Purple Martins, North America’s largest swallows, have been declining in Pennsylvania over recent decades. These beautiful birds not only eat thousands of mosquitoes daily but also bring cheerful songs and aerial displays to our gardens.
With breeding season approaching in early spring, now is the perfect time for Pennsylvania gardeners to prepare their yards to welcome these beneficial feathered visitors.
1. Setting Up The Right Martin Houses
First-time hosts often make the mistake of buying any birdhouse. Martin colonies need specialized housing with multiple compartments and proper dimensions.
I’ve found that white houses work best in Pennsylvania’s climate, as they reflect heat during our hot summers. The entrance holes should be exactly 2-1/8 inches in diameter to keep starlings out.
Timing matters too. Have houses ready by late March in southern PA and early April in northern regions when the first scouts arrive.
2. Keeping Housing Away From Trees And Shrubs
Martins evolved to nest in open areas and instinctively avoid places where predators might lurk. My neighbor’s beautiful oak nearly ruined his chances of attracting a colony.
Place martin housing at least 40 feet from tall trees, buildings, and dense vegetation. This safety buffer gives martins clear flight paths and reduces the risk of raids by hawks, owls, and climbing predators.
For Pennsylvania gardeners with smaller properties, consider placing houses over open water features if possible, as this creates natural protection.
3. Offering A Clean Water Source
Martins appreciate shallow water sources for drinking and collecting mud for nest building. A simple birdbath with gradually sloping sides works wonders in my garden.
Change the water frequently during Pennsylvania’s humid summers to prevent mosquito breeding. Adding a small fountain or water wiggler creates movement that attracts martins’ attention while deterring mosquitoes.
Position your water feature about 15-20 feet from martin housing in an open area where birds can easily spot approaching predators while drinking.
4. Growing Native Berry Bushes And Small Trees
Native plantings support the insect populations that martins depend on for food. In my eastern Pennsylvania garden, serviceberry and elderberry have proven particularly effective.
Blueberries, chokeberries, and dogwoods not only attract insects but also provide perching spots where martins can rest between feeding flights. Plant these bushes at least 40 feet from martin houses.
Consider Pennsylvania natives like spicebush and viburnums too. These plants host numerous moth and butterfly species whose larvae and adults become martin meals.
5. Using Open Garden Or Lawn Areas
Martins hunt flying insects on the wing, making open spaces crucial for their feeding success. Last year, I expanded my lawn area specifically to help my martin colony.
Maintain at least a quarter-acre of open space around your martin housing. This doesn’t mean removing all plants—just create clear flight zones where birds can maneuver easily.
Many Pennsylvania gardeners find success with a design that includes martin houses centered in open lawn areas, with garden beds and taller plantings positioned along the property edges.
6. Pairing Martin Houses With Flowering Plants
Certain flowers attract the flying insects that martins love to eat. I’ve noticed increased martin activity when my butterfly milkweed blooms in early summer.
Consider planting native Pennsylvania wildflowers like bee balm, coneflowers, and black-eyed Susans around the perimeter of your yard. These attract pollinators and other insects that become martin food.
Avoid using pesticides on your flowering plants. A natural garden provides more food for martins while creating a healthier ecosystem in your Pennsylvania landscape.
7. Controlling Invasive Bird Species
European starlings and house sparrows compete fiercely for martin housing and may kill adult martins and their young. Managing these invasive species made all the difference for my colony’s success.
Modify entrance holes with special crescent-shaped openings or entrance guards designed specifically for martins. Since sparrows are smaller, you can also use entrance holes exactly 1-3/16 inches wide for supplementary housing.
Consistent monitoring helps too. When I spot non-native birds attempting to nest, I promptly remove their nesting materials before eggs are laid, which is legal for invasive species in Pennsylvania.
8. Adjusting Pole Height For Better Nesting
Height matters tremendously when it comes to martin housing success. After raising my poles an additional five feet, my Pennsylvania colony doubled in size the following spring.
Mount houses on poles that reach 12-20 feet above ground. Telescoping poles work wonderfully since they allow for easy lowering during weekly nest checks and end-of-season cleaning.
Baffles are non-negotiable in our state. Pennsylvania’s raccoons, snakes, and other predators easily climb poles without proper barriers, so install a wide metal baffle about 4 feet below the housing.
9. Encouraging Insects Through Garden Diversity
Martins consume thousands of flying insects daily. My Pennsylvania garden includes varied habitats—from meadow patches to rain gardens—creating perfect hunting grounds for these aerial insectivores.
Include plants that flower at different times throughout spring and summer. When my Pennsylvania native Joe-Pye weed blooms in late summer, it attracts numerous insects just when young martins are learning to hunt.
Leave some areas slightly wilder. A section of taller grasses or a small brush pile away from martin houses provides insect breeding habitat while maintaining the open areas martins need for safe access.