almost 4,000 miles, and unlike most songbirds they migrate during thr day. Martins do this because they are aerial insectivores and eat on the fly so they don't have to constantly stop to feed. Migrating during the day does cause the Martins to be more exposed to predators like Hawks, so they tend to travel with other swallow species and stay closer to the beaches along the way.

  So what makes the Purple Martin America's favorite swallow? The answer is simple, they are bug eating machines! In a single day, one adult Purple Martin can eat thousands of insects. Purple Martins typically forage for food a few hundred feet in the air, but they occasionally can be seen eating insects off the ground. Purple Martins do depend almost entirely on humans for their "summer homes" so it is a win win for you and the Martins.

  To attract Martins to your yard you need to do two things. First, of course, you need to have the right type of house. There are many different types of Martin houses made from materials like aluminum, wood, and natural gourds. Many folks feel offering both gourds and houses increases your odds of Martins! Second, you need the right location for your new house. Purple Martins typically prefer large open spaces and as a general rule the house should be placed at least 40 feet away from any object taller than the Purple Martin house itself; like a tree, house, or building. If you have the space in your yard then you have a great chance of successfully getting Martins! Something else you can do to help attract Martins is play a Dawnsong CD. Playing the CD early in the morning is believed to attract migrating subadult Martins to the colony site. This and other CDs for attracting Martins are produced by the Purple Martin Conservation Society. Purple Martin decoys are also an effective way to lure Martins to your house.

  So you bought a house and have it put up in a great location. What else is left to do? You need to protect the house from predators. Snakes and small animals have been  known to climb up the poles and invade cavities. To prevent this get a predator guard that disallows them to climb. The biggest problem however, especially if you live close to town, is keeping the Sparrows and Starlings out of the compartments. The best way to do this is by purchasing a Sparrow trap and ridding yourself of them altogether, which is actually beneficial to the surrounding habitat because both Sparrows and Starlings have not only disrupted Purple Martins, they also are in competition with other native birds like Bluebirds, Chickadees, and Wrens for nesting sites.  English Sparrows and Starlings are both invasive species; meaning they were introduced here illegally and are having a negative impact on the native species that were already living here. 

  We have Purple Martin houses and other accessories at Pet Food Plus. Our knowlegeable staff will have Martins at your home in no time!

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