bird houses Archives • Into the Light Adventures

Purple Martin Update Part 2, last week we put up the Purple Martin House and the same day we had two visitors stop by to check out the new apartments. Both of which are males, the males have the purple sheen to their feathers.

I was so surprised to see visitors the first day. They are so much fun to watch, very acrobatic at times. Now they only came around in the morning and would sit on top of the house. Then fly around the fields, appearing to just be checking everything out and they would leave in the afternoon.

Now this week, another Purple Martin has arrived. My husband and I are making up stories as we watch what these birds are doing. We figured they were starting to like the apartment complex and decided to invite the mother in law to check it out. But after viewing the photos, I see all three are males, which are probably scouts and young males at that. They usually have to leave a colony and start a new one elsewhere.

Everyday they stay a little longer. Watching what we are doing as well. They are used to my dogs and they really do like having us around. They have figured out that people keep predators away, just by being out and about.

Now there is fun news for next week. We put up another bird apartment house, to try and have ample room for a colony to eventually live here. But the exciting news, today a female has arrived, with her mate and I believe she likes the place.

Have a Wonderful Weekend

Purple Martin Update Part 2

by Sandra J

I Am a Landlord Now

By Sandra | May 3, 2021

I Am a Landlord Now, that is what they call you when you put up a Purple Martin House for the birds. We use to have a house for them when I was a child. My grandfather built one and we always had birds in it. So my husband put this one up for me 3 days ago and we are already getting visitors.

According to my research, having a Martin house is like being a land lord. You have to make sure no other birds try to nest in it. It has to be in the right location and the right height to attract them. In the spring this breed of bird sends out scouts to roam the landscapes looking for houses for the colony. Over the years these birds have figured out that they want their houses to be close to human houses. Because humans keep predators away, like racoons, cats, larger birds.

Usually two will come by and check out the house and the location. So yesterday our first two came by for a visit and today they came back for a second look around. One sat up on top surveying the landscape.

The other one was peaking inside the apartments to see if they were up to par. They are particular about their housing units. They like a 6x6x12 room, ours are 6x6x6. We will see if they want to rent the apartments or not, it is free rent for them. 🙂

They are such a pretty bird and they eat lots of bugs. We will set up a second house once they start living here. In the fall one has to take the house down and clean it and have it ready for them again next year.

by Sandra J

Birds Cabin in the Woods

By Sandra | December 22, 2020

Birds Cabin in the Woods, my husband made this bird house for me last year to hang up in the yard. I watched to see if a bird was using it and did not see any activity around it all summer. But now this winter I noticed that their is nesting material inside the house.

And it looks like who ever wanted to live in it, chipped away at the door way to make it a little bigger. When my husband gets time he said he will make some more, with a bigger door already installed for them.