With your help, Purple Martins could find a home in Harwich
A routine day at the Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) office suddenly turned purple when an email arrived from Mary Keleher, noted Cape Cod birder. She wrote: “I recently visited Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve…the restoration of the area is amazing…I believe the area would be a perfect location for Purple Martins.”
Non-birders might think that Purple Martins are a famous rock band and that Mary might be suggesting some kind of music festival. But it quickly became apparent that she was talking about super-cool birds that have a deep connection with humans!
Purple martins have a gorgeous iridescent sheen. Photo courtesy Mary Keleher.
According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), “the purple martin is one of North America’s most beloved songbirds. It is known for its skillful aerial exhibitions, tolerance of humans, and pleasant twittering call.”
You may wonder if purple martins are actually purple. Here’s how that works, according to the Sacramento Audubon Society: “Purple Martins have an iridescent sheen (luminous colors that appear to change when viewed from different angles) which can appear as navy blue, green, or dark purple.”
And folks have been trying to attract these splendid, insect-eating purple martins for a long time.
According to the state of Connecticut, “Native Americans hung hollow gourds in saplings or on poles to encourage nesting in their villages. When European settlers arrived in the New World, they also adopted the custom of hanging gourds for martins.”
Human-made housing is essential for martins to thrive. According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, “although Purple Martins can still be found using natural cavities in the western United States, in the east they are now dependent on human-maintained nesting structures like gourds or houses.”
Purple martin gourd racks in Mashpee. Photo courtesy Mary Keleher
It quickly became apparent that helping out these martins (the largest of the North American swallows), seemed like a grand idea. But who would know more about the houses that martins desire? Luckily, the great Mary Keleher rode to our rescue!
Mary, who has worked on gourd rack projects on the Cape and Nantucket, suggested considering Troyer’s Deluxe 12-unit Gourd Rack, adorned with a dozen Troyer Vertical Gourds. If you haven’t seen these gourd racks, you’re in for a treat: they look like a beautiful, modern village in the sky. How could the purple martins resist?
Of course all this birdy awesomeness is a bit pricey and that’s where we need your help. It looks like the whole setup might run well into the hundreds of dollars. But it sure would be nice to welcome purple martins to the spectacular Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve.
To donate in support of this unique nesting project at HCT’s Cold Brook Preserve, please visit harwichconservationtrust.org.
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