Martins actually want to be near to you! Purple martins are large, iridescent swallows and highly desirable backyard birds, and attracting purple martins can be easy. Apr 17, 2015: How to make a slot box sparrow-resistant? When to Put up Purple Martin Housing. All you have to do is clean it out in fall, protect it from starlings and sparrows, and perhaps repaint it white every few years. Sparrows don't like the … If you put up your Purple Martin house long before the start of nesting season, which varies depending on your location, it's more likely to be inhabited by these pest birds. Anytime is a good time to install a martin house. ... Once purple martins have used a martin house, they will return to it year after year. ... Guide to Buying a Purple Martin House. Active martin landlords do their best to prevent the sparrows from doing this by removing the sparrow nests - this is legal, as House Sparrows are not protected, being a non-native species. A colony of purple martins will gradually disappear if sparrows nest near or in their houses. Because they eat thousands of insects each day, do not require bird feeders, and can nest in compact colonies, birders only have to take a few steps to make their yard suitable as prime purple martin habitat. Competing with other songbirds. Territorial tree swallows and bluebirds can prevent purple martins from establishing new colonies, but martin hobbyists have developed an excellent procedure, linked to here, for reducing competition. In the eastern US, Purple Martins nest only in man-made structures, so if the sparrow is allowed to takeover a martin house, the martins have nowhere to go. Sparrows out of Bluebird houses by: David Rowzee If you drill a 2 inch hole in the roof of your bluebird house, it will keep the sparrows away. When done properly all 3 species can nest nearby. Operating a purple martin colony is a very pleasant and self gratifying hobby. If you put up your Purple Martin house long before the start of nesting season, which varies depending on your location, it's more likely to be inhabited by these pest birds. All you have to do is clean it out in fall, protect it from starlings and sparrows, and perhaps repaint it white every few years. Territorial tree swallows and bluebirds can prevent purple martins from establishing new colonies, but martin hobbyists have developed an excellent procedure, linked to here, for reducing competition. They have been known to sneak into the nests of purple martins and destroy their eggs or kill the young. Non-native house sparrows can be terribly destructive of tree swallow, bluebird, purple martin, and chickadee nests, killing eggs, young and adults. Anytime is a good time to install a martin house. Getting purple martins to accept a new martin house is a different issue. ... Once purple martins have used a martin house, they will return to it year after year. Purple Martin houses are perfect nesting sites for pest species like House Sparrows or European Starlings. Sparrows out of Bluebird houses by: David Rowzee If you drill a 2 inch hole in the roof of your bluebird house, it will keep the sparrows away. Main ... promptly install a vent cover to keep other sparrows, and other birds, out. However, we recommend leaving them to complete the cycle for this one nesting period, and bear in mind that virtually all birds but starlings and house sparrows are protected by federal law, and to remove their nests or eggs would be illegal. Sparrows don't like the light coming in, but doesn't bother the bluebirds. Controlling Pests and Predators of Purple Martins. Few things are more soothing or relaxing than sitting out on the back deck in the evening and watching the superb aerial acrobatics of these delightful birds.