Chapters Create Critical Nesting Space for Purple Martins

Purple Martins grace the skies of Florida every spring and summer, but development and habitat changes have reduced their natural nesting sites. Audubon chapters around Florida have stepped up to install artificial martin houses and gourds (known collectively as cavities) to provide the space needed for the next generation of this charismatic species.

From the panhandle to South Florida, 17 chapters manage Purple Martin projects, collectively providing 144 individual nesting cavities across 29 sites. Below are just three examples of the extensive work of our Florida chapter network.

Audubon Everglades manages 689 Purple Martin nesting cavities at 12 partner sites spanning 40 miles across Palm Beach County. Through collaborations with public parks, wetlands, and nature centers, the program combines habitat stewardship, scientific monitoring, and contributions to national Purple Martin research. Year-round outreach, volunteer engagement, youth mentorship, and support for current and prospective martin landlords help build a community of conservation advocates while supporting the long-term success of Purple Martins in South Florida.

Seminole Audubon Society and the City of Sanford have built a strong partnership to support 72 Purple Martin nesting gourds along Lake Monroe, a high-traffic park in downtown Sanford. Seminole Audubon monitors the colony, tracks nesting activity, and contributes scout arrival data to national research efforts, while the City of Sanford provides ongoing stewardship by maintaining, installing, and storing the gourds each year. An educational kiosk funded through a National Audubon Society grant helps connect residents and visitors with Purple Martin conservation. The project demonstrates how local government and community conservation organizations can work together to create lasting benefits for both wildlife and people.

Audubon of Southwest Florida manages 18 Purple Martin nesting gourds at CREW Flint Pen Strand Trails in Bonita Springs, where the colony is situated within a 300-acre restored marsh featuring two large lakes. Their project is made possible through a Lee County Electric Cooperative Environmental Funding Award. The chapter conducts weekly nest monitoring throughout the breeding season, tracking nesting progress from eggs through fledging. Located within the larger CREW conservation landscape, the project highlights the value of habitat restoration and long-term stewardship in supporting Purple Martins and other wildlife. Audubon of Southwest Florida maintains the colony housing each year and is exploring future opportunities to expand research efforts through bird banding partnerships.  

This article was published in the 2026 Summer Naturalist.