Never use pesticides in nests or boxes. First, remove the nestlings to a temporary container. Throw out the old parasite-infested nest. Shape a shallow bowl in the new material and place the nestlings back in the nest. The entire, world-wide breeding range of the Purple Martin is shown in purple below.
Horizontal lines mark average arrival dates of older martins at established colony sites.
West of the Rocky Mountains, Purple Martins have different nesting habits. In the southwest, martins nest only in old woodpecker cavities excavated in giant cacti. OR, birds of any age that had reproductive failure the previous year. Birds that lost their housing because it was removed or destroyed between nesting seasons will also be looking for new sites. As a result of this lapse in efforts, their martin housing can end up full of aggressive nest-site competitors that drive off timid subadult martins.