Purple Martins are stunning birds that bring beauty, song, and natural pest control to Georgia backyards. These aerial acrobats are North America’s largest swallows and depend on human-provided housing more than any other native bird species.
Attracting these magnificent birds takes some know-how, but the reward of watching them soar through your yard makes every effort worthwhile.
1. Install Housing Early
Martin scouts begin arriving in Georgia as early as mid-February. Set up housing at least 2-3 weeks before their expected arrival to give your site the best chance of being discovered.
Your timing can make or break your martin colony success. Early birds get first pick of nesting sites, and they’ll remember good locations for future seasons.
2. Choose The Right Location
Martins love open spaces! Position your housing at least 40 feet from tall trees and 30 feet from buildings. An unobstructed flight path allows martins to swoop in and out freely.
They’re social creatures that prefer to nest in colonies near humans. The middle of your yard with plenty of flying room around is perfect for these aerial insect-eaters.
3. Select Appropriate Housing
Multi-compartment houses or natural gourd systems work wonderfully for martins. Each compartment should be about 6″ × 6″ × 12″ with a 2-inch entrance hole.
White housing helps reflect heat in Georgia’s hot summers. Proper ventilation prevents nestlings from overheating when temperatures climb.
Quality matters—sturdy construction will withstand Georgia’s summer storms and last for many seasons.
4. Mount Houses Properly
Install martin housing on poles 12-20 feet high. Telescoping poles or pulley systems make maintenance easier—you’ll need to clean out nests each year.
Predator guards are absolutely essential in Georgia. Raccoons, snakes, and squirrels would love to raid martin nests.
Ensure the pole is sturdy enough to prevent swaying in Georgia’s occasional strong winds and summer thunderstorms.
5. Create Mud Puddles
Martins need mud to build nest walls! If natural puddles aren’t available nearby, create a mud patch by keeping a small area of soil damp during nesting season.
A shallow dish with clay-rich soil and water works perfectly. Refresh it regularly to prevent mosquitoes from breeding while providing essential building materials.
Georgia’s clay soils are actually perfect for martin nest construction.
6. Offer Nesting Materials
Help your martins build cozy nests by providing nesting material platforms near their houses. Small amounts of pine straw, dried grass, and small twigs are appreciated by these industrious birds.
Some landlords place crushed eggshells in compartments before martins arrive. This provides calcium for egg-laying females and gives a head start on nest building.
7. Control Competing Birds
European Starlings and House Sparrows frequently try to take over martin housing. Keep entrance holes precisely 2 1/8 inches in diameter—large enough for martins but too small for starlings.
Remove nests of competitor species promptly. These invasive birds can kill adult martins and destroy eggs.
Special entrance holes shaped like crescents can help deter unwanted guests while welcoming martins.
8. Manage House Sparrows
House sparrows pose the biggest threat to martin colonies in Georgia. Never allow these aggressive birds to nest in or near martin housing.
Remove sparrow nests immediately—they’re typically messy structures with feathers, trash, and string. Some successful martin landlords use sparrow traps to reduce local populations.
Persistent sparrow management is crucial for martin success.
9. Use Decoys And Calls
Attract first-time martins with decoys! Plastic martin decoys placed on housing signal to passing birds that your site is martin-friendly. Position them on porches or house entrances for maximum visibility.
Dawn and dusk playbacks of martin “dawnsongs” can also attract scouts. Special martin attraction CDs or digital downloads are available from purple martin conservation organizations.
10. Provide Supplemental Feeding
During cold snaps when insects are scarce, martins may struggle to find food. Toss crickets or mealworms onto platforms near housing or even on house porches during these times.
Georgia’s early spring cold fronts can be deadly for martins that have already arrived. Supplemental feeding during these weather events can save your colony.
Some landlords use specialized martin feeders with scrambled eggs and mealworms.
11. Join The Purple Martin Conservation Association
Connect with fellow martin enthusiasts through the Purple Martin Conservation Association (PMCA) or local Georgia martin clubs. These groups offer invaluable advice specific to your region.
Georgia has active martin landlord networks that share tips about arrival dates and successful management techniques. Many experienced landlords are happy to mentor beginners.
Annual martin festivals in Georgia provide wonderful learning opportunities.