I can’t deny it. Purple martin swallows are my obsession. I love the look of them: they make me think of Toothless from the movie How to Train Your Dragon.
They look like feathered dragons, don’t they?
As similar as martins are to dragons — look at their heads straight on. They’re oblong on the horizontal line — they are not aggressive. Of course, they are birds, and a dragon would never let a little house sparrow drive them out of their nest.
My point is that as much as I want to see a purple dragon, I’d settle for a purple martin. However these birds are quite mild mannered and will not fight invaders.
I use a water gun to shoo house sparrows away. Those pesky buggers will even kill a purple martin. The word must have gotten around because I rarely see house sparrows now (or they are already nesting elsewhere). Purple martins swing by, poke their heads in, even climb inside with some effort and sit awhile, but ultimately, fly off.
I’ve studied the matter without resolution. I once set my phone out on the porch playing martin calls for two hours. Nothing happened.
I’ve had a purple martin house up in my yard since February, and though several pairs and small flocks have inspected the accommodations, none have moved in. House sparrows and starlings have landed. The starlings move on as they cannot squeeze into the nest holes (by design), but house sparrows are half the size of martins and have no trouble moving in.
Did you know that most purple martins in the eastern United States nest almost exclusively in purple martin houses? They can’t find lodging elsewhere, and their numbers are dwindling due to competition with non-native birds, such as the house sparrow and the European starling. Those eastern martins know a good house when they see one.
In Texas, where I live, they nest in purple martin housing less frequently. I’m assuming my visiting martins are uncertain what to make of this ready-made house. Its a standard model, so they can’t be finding another one that’s roomier or a different color. (Twelve compartments, six on each side, and two levels with balconies.)
I love watching the purple martins. If they fly in or land, I’m glued to the window with my binoculars. I encourage with gestures and verbal coaxing the females to check out the quarters. They are more timid then the males when it comes to squeezing inside, and will try and try, giving up just as they are about to get inside. Frequently they throw their hands up and fly away.
Though timid about inspecting the inside of the house, they are not timid when it comes to yelling at the males. One actually trapped her partner inside the compartment when he argued with her about which side of the house he preferred. Finally, after joining her, he went inside the compartment she favored. She didn’t let him out for more than half an hour.
Then they flew off and did not return.
To clarify my obsession. I stand at the window and send out welcoming purple martin vibes. I shoot water at house sparrows. With far too much glee, I applaud when starlings give up after a minute of testing each compartment entrance and finding they cannot enter.
I study my National Audubon Society bird book, my NAS app, my Merlin Bird ID app (recognizes bird song/chirps and identifies the bird), and the internet for information on purple martins.
Today, I met our new neighbors and learned the gentleman of the couple is a purple martin obsessed person like myself. I see a great friendship in the future.
