Purple Martins are beautiful and practical birds to have living in your backyard.
These insect eating birds are more difficult to attract and maintain, but make useful tenants in any yard because their diet consists of high-flying insects. Throughout the years, Purple Martins have become completely dependent on humans to provide shelter for living and reproducing, so maintaining the proper home is essential.
Gourds are modern-looking homes for Purple Martins that have been around for many, many years.
They are easy to clean and maintain and Purple Martins love to nest inside them. Gourds can be placed on a gourd pole far from your home in the early spring to attract the scout bird.
Heath Manufacturing makes some great gourds for attracting Purple Martins and preventing Sparrows and other types of wild birds from trying to make them home. The Easy Clean Deluxe Purple Martin Gourd helps to keep Sparrows and others out and splits apart for easy cleaning. A drainage hole at the bottom also helps to keep the nest dry, which encourages Purple Martins to stay.
A gourd pole is essential for hanging up your gourds. The Telescoping Spiral Steel Gourd Pole is adjustable and made of steel for durability. It is important to check your Purple Martin gourds on a regular basis and this pole allows you to easily access the gourds because it can be lowered. The spiral configuration allows birds to easily enter and leave the gourd. Place pole at least 30 feet from a home and trees for a clear flight path.
Once you have set-up your pole with gourds, you may want to place straw, twigs and other nesting materials nearby to keep your Purple Martins happy.
Developing a Purple Martin habitat is not easy, but it is very rewarding and helps to continue the Purple Martin species. Rachel’s Robin has all your Purple Martin birding needs!