Anybody have martins. I want to get some started but my open space is limited. I've read that you need 60' from trees and power lines. My grandpa had them when I was a kid but I can't remember about the trees. Everything is bigger when your little.
Our neighbor has a house that sits under the power line and there is a tree about 20 feet away.
http://purplemartin.org/main/mgt.html
My dad has them around their house. I know he suspends hollowed out white gourds and stuffs them with pine needles. He told me that they wouldn't go in them until he put pine needles in them.
I tried for a few years, would have scouts come and stay a few days and leave. My neighbor has dozens each year. When his young leave the nest they would come and stay a few days with me and leave. I finally quit messing with them.
My mom is really into them. It took her almost ten years to get some to nest. I know that she had dad cut down trees to give more space around the houses.
She has a few different houses and then set ups with gourds too. I know the predators are a big thing (hawks, snakes, starlings, sparrows ) so she has smaller entrances on the houses and gourds. She also has things to stop snakes and coons from climbing up the poles to the houses. Like I said, shes pretty serious.
She had dad and I run a cable from the house to the shop (about 100') for the birds to perch on.
She also played a tape called dawnsong through speakers that dad rigged up on the shop. Its just a recording of birds that would attract them.
It took her a while, but now she has about 30 nesting pair. They are neat to watch, but a lot of work to attract.
Good luck with them!