I have been a purple martin "landlord" for many years. I keep two houses up, take care of them the way you are supposed to, and usually have 5-7 pairs each year. I don't do nest checks, though. They usually leave in the first week of July. This year they showed up around the first of April and I think there were 5 pairs. For some reason they all disappeared, from both houses, two weeks ago. They didn't have time to raise their young in that amount of time. I opened the houses and can't find a reason that they left. Nests seemed normal, no mites or other bugs. The houses also have starling resistant openings, too. Any ideas?

You in an area that has owls ?

Interesting that you bring that up. I don't have many owls but I do have two owl decoys that I put above my blackberry bushes 200 feet away. However, they are there every year and were up when the martins showed up this year. The mockingbirds and every other berry thief ignore the decoys, btw.

I've seen a chicken snake up in a Martin box getting a meal.

I had to build higher perches above the houses so that barn owls couldn't "reach" into their holes and pluck them out at night. Have a good bunch this year.

A snake would have a heck of a time getting up my poles. The houses are about 12 feet up and on 1.9" OD poles. The houses are about 100 feet apart. They left from both houses at the same time. I'm sick over this. Their return every spring is something that I look forward to even more than spring fishing. They are really a joy to have around. I think y'all are right in that something spooked them out. I wish I knew what it was. I'm also worried about getting any next year.

Theory: Mild winter caused an early proliferation of insects, berries, and seeds. Since you say you have berries, you may have had a few swarms of starlings drop by for a few days to feed or roost nearby at night. The martins won't tolerate them and they'll abandon the area. If the houses are ready, they'll be back next year to check them out and you'll just have to hope (if this is the case) the starlings won't be. Any deterrent for the starlings will likely be a deterrent for the martins, as well.

What exactly are the benefits of purple martins? I have friends that have houses for them too. They said they are for mosquito control. Is that it? Do you notice a difference in mosquitoes when you have them around?

Rufneck said:

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What exactly are the benefits of purple martins? I have friends that have houses for them too. They said they are for mosquito control. Is that it? Do you notice a difference in mosquitoes when you have them around?

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Their mosquito prowess is overblown - the hunt too high, but they are hell on moths. To me they are just handsome, entertaining birds with a pleasant song.

The reality is that they eat dragonflies too...which would otherwise be eating mosquitos. I love martins...but don't put up houses thinking they will reduce the number of mosquitos in your yard.

I usually get a house full of martins every year but only got 2 pair this year. And I rarely see them. No owls where I am at.

Witnessed a rat snake climb up a 1.90 OD conduit pole to my parent's martin house before. They made such a racket in the night that I went out to check it out and eliminated the problem.

That said, it didn't run them off. They stayed and had several generations that summer.

Never knew about the owls, I had a barn owl fly into my yard 1st thing this AM to eat the mouse he had in his talon. Me letting the dogs out made him find another tree. No martin house but plenty of damn mud birds/barn swallows.

...the Russians.....

Rufneck said:

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What exactly are the benefits of purple martins? I have friends that have houses for them too. They said they are for mosquito control. Is that it? Do you notice a difference in mosquitoes when you have them around?

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They build crawdad mounds on your house over your entry ways, attack you like crazy, and are very noisy early in the morning. Some people dig it, but I put up pictures of Hawks and they stayed the hell away.

Those are barn swallows, not purple martins

I've been chasing a pair of barn swallows off my back porch for a week. I like the hawk picture idea.

We had another (maybe the same) pair nest on our front porch, I caught it too late, so we let them finish their nest. They hatched 5 chicks and all of them were dead on our front door step. Now that nest is abandoned. Any ideas why?

Very strange- I just had five martins show up and go to one of my houses. Maybe they took a vacation.

Just out of curiosity, where are you located. I'm in the North Houston area and mine show up like clockwork. After the 2012 drought, they showed up on Feb 1st three years straight. Last year they showed up on Feb 7th, and this year on Feb 15th. We are just now hearing the babies cry for food.

My group of 8 pairs are fairly resilient. They have had the occasional hawk approach the nests but usually chase them away. Starlings always try to use the gourds even though they can't get in. I've shot a few starlings right off the perch above the gourds. Last week they had a green heron on the perch which just sat there getting dive bombed for about 10 minutes before leaving. But through it all, they never leave.

I will say right after they arrive in Feb., they may be gone a few days before returning. Not sure what they do when they are gone.

I'm in northeast Brazos County. I never get them as early as you. When they first arrive I notice the same as you- that they disappear for a day or two then come back. It is later than usual for that and they have been gone for too long. These may just be visiting from a neighbor that I'm not aware of. Hopefully they are my prodigal children coming home, though.