Purple Martin Houses – More Than A Desirable
Residence
Roy Thomsitt
No garden would ever be the same without the sounds, colors
and movement of the birds that visit it. The British and
Americans appreciate birds in their gardens more than most, and
in the UK, the million plus membership of the Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is testimony to that. Not only
do we love having birds in the garden, many encourage them by
providing bird feeders and bird houses, or nest boxes as we
call them in the UK.
The birds themselves come in all shapes and sizes, so you will
find bird houses have evolved to cater for the many different
species that might visit the garden in the breeding season. For
gardeners who like to see the birds close at hand, bird houses
can be an integral part of the garden, even the house itself in
some cases.
While bird houses are functional, and intended as a place to
breed, they can also make attractive garden decor. Some bird
houses are, indeed, very decorative. They can even be whimsical
and humorous. There really are some wonderful and unusual
designs on the market. More conventional bird houses are also
readily available, especially online.
One type of bird house, though, is particularly important, and
that is especially designed for purple martins.
Purple Martins – A Breed Apart For Human Intervention
The type of birds you get in the garden will depend on where
you live, of course, but you may find specially designed bird
houses for your favorite birds, whether they are bluebirds,
robins, purple martins, or other favorites.
Purple martins, though, are very special when it comes to
people providing their housing needs. They are much loved
visitors to parts of North America, where they go to breed
every spring and summer. One remarkable thing about these fork
tailed swallows is that they actually depend on human
intervention for their housing needs. In other words purple
martin bird houses are more than a desirable residence for the
purple martins; they are an essential to their survival in
North America.
If you are excited about birds visiting and breeding in your
garden, and are lucky enough to live in an area where purple
martins are summer visitors, then you can have many hours of
joy every day knowing that you are also providing an important
service. The purple martins will not come down to feed in the
garden, but you can watch them fly off to feed on high flying
insects, and return to base to feed their hungry young. That
is, if you have one or more purple martin bird houses.
Later in the season, you can watch the baby purple martins
learn to fly as they depart from the nests you provide. So,
having purple martin bird houses is much more than adding
garden decor; they are like a living entertainment centre for
those lazy summer afternoons in the garden. You can relax,
knowing that you are doing the world a big favour by helping to
perpetuate the purple martin species.
Purple martin houses come in many forms, but you need to bear
in mind that they breed in colonies, so putting up a single
bird box for one nest is no help. The other thing to consider
is that the purple martin needs height; they will only breed if
well clear of the ground. Despite those limitations, purple
martin bird houses come in many designs and have evolved to
make the most of what the birds need. Some can be very
attractive too, making them a welcome addition to the garden
décor.
About The Author: This purple martin bird house
http://www.gardens-and-decor.com/Bird_Houses.htm article was
written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Gardens and Decor
http://www.gardens-and-decor.com web site.
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