Friendly

Purple Martin

Competitors



Along with the Starlings and Sparrows, there are other birds that compete with purple martins for nesting cavities. We've discussed the two trash birds and what can be done to eliminate them, but now we have to discuss the good birds, or birds that are native to America that cannot and should not be destroyed or harmed in any way. Instead, other measures need to be incorporated to remove them from the martin housing. They too, are friendly to us humans and can also be a treat to have around if properly cared for. They are in your martin housing because they are looking for a place to raise their young and if the time is taken to properly supply them housing, they can be enjoyed right along with the martins. The following are a few of the major competitors that you may run into and what can be done to keep them from your martin house.

 

In fact, even if you don't have martins but would like to supply housing for them, then this page will help with that.



Tree Swallows

Tree Swallows are found throughout much of the northern part of the purple martin's range, down to about the Tennessee/Alabama line and westward.  Tree swallows are a cousin of the martin and are about the size of a bluebird.  They also seek out man-made housing in which to build their nests and although a member of the swallow family they don't congregate in large close knit colonies. Their habits are more like the bluebird in that they feed much closer to the ground, prefer individual nest boxes, and like to spread out a little more. They're very territorial towards other birds of their own kind, (other tree swallows and martins) and will vigorously defend their nests against other TS's (or martins) that may invade their home space.

 

Surprisingly, they will live side by side with bluebirds, thus pairs of boxes can be supplied for them.  The two boxes can be as close as 20 feet to each other, although 30 to 50 is better.  TS will take one box and BB's will take the other and get along just fine

 

As can be seen by the picture, they are a beautiful little bird and, as stated, will readily use housing that is supplied by man. It is not unheard of to have a martin colony and tree swallow nest within close proximity of each other and as long as they each have their own space, then all will get along just fine.

However; if tree swallows are allowed to begin a nest in NEW martin housing, then this can create a problem.  They will attempt to drive any martins away from the housing and will do what ever it takes to keep them away, thus; it is not good to let them get fully established in your martin housing.

 

So, what do you do to keep tree swallows out of your martin housing?  Easy!  You move them, it's that simple.
The link I give below goes into detail on exactly what it takes to move Tree Swallows away from martin housing.

 

Moving Tree Swallows

 



Eastern Bluebird

Link to a photo of an Eastern Bluebird

The Eastern Bluebird is another competitor that just about every martin landlord will run into. To the best of my knowledge, they nest in just about every place that martins nest.  Again, these are another beautiful and friendly little bird that is a joy to have around. Their unique call quickly distinguishes them from the other birds in the area. Again, if you are trying to attract martins, then they should not be allowed to nest in the martin housing and removing them employs the same method used for the tree swallows. Although they don't use feathers in their nests, putting some individual housing up for them and then adding just a little soft grass usually gets their attention, especially if they can't get back into their original martin house.  As before, close up the martin house for a couple two or three days or at least until they start building a nest and then once their nest is started in their new box, re-open the martin house.  Again, once committed to the new nest box and nest, they will not abandon it for the martin colony.




Black Capped Chickadee

Link to photo of a Black Capped Chickadee
 

Carolina Chickadee

Link to photo of a Carolina Chickadee


Two lesser competitors, the Black Capped and Carolina Chickadee will quickly move to housing supplied as described above.  Yes, they will use BB boxes, but you might want to consider a box made more to their size with the smaller 4 x 4 inch compartment floor and 1 inch entrance hole.  If BB boxes are used, house sparrows or other birds will take it from them.  They usually like the lower housing rather than the high martin houses, but if nothing else is available, they will take what they can get which is why they are in your martin housing. If we take time to remember them and supply them some housing, they are just one more treat in the bird world that are enjoyable to have around.  These little beauties are very friendly towards man and you'll find that they may not even get off their nests when you check inside.


Greater Crested Flycatcher

Link to photo of a Greater Crested Flycatcher

Again, to a much lesser degree, these birds can occasionally be found in martin housing and the same rules and methods apply to moving them to their own housing. Try to keep them away from the human housing a little. Although they will use our supplied housing, they don't like our company quite as much as the martins, so you may want to move it as far away as possible so they have their privacy.

 


Barn Swallow


Although these birds are not housing competitors, they are often mistaken for martins. These are the birds that will nest up under your porch eaves if they can. It's covered from the elements and there are humans close by to keep the major competitors away. They are great for breaking the young into bird watching since they are right on your front porch.

 

Some folks don't like the mess, but if a piece of plywood or cardboard is set up below the nest, this usually catches all the mess from the young and it can be discarded after the young have left. If comfortable from raising the first brood, they will often raise a second brood using the same nest.

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a Little Tip...

 

I designed a little bracket specifically for mounting BB boxes to T-shaped fence posts.   It can be purchased from S&K Manufacturing out of O'Fallon, Missouri.  Once there, look in the Bluebird Section and you can look around.  There are a number of different choices for housing and maybe one will fit your needs.  Or if you already have your own housing and would like to order the T-Post Mount bracket alone (TPM), then they have them.  They are rather inexpensive, so you might want to consider getting a couple... just in case...

 

I presently have a BB trial along the road that I live on that is 1 1/2 miles long and has 36 boxes (both wood and plastic) on it.  Just about every box is mounted to a T-post using one of these little TPM brackets.  Very easy to install and they work beautifully.  If the boxes are near livestock (cows and horses), you might want to add a couple of hose clamps, one above and one below the bracket so that the livestock can't dislodge or upset the box.  It also helps prevent the box from being 'lifted' off the post and taken to someone else's back yard.