Birds Choice Coates Original Purple Martin Bird House, White/Grey, Small

I received this aluminum purple martin house for my rural North Texas yard. I'm planning to install it in February, right before our breeding season begins, which should give me perfect timing to attract scouts and establish a colony. Let me be honest about assembly—this requires patience and time. Set aside 2-3 hours and don't rush it. You'll need a 5/16" wrench (both box and open-end are helpful), a Phillips screwdriver (6" length works better than shorter ones), and steady hands for the many small nuts and screws. The good news is extra hardware is included, so don't panic if you drop a few. The instructions are clear with helpful pictures, and once you complete the first floor, the pattern becomes obvious for the remaining floors. The aluminum construction is perfect for Texas weather—sturdy, corrosion-resistant, and all parts align perfectly. This is well-engineered and should last many years. What impressed me most is the cleaning design. The doors flip up after removing a rod and center partition, taking about five seconds. You can literally hose the entire thing down between seasons, which beats every other martin house design I've seen. My installation site has about 20 feet of clearance on all sides, which should work well for martins. I'm also planning to add owl guards since we have plenty of owls and hawks in our area. After losing a clutch of Carolina chickadees to a snake last season, I'm taking predator protection seriously this time around. The aluminum construction should help deter climbing predators compared to wooden houses. The mounting system fits a 1.25" pole, which you'll need to purchase separately, I plan to use a telescoping pole I can lower for cleaning. This is a first-class birdhouse that requires upfront assembly effort but I expect long-term quality and convenience. Highly recommended for anyone serious about attracting purple martins. My husband wouldn't let me get a bat house, he said they are spooky so this is the next best thing!