Purple Martins, Michigan’s largest swallows, are fascinating birds that bring joy with their acrobatic flights and cheerful chirping. These beautiful aerial insect-eaters have a special relationship with humans, relying almost entirely on man-made housing in the eastern United States.
Attracting these stunning birds to your Michigan backyard takes some know-how, but the rewards of hosting a thriving colony are well worth the effort.
1. Install Housing Early In Spring
Timing matters tremendously when setting up Purple Martin housing. Michigan martins typically begin arriving from their South American wintering grounds in mid-April. Have your housing ready by late March or early April to welcome the first scouts.
These early birds are often older, experienced martins who will establish territories and attract others. Missing this critical window might mean waiting until next year for another chance at hosting these beautiful aerial insectivores.
2. Choose the Right Location
Purple Martins need open flyways and prefer housing placed in the middle of the most open spot available. Position houses at least 40-60 feet from tall trees and 15-20 feet from ground level.
Martins love aerial space for their acrobatic flights and insect hunting. A housing location near a pond or lake provides bonus points, as these birds enjoy water access and the insects that come with it.
3. Use Proper Housing Systems
Martin colonies thrive in multi-compartment houses or gourd systems specifically designed for them. Each compartment should measure about 6×6×12 inches with a 2-inch entrance hole.
White-colored housing helps reflect heat, keeping nestlings cooler during summer. Commercially manufactured martin houses from companies like Troyer, Heritage, or Purple Martin Conservation Association offer excellent options with proper ventilation and predator guards.
4. Implement Predator Controls
Without proper protection, martin colonies face devastating predation from snakes, raccoons, and hawks. Install quality pole guards that prevent climbing predators from reaching the housing.
Owl guards or external entrance holes that martins can navigate but owls cannot are crucial additions. Some landlords add special hawk guards during nesting season.
These protective measures significantly increase colony success rates and will keep your martins returning year after year.
5. Attract First-Time Visitors With Decoys
Purple Martins are highly social birds that respond to visual cues indicating established colonies. Plastic martin decoys placed atop or near housing can work wonders for attracting first-time visitors to your site.
The decoys create an illusion of an active colony, making passing martins more likely to investigate. Combine this visual attraction with audio playback of dawn songs during spring arrival periods for an even stronger draw to your housing.
6. Play Dawn Song Recordings
The distinctive chortle and chatter of Purple Martins serves as a powerful attractant to birds passing overhead. Using a weather-protected speaker system to play recorded dawn songs during early morning hours can dramatically increase your chances of attracting scouts.
Focus on playing these recordings from mid-April through May when martins are actively seeking nesting sites. Many successful Michigan martin landlords consider this audio attraction method their secret weapon for establishing new colonies.
7. Practice Active Management
Successful Purple Martin landlords don’t just install housing and walk away. Regular monitoring of nest compartments helps track colony progress and identify problems early.
Lower housing weekly to check for invasive species, parasites, or nestling issues. Keep records of arrival dates, egg laying, hatching, and fledging to better understand your colony’s patterns.
This hands-on approach creates healthier colonies and stronger connections between you and your aerial tenants.
8. Control Competing Species
European Starlings and House Sparrows aggressively compete for martin housing and can destroy eggs and kill adult birds. Install entrance holes with Starling-resistant crescent openings or specially sized round portals that allow martins access while excluding larger starlings.
Remove nesting materials from competing species promptly. Some landlords use specialized traps for persistent problem birds. Managing these competitors effectively can make the difference between colony success and failure.
9. Provide Supplemental Nesting Materials
Purple Martins appreciate a helping hand with nest building. Create a designated nesting material station with small twigs, pine needles, and dried mud in a shallow container near the housing.
Many Michigan martin landlords place dried eggshells in a platform feeder, providing calcium for egg-laying females. Fresh green leaves are another favorite material that martins use to line nests and may help control parasites naturally.
10. Offer Emergency Feeding During Cold Snaps
Michigan’s unpredictable spring weather can create dangerous conditions for martins. When temperatures drop below 50°F for extended periods, flying insects become scarce, potentially starving entire colonies.
Prepare for these emergencies by keeping mealworms on hand. During cold snaps, offer these in shallow platforms or toss them into the air near housing.
This supplemental feeding has saved countless martin colonies during harsh spring weather events across the Midwest.
11. Create Insect-Rich Habitat
Purple Martins consume thousands of flying insects daily, making habitat diversity crucial for successful colonies. Incorporate native plants that attract insects, especially those that emerge in early spring when martins first arrive.
Consider adding a small pond or water feature to your yard. The resulting increase in insect populations provides a natural food source.
Avoid using broad-spectrum insecticides that kill beneficial insects and can harm martins through secondary poisoning.
12. Join Michigan’s Purple Martin Community
Connect with experienced martin landlords through organizations like the Purple Martin Conservation Association or Michigan Audubon. These groups offer mentorship, colony site visits, and problem-solving assistance for new landlords.
Attend workshops specifically focused on Michigan’s unique challenges for martin housing. The shared knowledge of this passionate community dramatically increases your chances of success.
Many established landlords are eager to help newcomers attract their first birds.