| There are a lot of landlords that simply do not | | | | attached to their pole that made great predator |
| realize the importance of protecting your purple | | | | guards! The way most of them work is that |
| martins. These birds seem to be almost at the | | | | when the animal (snake, squirrels, raccoons, etc) |
| bottom of the food chain. It seems like almost | | | | try to push up against the guard to climb over it |
| every type of animal loves to prey on these birds | | | | will lean it, forcing them to try to climb upside |
| and their young. For this reason, it is important to | | | | down, which most of the time they are |
| make sure your purple martins are protected. | | | | unsuccessful. The only way these will work |
| The first and easiest way to protect your purple | | | | though is if there are no ridges or ways for them |
| martins is to ensure that there is nothing even | | | | to actually hang onto the guard itself. There are |
| close to your purple martin house or gourds. In | | | | some commercial options available out there as |
| fact, it is recommended that you put your purple | | | | well. |
| martin house 20 feet away from any type of | | | | Owl guards have to be different since you are |
| structure that animals could use to gain access to | | | | combating a flying predator. However, the owl is |
| your purple martins. For example prey can use | | | | actually a fairly clumsy flier. They actually prefer |
| limbs that overhang near the purple martin house | | | | to try and perch on the small porches and snatch |
| to jump over onto it and then eat the young | | | | up the purple martins as they fly out attempting |
| birds! Other times, if you place your purple martin | | | | to escape. So the best way to combat them is |
| house to close to a house or building of any kind, | | | | any system that will keep them from perching. I |
| they will use these structures to climb onto, then | | | | have seen many people use sturdy wire that can |
| make the leap over. So, the first thing you want | | | | be positioned in a way where the purple martins |
| to do in protecting your purple martins is simply | | | | can perch (a much smaller bird) but the owls are |
| keep it away from anything that could be used to | | | | unable to since they are much larger. This forces |
| gain access. | | | | them to attempt to fly in place, which they are |
| Secondly, use proper purple martin predator | | | | not very good at doing. It gives your purple |
| guards. These do not have to be anything fancy, | | | | martins the best chance of surviving an owl |
| in fact, I have seen some people use upside down | | | | attack. |
| trash cans with a hole cut in the middle and | | | | |