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Purple Martins #874453

Asked June 24, 2024, 2:15 PM EDT

Hi, I live on a farm outside of King’s Valley in Polk County. A pair of purple martins have been here on the farm for two days now looking for a nest box. I have around twenty boxes for tree swallows, but nothing large enough to accommodate the martins. I was wondering if purple Martin housing is something OSU could help me with considering the Martin colony OSU provided housing for in Dunn Forest. Thank you for any information you can provide. Kindly, Andy Rommel<personal data hidden> <personal data hidden> 21375 Gage Road, Monmouth 97361

Polk County Oregon

Expert Response

Thank you for your efforts to support the martins. I believe the Dunn nest structures were erected as part of a College of Forestry/USGS research study https://cf.forestry.oregonstate.edu/research/purple-martin-study and I'm sure Dr. Hagar https://directory.forestry.oregonstate.edu/people/hagar-joan (link has all her contact info plus link to her USGS website, too) would be more than happy to connect. In general, we (OSU) don't have supplies of materials such as bird houses, etc. However we can point you to guidance such as the  Purple Martin Conservation Association - They have information about siting, box options (such as excluders for pests and predators) and the also do sell nest boxes, etc., but so do others all the way to Amazon. The wild bird stores locally might have or be able to order them more easily and locally. 
Dr. Dana Sanchez Replied June 25, 2024, 5:16 PM EDT

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