A purple martin house in the trees will prevent your flock from nesting there.
Attracting and keeping one of the most favored of all swallows, the martin, depends greatly on the location and installation of its bird house. The insect-eating martin, a type of swallow, is a migratory bird of the U.S. that will travel as far north as Canada and as far west as California. To set up a martin bird house, you need some planning and a location that is high enough and away from trees. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Select an appropriate location for your your martin house. Martins require a great deal of open space and placing the house in the trees will prevent a flock from nesting there. The ideal location is 30 to120 feet from any structure or trees. Since the martin is a colorful bird to observe, find a spot for the bird house that you can see from the inside of your home. If you are unable to locate one from inside, a porch works as an observation post.
2. Dig a hole between 3 and 5 feet deep using your post hole digger. The dirt from this hole will be removed from the site so be sure to place it somewhere accessible and away from the opening of the hole.
3. Test the depth of your hole by placing the pole in the center of it and standing it upright. It is important to have 3 feet of the pole in the ground for stability. Martins do not inhabit houses that seem unstable. With a 20-foot mast, your martin house will be between 15 to 17 feet in the air, a good height. Using the marker, mark the pole where the ground meets the edge of the pole.
4. Remove the mast from the ground and measure the length of pole in the ground. If it is not quite 3 feet, dig the hole a little deeper and repeat Step 3.
5. Affix the bird house to the mast as prescribed for your specific house. There should be four to six screws in your pole adapter kit. Ensure the mast is securely fixed by lifting the end with the house attached and giving it a good shake. Your house has to withstand the most severe wind and storms for your area.
6. Raise your house skyward. Use an assistant to place the pole into the hole and hold it in place. Step back and check that the house is level. If required, make the appropriate adjustments.
7. Shovel one foot of dirt back into the hole to help keep the base of the pole stable. Next shovel in the pre-mixed quickrete into the hole and fill it to the base.
8. Stabilize your mast to prevent leaning. Attach chord to your pole and stake it to the ground to allow you to walk away and let the quickrete dry. As you are staking your lines be sure to continuously check the mast for leaning.
9. Wait 24 hours to ensure the quickcrete has dried. Remove the chord and pick up the stakes from the ground. You may leave them in place for additional stability if necessary but with a wide enough concrete base you should be able to remove them.
Tags: bird house, into hole, martin house, away from, between feet