Purple martin bird houses are a favorite in most of North America, as these birds are desired for their pest control ability. Most other bird species common to North America eat seeds, but purple martins are insect eaters. While they commonly eat larger insects, they are also known to eat mosquitoes, which is a great asset today.
While it might seem inconsequential, the addition of a purple martin house on your property will help keep insect levels lower. Although purple martins will only eat insects in flight, there are a number of airborne insects you will want to regulate. The threat of West Nile Virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, is actually lowered, if only a little, by the presence of purple martins.
Setting Up Purple Martin Bird Houses
Purple martin bird houses come with a number of different nesting spaces, unlike other bird houses that typically only hold one or two nests. A standard purple martin bird house will have at least half a dozen cells within it. For larger yards, you might consider purchasing a purple martin bird house with space for a dozen or more.
Purple martin bird houses can range in price by designer and material used, although they typically start at about $65 for a starter home. There are hanging varieties, although purple martin bird houses are most often placed on a pole. Assembly is often required, as shipping can be costly for large, bulky packages.
