How to encourage House Martins

[mantajohn9]

I live in a very new house. Nearby other properties have house martins nesting each year which I would love. Anybody got any ideas on how to encourage them to nest at my house? Would putting up an artificial nest encourage them?

[nightshade]

I would say yes,it is a very positive action and much better than sitting there and wishing,put up your artificial nests. Do not forget to let us know what happens next year

[Kayleigh]

Why are they nesting in neighbours houses and not yours.
Go with nightshade and put up an artificial nest box.

[djackso]

I agree - go for it - just make sure you've got a head for heights, and someone is holding the ladder for you

[gaviston]

Not a lot you can do apart from buying their greatest hits.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by gaviston

Not a lot you can do apart from buying their greatest hits.

lol

[RobSutton]

Mud - make a nice shallow muddy area for them to collect their nest building material from, and keep it wet.

[demicav]

I think they prefer the old properties. Our house is only eight years old and even though the streets nearby are full of nesting House martins, they avoid our street. Interesting to find out if you have any sucess with an artificial nest box.

[mantajohn9]

Originally Posted by gaviston

Not a lot you can do apart from buying their greatest hits.

I will try an artificial nest box maybe then it will be Happy Hour.

[Rob_D]

They are colonial nesters - they prefer to nest near to other martins. So it may be hard to encourage one to move away from the rest. Maybe 2 or 3 artificial nests might be better? They also avoid house sparrow colonies.

I have also heard they prefer houses with white eaves. I'd be interested if anyone can confirm or refute this. Can't find anything on Google, though it seems to be true of American Purple Martins PMCA Information

[TORTUGA]

Originally Posted by mantajohn9

I live in a very new house. Nearby other properties have house martins nesting each year which I would love. Anybody got any ideas on how to encourage them to nest at my house? Would putting up an artificial nest encourage them?

I am guessing that you are in Portishead.

Last year there were loads of Housemartin nests near the lock gates of the Marina. I was househunting at the time and it was lovely to see and hear as they dive bombed the estuary hunting bugs. This spring however the maintenance company turned up and fixed grills under neath most of the rooof overhangs. Very sad really as it created quite an atmosphere as the birds screamed about.

I live at the top of Port Marine on the hill. Very lucky to have the Lake grounds one side of the Hill, and the Marina and new Nature Reserve on the other. Not to mention the wood 2 streets away which runs from The Royal PH to Battery Point.

[mantajohn9]

Originally Posted by TORTUGA

I am guessing that you are in Portishead.

Last year there were loads of Housemartin nests near the lock gates of the Marina. I was househunting at the time and it was lovely to see and hear as they dive bombed the estuary hunting bugs. This spring however the maintenance company turned up and fixed grills under neath most of the rooof overhangs. Very sad really as it created quite an atmosphere as the birds screamed about.

I live at the top of Port Marine on the hill. Very lucky to have the Lake grounds one side of the Hill, and the Marina and new Nature Reserve on the other. Not to mention the wood 2 streets away which runs from The Royal PH to Battery Point.

You're right we are in Portishead. It is a shame about the house martins down at port marine. Just because some people didn't want a bit of bird poo on their windows