Purple Martin birds in my garage

Gary Fowler · May 12, 2015

Recently we have noticed a pair of Purple Martin's coming and going in our garage. They seem to just set on one of the door frame rails to eat. They come and go all day long and each morning (we close the door at night)they are inside sitting on that rail waiting for the door to open. I thought they were nesting but have been unable to find a nest anywhere in the garage. They may be trying to make a dirt nest on that rail, but so far (about a week of activity) nothing is apparent.
Anyone ever have this happen. We have Martin boxes all over the place outside but they seem to prefer the garage even if it means they get locked in every night.

oldballs · May 12, 2015

I've seen Chimney Swifts and Swallows do that, but not Purple Martins. Very interesting.

orezok · May 12, 2015

At this time of the year, Doves want to go into my shop anytime a door is open. Most will leave at dusk to roost, but one has been in there for 4 days. I've tried everything to get him/her out but no luck. This morning no activity, so I guess it died somewhere.

DrRod · May 12, 2015

From my experience, this is most unusual. Martins are very picky nesters -- even if you have a martin house you need to clean and disinfect it each year. So I'm surprised they are taking such a cavalier course of action. Are you should they are martins and not something else?

Gary Fowler · May 13, 2015

DrRod said:
From my experience, this is most unusual. Martins are very picky nesters -- even if you have a martin house you need to clean and disinfect it each year. So I'm surprised they are taking such a cavalier course of action. Are you should they are martins and not something else?

Well not really sure, they could be swallows, they both look similar.. They are purple with a brown head. I just Googled and it looks like they are swallows rather that Martins.

chuck172 · May 13, 2015

I made the same mistake, thought swallows were purple martins.

ovrszd · May 13, 2015

Swallows are smaller. If you have both around, they are very, very easy to tell apart.

But the easiest way to tell is their vocabulary. Purple Martins have a very broad vocabulary. Swallows have a very narrow vocabulary. Martins will make sounds that you are amazed they could even do.

I do not allow Swallows to nest in or near my shop or house. Very messy nesters.

wawajake · May 14, 2015

ovrszd said:
I do not allow Swallows to nest in or near my shop or house. Very messy nesters.

Sound like my in laws !

Gary Fowler · May 14, 2015

I like that they are around, they eat tons of bugs. I like you would prefer them nesting somewhere else but I also don't want the nesting above my tractors and crapping all over them. I don't know how they could nest in my garage what with it being closed each night and not opened till late morning sometimes, especially if it is raining. If I closed it and the mother wasn't inside on her nest then that would be the end of her hatching.

We have so many birds that nest around her, several pairs of hummingbirds, mocking birds, bluebirds, house wrens (on my patio)and a whole flock of Canadian geese that habitat our and neighbors ponds. This year we have had 3 nesting pairs on the island in our pond. 9 babies so far and 1 still on the nest. We really have too many geese at 40 the highest count that I have seen at one time. Talking about messy, they crap all over the place especially all around the pond levee where I like to walk and fish and during spring mating the honk and raise heck 24 hours a day which drives the wife crazy.

houstonscott · May 14, 2015

Gary Fowler said:
Recently we have noticed a pair of Purple Martin's coming and going in our garage. They seem to just set on one of the door frame rails to eat. They come and go all day long and each morning (we close the door at night)they are inside sitting on that rail waiting for the door to open. I thought they were nesting but have been unable to find a nest anywhere in the garage. They may be trying to make a dirt nest on that rail, but so far (about a week of activity) nothing is apparent. Anyone ever have this happen. We have Martin boxes all over the place outside but they seem to prefer the garage even if it means they get locked in every night.

I have the same thing. They nested on the garage door opener. I close the door at night, sometimes their sometimes they are locked out. I just live with it, this is the second season. I have a hotel for them outside but I guess it's full. Lol. HS