Purple martins are popular backyard birds that people like to attract by putting up special “purple martin houses.” These houses provide a place for the martins to nest and raise their young. One common question is how far from a house or other building the purple martin houses should be placed. There are a few factors to consider when deciding on the ideal distance.
Why Have a Purple Martin House?
Purple martins are migratory birds that spend their summers in North America and fly south to South America for the winter. In the summer breeding season, they rely on cavities and man-made nest “condos” to raise their young. Some key reasons why people put up martin houses include:
- Natural pest control – Purple martins are aerial insectivores, meaning they feed on flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, moths, etc. A colony of martins can consume thousands of flying insects each day, helping to naturally control pests around your property.
- Entertainment value – Martins are fun to watch as they swoop through the sky catching insects. Their vocalizations and social dynamics add interest.
- Helping a declining species – Over the past few decades, purple martin populations have been declining. Providing nesting sites helps support their populations.
Providing nesting sites for purple martins encourages them to take up residence around your home where you can enjoy their benefits.
Ideal Distance from House
When deciding where to place purple martin houses, most experts recommend installing them 15 to 30 feet from your home or other buildings. Here are some reasons why this distance range is ideal:
Avoid Predators
One of the main benefits of a martin house being 15 to 30 feet from a home is that it makes it harder for predators to access the nests. Common purple martin predators include snakes, raccoons, squirrels, owls, hawks, and cats. If a martin house is too close to a home, tree, fence or other structure, these predators can more easily climb up or jump from the structure into the martin house.
Keeping the house 15 to 30 feet away in open space makes it harder for predators to reach the martins’ nests. This helps reduce predation and increase nesting success.
Reduce Mess
Purple martins are messy birds by nature. Their mud nests tend to crumble and fall apart over time. Old nests falling down, along with bird droppings accumulating under the house, can result in a mess if the house is too close to your home.
A distance of 15 to 30 feet helps keep the inevitable mess martins create farther from your living spaces and porches. This keeps your home looking nicer.
Make Martins Feel Safe
Purple martins prefer wide open spaces with clear sight lines so they can spot predators coming from a distance. If a house is too close to buildings, trees or other structures, it can make it harder for the martins to see approaching threats.
Distance from House | Impact on Martins Feeling Safe |
---|---|
0-15 feet | Martins may feel unsafe due to obstructed views |
15-30 feet | Clear views provide safety |
30+ feet | Very far distance is not necessary |
A distance of 15 to 30 feet from a home or building seems to strike the right balance of giving martins an open 360 degree view to spot predators, while still keeping the house reasonably close by.
Enjoy Viewing Martins
If a purple martin house is too far from your home (say over 50 feet), it becomes harder to watch and enjoy the birds. The ideal 15 to 30 foot range keeps the martin house within good viewing range, so you can observe the birds coming and going to their nests. This allows you to see their behaviors and activity without binoculars.
Where to Position the House
In terms of the compass direction for placing the purple martin house 15 to 30 feet from your home, most experts recommend one of these optimal directions:
- East: This allows you to enjoy the morning sun and see martins activity when you are having your morning coffee.
- Southeast: This location gets good morning sun but is slightly shaded from the hotter midday sun.
- South: A south facing location allows maximum sun exposure which purple martins seem to prefer.
Avoid a north facing location, as this will receive minimal sunlight. West is okay but can get hot in the afternoon sun.
Also consider placing the house within good viewing range from your deck, patio or other outdoor sitting area so you can easily watch the martins.
Extra Tips for Positioning
Beyond distance and direction, here are some extra tips on purple martin house placement:
Faces Open Space
Make sure the entrance holes to the martin house face open space, not a wall, fence or other obstruction. Martins need clear flight paths to come and go from the nests.
Raise on Pole
Mount houses atop a pole, pipe or bracket. This gets the house up higher for safety from predators. Ideal pole height is 10-20 feet.
Clear Flying Space
Avoid placing houses near wires, clotheslines or branches that obstruct flight access. Martins need clear flying space above the house.
No Trees Nearby
Don’t mount martin houses on tree trunks or have branches overhanging the house. Keep at least 30-40 feet distance from trees.
Types of Purple Martin Houses
There are a few different styles of man-made purple martin houses:
1. Traditional wood houses
These are classic rectangular wood bird houses with multiple compartments. Usually made of wood, aluminum or a mix. They have removable rounded entrance holes on the front side. Traditional wood houses are a time-tested favorite of martins.
2. Gourd houses
These consist of hollowed out natural gourds mounted in a rack. Gourds have historically been used as martin nesting cavities.
3. Aluminum mini-condos
More modern style multi-unit houses made of aluminum with smaller, starling-resistant crescent entrance holes. These minimize unwanted birds.
4. Castle or high-rise houses
Large multi-level houses with 10 or more compartments stacked vertically. Resemble castles or high-rise condos. Offer lots of nesting spaces.
All of these house styles work well as long as they meet the proper 15-30 foot distance guidelines and other placement tips. Landlords with larger numbers of breeding pairs may want a castle/high-rise style house.
Only Use Real Martinc Houses
It’s important to note that you should always use officially licensed and designed martin houses, rather than trying to adapt buildings and structures not meant for martins. Here’s why:
- Martin houses have the ideal cavity depth, drainage and ventilation.
- Entrance hole sizes keep out larger competing birds.
- Houses can be cleaned out between seasons.
- Made of durable, weather-proof materials that last outdoors.
- Designed specifically to meet purple martins’ requirements.
DIY houses, gourds or other improvised nests may seem like good idea but often fail to attract martins or keep them safe. Use quality, purpose-built martin houses for best results.
Conclusion
In summary, most purple martin housing experts recommend placing martin houses 15-30 feet away from a home or building, with an east or south-facing orientation optimal. This distance helps deter predators, minimize mess, give martins a safe open view and keeps the birds within good viewing range. Raise the house on a 10-20 foot pole with no obstructions around entrance holes. And be sure to use real martin-specific houses rather than improvised DIY nest structures. With good placement and proper housing, you can attract lovely purple martins to your yard.