Designed by an Ornithologist. Bird Abodes is proud to announce the next generation of Purple Martin housing. Known as the "SuperGourd;" it's a 10" plastic gourd, designed and developed by James R. Hill, III, Founder and Executive Director of the Purple Martin Conservation Association. It's the very first martin housing ever to come to market engineered by an ornithologist specializing in Purple Martins. It is based on 15 years of his research into the breeding biology of martins. He found that martins have the highest nesting success in gourds relative to other kinds of housing. On average, Purple Martins fledge one nestling more per nesting attempt in large, white gourds than they do in commercial aluminum martin houses.
Testimonials
"Your SuperGourds are truly SUPER! I've had one pair of Purple Martins each year for the past 5 years. This year I put up 12 SuperGourds and ended up with ten pairs! I still have the houses. They land on them, but that's all. I've since ordered ten more SuperGourds." Donald Smith, Greenwood, IN.
"I tried for 3 years to attract martins to my home with no luck. I had mostly aluminum and wooden housing in the air for them to inhabit. I finally gave in and ordered 16 "SuperGourds." Boy did I make the right move! They just flew down from the sky and were here to stay. At last count, I had around 28 birds total." Allen D. Hiott, Belton, SC.
"I have bought wooden martin houses, which I found difficult to clean. The metal houses that I bought had compartments that were too small and had sharp edges. Bought another brand of plastic gourd that mounted on a telescoping pole. The gourds were not large enough for me and nest checks with the telescoping poles were difficult. I now have a Deluxe Gourd Rack System with 12 SuperGourds and found the rack easy to use, do nest checks, and clean at the end of the season. I am completely satisfied and now feel I have no further need to get anything else." R. R., Salisbury,MD.
"My colony is 37 years old and has always nested in wooden and aluminum houses. This year I hung 8 SuperGourds beneath my houses and I am happy to report all 8 are now occupied. I was so pleased with the acceptance of the SuperGourds by the martins that I hung 8 more. Eventually, I hope to convert all of my housing to SuperGourds. They are just so much easier to maintain. SuperGourds are an excellent product." Bob Bozeman, Longstreet, LA.
"I am sold on SuperGourds. This is my first year as a martin landlord and my success with them has convinced me to stick with them. The martins love them. The access door and optional insert trap make it easy to change nests and remove trapped House Sparrows and European Starlings. When I do nest checks, the eggs and nestlings are at the extreme back of the gourd, far from the entrance and harm's way. I know several martin landlords like to grow and prepare natural gourds for martins, however, I prefer the ready-made, easy-to-maintain SuperGourd." Jim McIntosh, Farmer's Branch, TX.
The SuperGourd also features a large, molded-in rain canopy that doubles as a perching platform. A series of molded-in corduroy-like ribs on top of the canopy and a textured pattern in the plastic permit martins to perch comfortably, without slipping. The SuperGourd weighs 30 ounces, slightly heavier than a natural gourd its size, so it swings less in the wind. The one-piece body has no seams, so no rain will leak in, and six 5/16" drain holes provide a rapid exit for any rain that may blow in through the 2-1/32" entrance hole.
The SuperGourd is a one-piece plastic gourd with a molded-in, threaded access port, covered by a screw-on cap. The access port is large enough to admit a human hand that is holding a nestling or a handful of nesting material. The cap's liner renders it and the access port totally watertight and opaque. Landlords merely twist off the cap for nest checks, banding, nest replacements, or end-of-season cleanouts. The access port's high, 45-degree viewing angle allows easy viewing of nest contents during recommended weekly nest checks.
