by Meghan Kolk, Conservation Scientist, and Devin Griffiths, Marketing & Communications Specialist
If you’ve ever visited us here, you’ve likely seen the gourd towers on our back lawn and the rectangular wooden boxes spread around the property, and you may have wondered who they’re for – and more importantly, whether or not they work.
These are nesting structures for two of North America’s most exicting aerialists – Tree Swallows and Purple Martins. We’ve been monitoring these species since 2016, and this year’s results were the best ever.
Tree Swallows
All 10 of our nest boxes housed Tree Swallow pairs, who raised 43 fledglings. 91% of their hatchlings reached fledge age. This year, we constructed new, larger boxes to accommodate Tree Swallows and their large broods, and also identified more favorable locations for them, which contributed to their success.
Fun Fact: Tree Swallows can supplement their insect diets with fruits and berries – something no other swallow can do.
Purple Martins
We have 24 nesting gourds on site, and they were all occupied by pairs of these gorgeous swallows. They successfully reared 90 fledglings, and 94% of the Purple Martin nestlings reached fledge age.
Fun Facts
- Purple Martins eat and drink strictly on the wing; they skim the surfaces of water sources and scoop up water with their bills
- In the eastern U.S., they breed almost exclusively in human-made houses
