When to open your Martin house?

later is better

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Congratulations on a job well done Kyle

PMC is privileged to share Kyle's PDF report on "Becoming a better person in the community". Kyle works hard to develop his leadership skills and is a great asset to his community. By building his second Martin house and helping the Martins, he hopes to make the world a better place.

another beautiful house

Very nice, thanks for the pictures- Maurice C., Canada

beautiful house, well done

Another great T-14 ready to go up. I bought the plans from you a couple of years ago and finally got around to building it. Quite a project, thank you. This should last for many, many years. I timed it perfect. As I was cranking up the house I saw the first scout circling overhead.

- Allen, Ocoee, Florida

Wait to open your house until you have martins staying for a regular period. Seeing them for several days in a row at different times of the day would be likely clues that they're staying. Keeping the house open (or a few holes) won't hurt anything, but by leaving your house closed you'll keep unwanted birds from trying to establish nests. This won't bother any martins that plan to stay because they don't get excited about building a nest this early.

Here's a little background to help with understanding spring migration. It applies to the martin "range" in general. Where ever you are, it would be a way of looking at the "timing" of migration, travel and nesting.

The first Martins to arrive on the migration back Northward are called "scouts". Typically the scouts are just "passing" through, are not permanent and are not likely to establish a nest. Next arrivals will be "after" second year (ASY) martins and second year (SY) martins, both have good potential to take up nesting efforts. ASY martins are older and more mature and tend to establish headquarters earlier than SY martins, who are working on their "first year" as "adults" and "learning how" to establish a home. The whole "time period" from scout arrival to SY arrival can span a couple of months. Therefore, if you open your house after scout arrival chances are good for several weeks or more, to get more nesters. The "timing" would also apply to both established colonies and new homes with the difference being new homes need to address the subject of "initially attracting martins", another topic.

Note: Points South would see longer periods of arrival and nesting activity and points North would see shorter periods. Consider the time it takes to travel the distance, more distance, less time to conduct "martin" business.