subject: Purple Martin Bird Houses [print this page] Purple Martin Bird Houses Purple Martin Bird Houses
Usually situated at the top of a tall solo pole, the design of purple martin birdhouses often resembles condominiums or villas. They are much more airy and open than other types of birdhouses which are designed to accommodate "cavity dwellers" which is what a single family of birds is called. Even though they look Mediterranean, the design of the purple martin bird houses is actually a result of form following function rather than an actual deliberate imitation of Latin architectural styles.
Formerly the traditional design of the purple martin birdhouse was a villa outfitted with round holes. However since the purple martin is now facing the threat of having their homes appropriated by starlings and swallows designers have altered the design of the purple martin birdhouse so that it has a lidded or crescent shaped doorway. This makes it more difficult for the larger birds to squat inside these purple martin birdhouses and take over. It is these crescent shaped doorways that give the contemporary purple martin birdhouse the appearance of a villa in Mexico or Spain. The beauty of this design is that it allows purple martins to slip swiftly in and out of the bird house while starlings and swallows remain stuck outside.
This open-air design also keeps the purple martins from over exposure to sun and heat. Excess heat is deadly to both mature purple martins and their nestlings. When shopping for purple martin birdhouses look for ones that have adjustable ventilation. As purple martin shelters tend to be more open than other types of bird houses make sure that the floor of the birdhouse also has plenty of drainage. This makes sure that the birdhouse dries out quickly after a rain and discourages the growth of mould and bacteria.
As pretty as the purple martin is it is also known for being a more filthy bird.
This is because several parents will nest in the same dwelling.. Martins also excrete in these boxes and hygiene is further compromised by the open-air design of these martin birdhouses, which exposes the insides to elements such as rain and wind.
In order to keep this type of bird dwelling clean, you should buy purple martin houses that are designed to rest on top of a collapsible aluminum pole. The poles for martin bird can be collapsed the same way you would fold up a patio umbrella. This allows you to lower the birdhouse to the ground every now and then so that you can clean the excrement and old nesting materials out of the birdhouse. This ensures that a new crop of purple martins will find your bird house attractive every year.
Purple martin birdhouses and poles are items that are often sold together. You can also buy the pole and the house as a build it yourself birdhouse kit. Purple martin birdhouses and poles can also be sold separately. You can buy a purple martin and try to mount it on your own pole but often this can cost you a lot of time and trouble as you try to figure out it's construction. Whatever you do avoid mounting purple martin birdhouses on wood poles, which gives squirrels, and cats the opportunity to scrabble up the sides and disturb the occupants of the bird house. If you must use a wood pole make sure to also purchase spinner and flippers, which knock invaders off balance and prevent them from invading the purple martin "villa."
If you search around on the Internet you will see that purple martin birdhouses and poles are eclectic items that can be difficult to find. The houses themselves are easier to find then the poles. There are basically two types of purple martin birdhouse poles. These are the hinge type and the telescopic type. The hinge types allows you to collapse the pole in half so that the bird house is accessible from the ground and the telescopic type extends itself in much the same way as adjustable tent poles. Both types make it much easier for you to clean the martin houses when needed because you don't have to go to the trouble of climbing a ladder!
For more information on purple martin birdhouses, visit Best Bird House Kits
