Public Colonies

Denham Springs, LA

  In 2016, the first Purple Martin gourd rack with six nesting cavities (gourds) was installed at North Park. The first year only one pair of Purple Martins nested at the site and fledged four young. Over the years this site has been expanded due to the increase in nesting pairs. The North Park site is also the host of the Explore Nature event held each May.

Denham Springs, LA

As part of the Denham Strong initiative to help the community recover from the August 2016 flooding that 90% of the city’s homes and businesses were affected, the City of Denham Springs began several community projects to expand the city’s natural and cultural resources.  One of those projects was to begin a Purple Martin colony at the Willow Woods Park located in the center of The Willows subdivision.  Mike and Krista Adams partnered with the City of Denham Springs to oversee this project. The city was fortunate to be approved for the Songbird Essential Buy One-Get One Grant Program through the Purple Martin Conservation Association to start this project. The Adams installed the housing in the fall of 2019 just in time for the 2020 Purple Martin season. The site was a success in its first year with four nesting pairs and 16 fledglings. The colony continues to grow!

Grand Isle, LA

With Hurricane Ida causing so much devastation throughout the parishes in SE Louisiana, PMCI initiated a project in late 2021 to begin restoring Purple Martin housing in areas affected by the hurricane. With Grand Isle, LA being a first stop for migratory birds, including the Purple Martin, PMCI began this project in partnership with the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP). The Lafitte Woods Nature Preserve was chosen as the first site, and Purple Martin housing was installed thanks to donations from Troyer’s Bird Paradise (gourds), Amy Wynne (pole and winch system), and the late Dick Laxton (gourd mount). We were able to put these donated pieces together to install this first set up. The housing was installed and ready in January 2022, and Purple Martins were reported at the site in early March 2022.  

Grand Isle, LA

Another site installed in Grand Isle, LA in 2022 as part of PMCI’s initiative to restore Purple Martin housing in areas affected by Hurricane Ida. Thanks to funding provided by the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), this site was installed in February 2022. We anticipate this site to do well as it’s in a prime location for Purple Martins! 

Chauvin, LA

PMCI received grant funds from the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) to install Purple Martin housing within the estuary. This colony site was installed in early 2022 and the first arrival of Purple Martins were reported on March 11, 2022. This site in Chauvin, LA is expected to do well since it is located near the Gulf of Mexico.

Plaquemine, LA

Another site installed thanks to PMCI’s funding from Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP). PMCI expects this site to do well in 2022. We currently have volunteers monitoring the site for new Purple Martin arrivals. 

This new colony in New Roads, LA, is part of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) project. PMCI installed this last BTNEP colony in early 2023. We are hopefully awaiting the arrival of Purple Martins in New Roads.