Purple Martins are thriving at Gallant Farm and more babies are on the way!
The Purple Martin is North America’s largest swallow, and is part of a group of birds known as aerial insectivores. Purple Martins feed on thousands of airborne insects such as wasps, dragonflies, mosquitoes, and beetles that they snatch high in the sky as they perform their aerial acrobatics. Because Purple Martins nest together in colonies, we can thank them for eating thousands of flying insects every day.
Purple Martins thrive when humans are close by, which is a rare trait in native birds. This relationship dates back thousands of years when Native Americans started providing dried hollow guards as housing for Purple Martins. These nesting cavities proved very successful. Over time, this led to a shift in nesting habits by eastern populations of Purple Martins. Today people continue to provide homes for these iridescent birds. Visit the Purple Martin towers at Gallant Farm to encounter these social birds who may chit chat with you and peer out from their nest holes to check you out.
Babies are on the way! As of June 30, the Purple Martin towers at Gallant Woods held 134 babies, with 18 more waiting to hatch. Visit Gallant Farm to welcome the new generation!
