Current Nature: New Species for Nantucket - Give a Warm Welcome for Purple Martins

Just last week, as I was walking the trails of the Linda Loring Nature Foundation (LLNF), I spotted something I had only dreamed might happen. Two Purple Martins were carrying nesting material into one of the gourds set up on the property. For the first time in recorded history, Purple Martins are nesting on Nantucket!

This is not just an achievement for LLNF, it is an exciting milestone for the entire island.

Purple Martins have long been seen here as flyover or brief migrants during the spring and fall. But now they are staying, settling in, and nest building. They are striking birds to watch. I love the way they swoop and chatter overhead, making them so obvious when I first spotted them.

On June 5th, I saw two Purple Martins near the housing gourd condo. They perched and circled the site for about half an hour before flying off. Just over a week later, on June 13th, I saw them again, and this time they were carrying beaks full of nesting material back to the gourds. It was the moment I had been waiting for after three years of trying.

Getting the species to notice the gourds was not an easy task. Purple Martins are very social birds, and if they see one of their kind, they will investigate. For two years, I had two decoys perched on the housing and no takers. This spring, I began receiving more reports of sightings within the Madaket area, which surrounds the LLNF property. Every time someone spotted the Purple Martins nearby, I would make sure to turn on a speaker and play their calls, trying to lure them in. Being highly communal, they also exhibit a strong loyalty to their nesting sites. Once they find a good site and successfully nest, they often return each year and bring others with them. Now that these two have finally chosen our gourds, I am hopeful that a growing colony is just around the corner. This species usually can’t contain themselves and love sharing the news with their friends.

Purple Martins in the eastern United States no longer nest in natural cavities. They now rely almost entirely on human-provided housing, such as a gourd-style or multi-compartment house. The gourd style is now the most preferred method due to its ease of cleaning and repair. This is very different from their Western counterparts, which still nest in natural cavities, such as those found in saguaro cacti in the desert southwest. Without this human intervention, they would mostly be solitary and would nest in old woodpecker holes.

In the 1800s, Purple Martins were common throughout southern New England. However, with the introduction of House Sparrows and European Starlings in the 1900s, these cavity-nesting birds began to invade and displace the Martins. Additionally, a long stretch of cold, wet weather in 1903 significantly reduced the Purple Martin population, nearly leading to their extinction on Cape Cod. It has taken decades of patience, care, and favorable conditions, along with dedicated "landlords," for the Purple Martins to gradually start returning. Now, Nantucket has joined the growing network of communities supporting their recovery.

We installed the gourd-style housing in 2022 with the guidance from Mary Keleher. She is the leading Purple Martin advocate on Cape Cod, also being named “the Mother of Cape Cod Purple Martins”. Mary has been instrumental in helping the species rebound in this region, working tirelessly to create and maintain successful colonies in places like Falmouth, Mashpee and Wellfleet. Her mentorship and support gave us the tools to bring this effort to Nantucket. I am also grateful to Sean Mack, who generously helped with the installation of the gourd rack and pole.

LLNF’s habitat, with open rare grasslands, low trees, and access to water, offers ideal conditions. But even with the right setup, we had to wait for the Purple Martins to discover it. Now, three years later, they have.

This may also be part of a bigger story. Historically, Nantucket springs were likely too cold and insect numbers too low to support the nesting Purple Martins. These birds are aerial insectivores and require a steady food supply to survive. They rarely fly in temperatures below 48°F and need temperatures about 56°F to maintain regular activity. With warming temperatures and longer insect seasons, the conditions are shifting. This nesting attempt may be a sign of a northward range expansion. It’s a rare and hopeful example of how species are adapting to the changing climate.

We will continue monitoring the nest closely. If all goes well, we hope to see chicks fledging by mid-July. For now, these two birds bring real hope. Hope for the species and hope for what dedicated stewardship and conservation can bring to even the most unexpected places.

If you're out on the trails at LLNF, look up as you pass by the gourds. You might just see a Purple Martin swooping through the air; make sure to wave hello and welcome it to the neighborhood.

Stay tuned for more editions of Current Nature, a bi-weekly column featuring seasonal topics, natural history information, and advice on the outdoors from the staff at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation.