In late January, volunteers met at McLeod Plantation Historic Site with staff members Caroline Heape and Kristina Wheeler of the Natural History Interpretation Team to raise the gourd housing for Purple Martins.
The Purple Martin housing site marks the second in the agency alongside Johns Island County Park. The housing creates a miniature neighborhood within our parks where the Purple Martins can help with natural insect control.
“Purple Martins are the largest swallows in North America and are skilled aerial acrobats, snapping up flying insects on the wing,” Wheeler said. “While they typically forage higher in the air than other swallows, they may feed lower and closer to their nest sites later in the day.”
Today, Purple Martins in eastern North America nest almost exclusively in birdhouses, while populations in the West still rely on natural cavities. Be on the lookout during your visits to these parks, and let us know if you spot any avian activity around the gourds!