If you happen to walk by Crescent Lake in St. Pete, you’ll come across the brand new gourd array for Purple Martins! These birds are the largest swallows found in North America. You’ll spot them by their short, hooked beaks and dark purple feathers. Adult males are completely covered in beautiful purple plumage, while females have purple feathers on their heads and backs - the rest are brown or gray.

So why did St. Pete Audubon put up this array? On the East Coast of the U.S., Purple Martins are essentially reliant on humans to find suitable housing. For hundreds of years, these birds have lived in some sort of artificial nest. Nowadays, the species is in decline. Birders and organizations like SPAS put up plastic “gourds” to give these tired migratory birds a place to nest.

Spring is hot on our heels, and Purple Martins have already been spotted nearby. Sites like this one at Crescent Lake and the newly restored gourd array at Lake Maggiore are indispensable in protecting our populations of this declining species. Questions? contact Mark Frohman.

Article written by CLI Intern Jeniana Willner