Purple Martin Forum

I am in Amherst, Ohio. Put a 8 gourd system up last year and did not have any Martins. This year I finally see a Martin flying in the yard. But he is ignoring the gourds and keeps trying to enter a small cedar birdhouse nearby that is 5 feet off the ground. I am confused. Maybe he is too?

I put up a 8 gourd rack last year. I had it up long before any Martins had arrived in our area. I did see Martins flying by occasionally all summer, but unfortunately I did not have any take residence in the gourds.i spent all summer keeping the sparrows out of the gourds. I finally put on the door ...