Help those who are suffering from the events on Tuesday by "giving". Please donate directly to the "National Relief Fund" using a simple "Paypal" form.

It's Everything Purple Martins and more!

Looking for a hobby that's easy, relaxing and gets you outside in the nice weather? Like to fiddle with different projects? If your answer is yes and you like the idea of taking part in an ongoing pastime, then raising Purple Martins could be a worthwhile pursuit.

It's not difficult to get started and with little effort, you could be on your way to enjoying the rewards of raising Martins like so many other Martin landlords. Every year thousands of landlords in North America look forward to the return of this migratory bird species. Martins like people and their yearly return to start a new family brings hours of joy and entertainment to many hobbyist.

To be part of the Martin activity and gain a broader understanding of how they work, it's best to read and listen to other martineers experiences. Their tips/tricks and "know-how" provide plenty of "food for thought" and content to read here on PMC. You'll find practical recommendations from landlords on such things as starting a Martin colony, information about proper housing, housing plans and placement and suggestions on controlling pests and predators.

Here's a list of the "main navigation headings" on the left and brief summaries that will help you find what you're looking for.

Find it now!- A great search engine for this site only, located in the upper-left side of the page. Look for information using a single word, multiple words or phrases. Whatever information you're trying to find, it'll show up after searching every page on PMC.

Martin housing- All you'll need to know to build or buy a house and raise Martins successfully. Plans, kits and fully constructed houses, it's just a matter of choice.

PMC Today- A "catch all" for daily activities not fitting well into long term subjects or conversations. It's a page where anyone can add a message and comment or share a thought about something happening on any given day.

Sparrow/starling traps- Wage war on the Martins worst enemy. That's if you want your colony to grow and thrive. If you don't control these non-native predators, chances are your colony will have problems, will turn away potential Martins and scare off existing ones.

Martin articles- If you want to learn more about raising Martins, read everything.

On the lighter side- Stories are always a great way of relaxing. Read the "Off-beat" and "Birding" news, everyday offers a chuckle.

Readers contribute- Without "readers" and their input, PMC would not exist.

Thanks for perching here for a spell and please return when you're hungry for more! I wish you all the best of luck in building your house, raising it and enjoying the Martins.

Jeff "Handy" Blair
Purple Martin Central