The Purple Martin is the largest member of the swallow family in North America. These aerial acrobats have steely, dark purple feathers that gleam in the sunlight. Their scientific name is Progne subis. Purple Martins are highly sought-after backyard birds due to their aerial insectivore diet, stunning appearance and enthusiastic vocalizations. However, attracting and keeping Purple Martins can be challenging due to their very specific housing requirements. This article will provide tips on how to successfully attract breeding pairs of Purple Martins to your yard in Alberta, Canada.
What Do Purple Martins Eat?
Purple Martins are aerial insectivores, which means they exclusively eat insects caught during flight. A single Purple Martin can consume thousands of flying insects per day, including mosquitoes, biting flies, moths, dragonflies, bees, wasps and more. Their diet consists of a diverse range of insects depending on location and seasonal availability.
In Alberta, key prey items for Purple Martins include:
– Mosquitos
– Midges
– Flies
– Bees
– Wasps
– Mayflies
– Butterflies & Moths
– Grasshoppers
– Crane flies
– Dragonflies
– Cicadas
The aerial insectivore diet is the reason why Purple Martins are highly valued by homeowners. Just a single breeding pair and their offspring can consume thousands of flying insect pests at your property daily during nesting season.
When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Alberta?
Purple Martins are migratory, traveling from their wintering grounds in Brazil to their breeding grounds across North America. In Alberta, Purple Martins begin arriving in mid-to-late April. Numbers gradually build up through May.
The males arrive first to establish territories, followed 1-2 weeks later by the females. Egg laying typically begins in May or June, depending on weather conditions. After breeding, most Purple Martins leave Alberta in late July and August to migrate south again for the winter.
A key tip is to get your Purple Martin housing up well before the birds arrive in April. The males scout for sites in early spring and may establish a new colony if they discover suitable housing early enough.
What Type of Housing Do Purple Martins Prefer?
Providing proper housing is crucial for attracting Purple Martins. They have very specific requirements:
House Type
Purple Martins prefer tall, multi-compartment aluminum or wood houses placed in open areas 15 feet or higher off the ground. The housing should have at least 6-12 compartments that are 6 x 6 x 6 inches or larger inside.
Location
Place the Purple Martin house in the center of the largest open spot available, preferably with a minimum clearance of 30-60 feet around the housing in all directions. Avoid obstructions like wires, fences and trees. Face the entrance holes east or southeast.
Predator Protection
Predators like squirrels, raccoons, snakes and owls threaten nests. Mount the house on a metal pole with a cone baffle below the house. Avoid wood or PVC poles which predators can climb.
Maintenance
Keep compartments clean and ensure they stay dry by sealing any leaking holes. At end of season, remove old nests and sanitize the compartments.
Further Tips to Attract Purple Martins
Beyond proper housing, the following tips can help you successfully attract and retain Purple Martins:
– Install a house sparrow-resistant entrance hole that allows Martins in but blocks invasive sparrows.
– Deploy multiple houses spaced 30-60 feet apart. Martins prefer colonies.
– Paint houses white to reflect heat. Avoid dark colors.
– Place houses out in early spring before Martins arrive.
– Locate houses within 100 feet of Purple Martin scouts like swallows and swifts.
– Initially, you may need to use decoys or playback of Purple Martin dawn song to attract them.
– Keep monitoring houses daily throughout season for problems.
– Ensure a reliable food (insects) and fresh water source on property.
– Limit use of pesticides which reduce the insect prey base.
Ideal Purple Martin Habitat in Alberta
Purple Martins thrive best in open and semi-open habitats in Alberta such as:
– Parks
– Suburbs
– Golf courses
– Farmland
– Ranches
– Near rivers, lakes or ponds
– Recreation areas
The birds need an expanse of short grass below housing for convenient insect foraging. Trees are acceptable as long as houses remain unobstructed.
Native grasslands, dense forests and downtown urban areas do not typically attract breeding pairs. But even single houses in marginal habitat may draw 1-2 pairs if all other needs are met.
The Ideal Timeframe for Attracting Purple Martins
Here is an ideal timeline for setting up Purple Martin housing and attracting your first pairs in Alberta:
Early March
– Research housing design and placement requirements. Shop for house and mounting pole.
Late March/Early April
– Install housing system in ideal open location. Face entrances east/southeast.
– Ensure housing is high quality, clean and sparrow-resistant.
– Optionally, set out Purple Martin decoys.
Mid/Late April
– Play dawn song recordings daily to attract scouting males.
– Set out mealworm feeders filled with live worms.
– Watch for arrivals; scout flocks precede mated pairs.
May
– Pairs arrive, males advertising to claim nest sites.
– Females build nests, lay eggs.
– Monitor houses daily; help evict unwanted sparrows/starlings.
June-July
– Eggs hatch, parents continually feed nestlings.
– Nestlings fledge around 4-6 weeks after hatching.
– Monitor for parasites, entanglement; register nests with PMCA.
July/August
– Fledged young visit houses while developing flight skills.
– Breeding adults feed fledglings for 2-3 weeks after leaving nest.
– Families depart colony together on migration by late August.
Be Patient
It can take 1-2 seasons for Purple Martins to discover and accept a new colony site. Pair numbers build gradually, so don’t get discouraged. Once established, word will spread and you can potentially host dozens of remarkable Purple Martins.
Enjoy the Benefits
When Purple Martins move in, expect to enjoy these benefits:
– Thousands of flying insect pests consumed daily.
– A beautiful spectacle of dozens of gleaming purple birds swirling overhead.
– Lively birdsong and vocalizations from dawn to dusk.
– The knowledge you are helping recover a threatened native songbird species.
Join the Purple Martin Community
Connecting with volunteer Purple Martin landlords will provide mentoring, advice and support. Here are two Alberta-based groups:
– Purple Martin Conservation Association
– Alberta Purple Martin Association
These organizations also offer helpful resources like nest checklists, house plans, recorded calls and more to help ensure your success.
Conclusion
With proper housing, ideal habitat, timing and patience, you can succeed in attracting spectacular Purple Martins to your yard. Observing their aerial antics, hearing their cheery chortles and benefiting from natural insect control will make the effort rewarding. Become part of the community helping provide essential nesting sites for Purple Martins in Alberta.