Provide a comfortable home for purple martins to colonize!
SuperGourd is a 10" plastic gourd that was designed and developed by James R. Hill III, Founder and Executive Director of the Purple Martin Conservation Association. It was engineered based on 20 years of research into the breeding biology of purple martins.
Based on research, purple martins have higher fledgling rates in large, white gourds than they do in typical aluminum martin houses.
SuperGourd is a one-piece plastic gourd with a molded-in, threaded access port, covered by a screw-on cap. The access port is large enough to admit a human hand that is holding a nestling or handful of nesting material. The access port's high, 45-degree viewing angle allows easy viewing of nest contents during recommended weekly nest checks.
SuperGourd features a large, molded-in rain canopy that doubles as a perching platform. A series of molded-in corduroy-like ribs on top of the canopy and a textured pattern in the plastic permit martins to perch comfortably without slipping. With a relatively heavy empty weight of 31 ounces, the gourd tends to swing less in the wind. The one-piece body has no seams, so no rain will leak in, and seven 5/16" drain holes provide a rapid exit for any rain that may blow in through the entrance hole.
SuperGourds are blow-molded in white, opaque, high-density polyethyline plastic to reflect sunlight and keep the interior temperature down. They won't rot, peel, split, or crack out in the elements and won't break if accidentally dropped like natural gourds can. Because they are molded with UV inhibitors added to the plastic, they have a long life expectancy with virtually no maintenance other than a quick scrub at the end of the season.
SuperGourds may easily be hung underneath an existing martin house, from a gourd rack, or strung on a line between two poles. One set of 1/4" holes are predrilled on the sides of the gourd to accept a hanging wire; a set of front-to-back holes can easily be drilled if so desired.
SuperGourds feature crescent shaped Starling Resistant (SREH) or Round entrance holes (select at checkout)
Crescent (SREH) Openings: 2.88"W x 1.19"H
Round Openings: 2.125" dia.
SuperGourd Dimensions: 10" dia. x 14"H
Save $$ when you purchase in 4, 6, 8 or 12 gourd packs! (discount given at checkout)
Options Available!
Clip-On Porches (shown on left) - Clip on Porches for Crescent Gourds. This one-piece textured aluminum porch clips over the bottom of the crescent entrance hole of the crescent SuperGourd only. This porch will allow easier access by martins into the crescent SuperGourd, while still resisting entry by European Starlings. The clip-on porches also allow martins to sit directly in front of their entrance hole, where they can keep an eye on their nest and the outside world at the same time. Dimensions (H x W x L) : 5.5" x 3" x 5.5"
Insert Traps (shown on right) - This metal insert trap is specifically designed for use in the SuperGourd. It will not fit in any other brand of plastic or natural gourd. It is highly effective at capturing any House Sparrow or European Starling that may start to build nests in a SuperGourd. It features an easy snap-in, snap-out installation that does not require tools and will not damage the gourd. Dimensions (H x W x L) : 5.5" x 4" x 5.5"
Extra Gourd Caps available at checkout. In case you lose one! 4/Pack
