Martin presence is related to the quantity of large insects in the area. A lot of farm land nearby spraying pesticides? Not a lot of food for Martins, and they move on.

Tree swallows are almost as good as martins, you just don't get them in the same quantities to make a dent in insect populations. They are pretty and really cute saucy birds. We do have a lot of chimney swifts in the area, and they mostly feed in the evening, but wow, they clean house.

Our bats are definitely on the decline, which is pretty sad.

I keep trying to find the time to put up a purple martin house, but I keep putting it off. Only so much time in a day.