I have an elderly uncle who is a craftman/carpenter. He had a few strokes last year and has slowed down quite a bit. He's built many blue bird houses that are actively used. He has recently expressed interest in building a purple martin house to try and get rid of some of these darn mosquitos. However we can't find any plans that we don't have to pay for. I told him I thought I knew of just the place to look...HERE! If anyone has plans for a wooden purple martin house, I'd love to get them for him. If it's too much to e-mail them, let me know and I'll give you my address so you can mail them. I'd be happy to reimburse you for the postage. Thanks for the help!

-- Bob Ambrozaitis (rambrozaitis@snet.net), December 12, 1999

Answers

Bob, I can scan and send you plans for a Martin house if you still want them. I've given basic sizes that may suffice. Each "cell" or nest area should be a 6 inch cube. The entrance hole should be 2 1/4 inches in diameter, and located one inch above the floor. Install the house 10 to 20 feet above the ground or water.

-- greenbeanman (greenbeanman@ourtownusa.net), December 12, 1999.

It is a myth that purple martins control mosquitoes - an article in the Minnesota Volunteer a few months ago pointed out that purple martins actually increase mosquito populations by eating dragon and damsel flies - if you wish to control mosquitoes naturally you have to increase the bat population - there is a bat organization that sells plans for bat houses but the information is at home not here. bats are currently under a great deal of pressure and building houses and reporting on their use would be a great project.

-- kirby johnson (kirby@selco.lib.mn.us), December 14, 1999.

There is a website that includes free woodworking plans of all types, including plans for a purple martin house. Here it is: http://plans.the3house.com/

The actual purple martin house plans are located at http://users.ev1.net/~lrstirm/plan2.html but the site listed above has links to lots of different kinds of plans.

I have found it quite helpful.

-- Marvin Brinkman (mgbrinkman@ameritrade.com), February 26, 2001.