Purple Martin Gourd-House
If properly preserved, a homegrown gourd birdhouse will last for decades.
Gourds make great birdhouses, and the time spent creating one is a worthwhile investment. Cured hard-shell gourds are almost as tough as plywood. And they will last up to 30 years if properly coated with a preservative and handled with a little care.
Gourds have been used to make purple martin houses for centuries. Native Americans used to hang them to attract martins to their settlements. Today, martins depend on people to supply them with houses and gourds. If you live east of the Rocky Mountains, you may want to give the martins a hand.
These basic gourd birdhouses are popular with the birds and purple martin "landlords". The best part is, there's no limit to the number you can produce and hang right in your yard. We've heard of one martin enthusiast who puts up and maintains more than 600 gourd houses every year!
Other birds will nest in a gourd, too. Just customize it with the proper-size entrance hole for the species you're trying to attract and place it in the right habitat.
Here's What You'll Need...
- One hard-shell gourd, also known as a bottle gourd or birdhouse gourd
- Bleach (for disinfectant)
- Fine steel wool
- Wood preservative or copper sulfate
- Oil-based primer
- Oil-based white enamel paint
- Plastic-coated copper wire, 24 inches long
- Face mask
Recommended Tools...
- Power drill
- 2-1/8-inch hole saw or a keyhole saw