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Purple Martins (species Progne Subis in the Swallow Family) are known as
Aerial Insectivores (which means that they only eat flying insects that they
catch while in flight). Each bird will consume up to 2000 flying insects every
day (mosquitoes, wasp, house flies, ballooning spiders, crickets, etc.). This
natural method of flying insect control was observed and utilized by Native
American Indians, who, for thousands of years, hung hollowed-out gourds
around their villages to provide nesting cavities that would attract this very
beneficial bird species. By doing this, they created the only semi-domesticated
bird in the United States. Today, Purple Martins prefer to be as close to daily
human activity as possible. This is why Purple Martin Housing should not be
placed more than 150' from where people regularly gather (see "Purple Martin
Housing System Placement" at the bottom of this page).
Purple Martins are also Secondary Cavity Dwellers. This means that they do
not build cavities like wood-peckers, but, instead, they will migrate back to
North America early enough to find empty cavities for building their nest in and
raising young to the fledgling (flight) stage of development. Today, however,
Purple Martins are totally dependent on humans to provide them with housing
for raising their young. This is because of two species of European birds that
were introduced to the United States: Weaver Finches (commonly known as
English House Sparrows) in 1850 and European Starlings in 1890. These are
invasive species to native American birds and have multiplied to over a billion
individuals per species. And they, too, are secondary cavity dwellers. But,
they do not migrate like Purple Martins and have completely taken over all their
natural nesting sites. Worst of all, both species are VERY AGGRESSIVE and
will attack and kill adult and young purple martins. If the Purple Martins cannot
find a suitable cavity upon their annual return, they will not be able to raise any
young that year. Today, the Purple Martin population is only about 10% in size
as compared to what it was in the early 1930's. The end result is that, without
human intervention (which means putting up Purple Martin Housing Systems
and maintaining them), Purple Martins could very well become extinct.
Purple Martin Propagators reason for being in business is to help ensure that
these birds stay around for many more generations of Americans to enjoy and
reap the benefits of their voracious appetite for flying insects. We will only sell
and install the best housing systems on the market so that Purple Martins will
continue to be a part of our natural and man-made surroundings.
Aerial Insectivores (which means that they only eat flying insects that they
catch while in flight). Each bird will consume up to 2000 flying insects every
day (mosquitoes, wasp, house flies, ballooning spiders, crickets, etc.). This
natural method of flying insect control was observed and utilized by Native
American Indians, who, for thousands of years, hung hollowed-out gourds
around their villages to provide nesting cavities that would attract this very
beneficial bird species. By doing this, they created the only semi-domesticated
bird in the United States. Today, Purple Martins prefer to be as close to daily
human activity as possible. This is why Purple Martin Housing should not be
placed more than 150' from where people regularly gather (see "Purple Martin
Housing System Placement" at the bottom of this page).
Purple Martins are also Secondary Cavity Dwellers. This means that they do
not build cavities like wood-peckers, but, instead, they will migrate back to
North America early enough to find empty cavities for building their nest in and
raising young to the fledgling (flight) stage of development. Today, however,
Purple Martins are totally dependent on humans to provide them with housing
for raising their young. This is because of two species of European birds that
were introduced to the United States: Weaver Finches (commonly known as
English House Sparrows) in 1850 and European Starlings in 1890. These are
invasive species to native American birds and have multiplied to over a billion
individuals per species. And they, too, are secondary cavity dwellers. But,
they do not migrate like Purple Martins and have completely taken over all their
natural nesting sites. Worst of all, both species are VERY AGGRESSIVE and
will attack and kill adult and young purple martins. If the Purple Martins cannot
find a suitable cavity upon their annual return, they will not be able to raise any
young that year. Today, the Purple Martin population is only about 10% in size
as compared to what it was in the early 1930's. The end result is that, without
human intervention (which means putting up Purple Martin Housing Systems
and maintaining them), Purple Martins could very well become extinct.
Purple Martin Propagators reason for being in business is to help ensure that
these birds stay around for many more generations of Americans to enjoy and
reap the benefits of their voracious appetite for flying insects. We will only sell
and install the best housing systems on the market so that Purple Martins will
continue to be a part of our natural and man-made surroundings.
Native American Indians provided Purple Martin Housing |
| Purple Martin Propagators TM (512) 825-4712 Supplying Your Outdoor Birding Needs |