How Do You Build A Purple Martin Bird House?
You can make several types of purple martin bird houses. Native Americans have been making purple martin houses out of gourds for centuries and birds love them. Purchase or grow a hard-shelled gourd to make your bird house and hang several to attract a colony of purple martins. The more gourds you have, the better your chances of attracting purple martins. Select a fresh gourd that measures 8 to 13 inches in diameter. Wash the gourd in a solution of water and bleach. Rinse and dry the gourd. Hang your gourd outside in a sunny location, or lay the gourd on a piece of newspaper in a warm place and allow it to dry. Turn the gourd frequently if you dry it on a newspaper. Allow the gourd to completely dry out, which will take anywhere from three to six months. Shake the gourd and listen for seeds rattling around inside. If you hear seeds, the gourd is ready. Wipe the mold off the gourd with a solution of bleach and water. Soak the gourd in hot, soapy water for 15 minutes and scrape off the
