The glossy Purple Martin, largest of North American swallows, winters in South America and migrates north to spend the breeding months across much of the United States. These aerial insectivores eat, drink, and bathe on the wing, feeding on flying insects (American Bird Conservancy). Purple Martins in the west tend to nest in tree cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes, but in the eastern U.S, they “nest almost exclusively in purple martin houses and gourds provided by man.” (Florida Birds). 
Purple Martin numbers have declined considerably in recent decades due to multiple factors, so there has been a widespread public awareness effort to establish Purple Martin gourds and houses (often called condos!), such as those pictured here, in parks, preserves, and even backyards. 
The Purple Martin Conservation Association is a well-known advocacy group dedicated to promoting research, public education, and conservation of the Purple Martin, and provides info on constructing martin houses.
The relationship between humans and Purple Martins has a long history here in North America. Before the arrival of European settlers, it is said that Native Americans would hang dried, hollow gourds on tree snags so that adult birds would nest in them. The Martins would chase off other birds like crows and hawks and they would also feed their chicks the thousands of insects that would otherwise ravage the crops (Audubon.org; Wikipedia; Statesman). According to All About Birds, even in the 1830’s, John James Audubon wrote about how common the sight of “martin houses” was in country taverns and lodging houses!
The article linked here in the Audubon Everglades KITE June 2020 issue provides more context about a special Purple Martin Program in Palm Beach County, Florida (where I took these photos), including info about a number of public locations that are part of the project. A brochure published by the national Fish & Wildlife Service, Purple Martin Project in New York, also describes efforts in that state to preserve and protect the species.
Birder's Journey 
I so enjoyed reading about the Purple Martin houses and gourds, BJ. We don’t see too many PMs in the western U.S., so I am always enchanted by the many PM houses whenever I visit the eastern half of the country. Some of them get so elaborate. And what a joy to see this magnificent flier swooping around the houses. I didn’t know there had been a decline and am happy there has been a successful movement toward their recovery. Thanks so much.
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Thanks so much for stopping and for your comments, Jet. At first, I didn’t think they even migrated to the western part of the US. Then I learned that there are areas where they can be found closer to you, in natural nesting cavities.
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Nice article thanks for the info
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When I finished this post, I realized that I had used far more sources than usual, so I included them all!
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That’s very nice to know, that they are having great success with the Purple Martins colonies in Florida. Great captures! Thank you for the information, Carol. 🙂
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Glad you found it interesting, HJ. Thanks for your visit!
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What a lovely partnership with humans and birds BJ, they are an interesting bird we never see here.
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Yes, it really is an amazing partnership where both humans and the martins benefit!
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Sorry BJ I meant BJ not Donna 😦
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LOL!! Not to worry, AB… Donna’s is one of my favorite blogs, and I love all her Florida posts when she makes her yearly visits here!
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P.S. I think I can edit that ☺️
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We love the purple martins! Got 3 gourd racks containing 36 nesting gourds. Last year we fledged over 100 babies. We set up a mini-cam in one of the gourds, and we saw yesterday that the first egg of the spring nesting season was laid! Two eggs there today. Yay!
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WOW, Pam!!! You are really an expert!! That must be such a wonderful experience!! I love that you even set up a nest cam👀
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I’ll have to post some pictures soon. It’s the best! 🙂
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Yes, can’t wait to see them!
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These are wonderful shots of the Purple Martin! I saw them arriving in Everglades City mid-March just before I left. 🙂 They are due here in Maryland now, I haven’t had chance to go out birding since getting home though to see if they have….. 😉
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Thanks, Donna! I hope you’re settling into a healthy and positive return to Maryland. I am looking forward to following your blog through the coming months until your next trip south. ☀️😎
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Thank you, Carol! It’s been a great return, albeit hectic some, but it’s getting better! Our retirement dream was to travel, hopefully all goes well with our plans already lined up to go west in June. 😉 And I do have some reservations lined up for Florida next winter, still working on them. ☀️😎
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👍🏼
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Wow, what fabulously glossy purple feathers – first time I’ve seen one of these birds. 🙂
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They are amazing, aren’t they, Ann? It’s the males that are this deep glossy blue. As so often happens, the females are much plainer. This is the first year that I am beginning to be able to distinguish between Martins and other kinds of swallows, and Swifts – they all move so fast and always looked so similar to me!
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All birds tend to move too fast for me – not much chance of me photographing them! So I admire your skill! 🙂
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We don’t consider Spring to have begun until we see the Purple Martins cleaning out last year’s houses!
Great series of photographs and very nice write-up.
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Thanks, Wally! They are yet another species that I never really paid much attention to before – enjoy your week!☀️
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It is heartening what good humans can do when we set our minds to it. May the efforts be effective in increasing martin numbers.
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Wonderfully said, Tanja!
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