The Stokes Purple Martin Book: The Complete Guide to Attracting and Housing Purple Martins (Stokes Backyard Nature Books) (Paperback)

by Donald Stokes (Author), Lillian (Author), Justin L. Brown (Author) "Some people seem to attract martins as soon as they put up the houses, while others wait years before they attract their first martins or,..." (more)
Key Phrases: porch dividers, eastern martins, martin housing, Purple Martins, House Sparrows, North America (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A unique guide provides readers with all the information they need to start and maintain a backyard purple martin colony and offers more than one hundred color photos, plus a historical perspective, of this popular bird. 25,000 first printing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316817023
• ISBN-13: 978-0316817028
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,389 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #17 in	Books > Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Ornithology
  #32 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Birdwatching

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Becoming a Purple Martin 'Landlord', April 15, 2000

By	Linda Cowan (Canada) - See all my reviews

Feeding wild birds has always brought me pleasure. When I decided I would like to attract a colony of purple martins to my backyard I thought it would simply be a matter of buying a martin house and enjoying the birds once they moved in. I soon found out that becoming a purple martin landlord is a bit more complicated. This book provided a wealth of information about all aspects of attracting and keeping purple martins. From the book, beginners to this hobby learn about various housing types, placement of houses, as well as when and how to successfully attract martins. This book is beautifully illustrated with full color photographs of adult martins and nestlings.I think this book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in keeping purple martins as a hobby.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything I wanted to know about attracting Purple Martins!, January 14, 2002

By	Mary Lou Pope (Gulf Shores, AL United States) - See all my reviews

My husband and I invested in a Purple Martin House, but didn't have a clue how to entice them to our back yard! I have several of the Stokes bird books and have always found them informative, easy to use, and excellent photography. I found all of this to be true in their Purple Martin Book.The book starts with Purple Martin basics, how to attract, and something I hadn't even thought of, when to expect their arrival. Each section of their breeding range has a different date, the Gulf Coast being approximately Feb. 1st, so I need to get ready in a hurry! Also covered, is their behavior, selecting housing, egg laying to leaving the nest. Dealing with predators and parasites. I don't think there was a "stone uncovered"!If you just enjoy learning about birds, this book is a joy. For me, I am hoping in a few short weeks, I'll be a Purple Martin landlord!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential book for Purple Martin landlords, August 12, 2000

By	L. McDonald (Bellaire, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Educate yourself before you buy a Purple Martin house. Reading this book is a great beginning. Many houses sold are not suitable and you will end up with a sparrow house. The Stokes have thorough information and nice photographs in their book. I also recommend you join the PMCA (Purple Martin Conservation Association), Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA, 16444 if you are serious about being a martin landlord.