by Dr. Sarah Treanor Bois, PhD
Director of Research & Conservation at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation
Purple Martins have arrived on Nantucket for the first time ever. After three years of conservation efforts to support breeding habitat for the species, they have finally “set up house” at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, primarily due to the efforts of Libby Buck, Conservation Science and Land Steward with LLNF.
First, a little more about purple martins: the latest seasonal residents on Nantucket Island.
Purple martins are colonial birds that are the largest of the swallow family in North America. They are insectivorous, which makes them a very welcome addition to our island. The adult males are iridescent black and blue-purple; females are similar in size, but a more drab color with some blueish patches on the head. These large, chunky swallows have slightly hooked beaks (great for catching insects) and long, tapered wings. If you are lucky to see them, they are often soaring high in big swooping patterns. These flying patterns allow them to deftly maneuver and capture flying insects in their beaks, which are specially suited for hunting in the air. They’re even able to stay hydrated without ever having to land, swooping low over a pond to scoop up a drink on the go.
Purple martins are cavity-nesters that often form breeding colonies. The lack of natural cavities for nesting has been one of the reasons cited for their regional population decline. Artificial nests and gourds have been used successfully in many areas to help populations. The idea of providing artificial nesting cavities is not a new one: multiple Native American tribes first established relationships with martins by providing gourds or other structures. The birds provided insect control and chased off hawks and crows, thus protecting crops. This practice of providing gourds as nesting sites has continued, with many people acting as “landlords” for the birds. In South Carolina, there is even a purple martin festival each year held in the town of St. Matthews, which is festooned with gourd condos. Maybe that will be the next festival idea for Nantucket Chamber of Commerce.
Purple martins breed throughout North America from parts of Canada, running south through the United States as far south as the Gulf Coast and southern Florida. They are also found in the mountains of New Mexico, Arizona, western Colorado, Utah, and along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and western Mexico. Despite this broad geographic range, they have been a species in decline regionally.
According to the State of the Birds report published by the Massachusetts Audubon Society in 2011, purple martin breeding activity declined by more than 50% between 1979 and 2009. In Massachusetts, the populations have been slightly increasing, but purple martins are still one of the migratory species in decline regionally. This decline is due to factors such as competition for nesting sites with invasive species like European starlings and house sparrows, loss of natural nesting habitats, and widespread pesticide use reducing their insect prey. In the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan, the purple martin is listed as one of the species of “greatest conservation need.” In the state, they are primarily found near the coast, but they have recently been documented along the Connecticut River Valley, where they historically nested.
Nantucket wasn’t thought to be a good place historically for the birds mostly due to the traditional cold, wet springs that can keep insects, their favorite food, from flying at a time when the martins typically migrate back. But climate change may be helping purple martins expand their range or make parts of their historic range more hospitable. With warming temperatures and longer insect seasons, the conditions are shifting. Purple martins may be one of the first climate refugees moving into new areas.
It was back in 2022 when Libby Buck first heard a talk at a conference about efforts to help the purple martin populations on Cape Cod. After the conference, Libby sought out Mary Keleher, the “Mother of Cape Cod Purple Martins” and asked if she thought Nantucket could be a good spot to set up nesting structures for martins. Keleher has been instrumental in helping purple martins rebound regionally, working to create and maintain successful colonies in places like Falmouth, Mashpee, and Wellfleet.
Purple martins have previously been known to migrate through Nantucket in the spring and fall, but they hadn’t nested here. Based on her own knowledge of the habitats, current climate, associated species, and available food, Buck thought Nantucket must be a good spot to set up a breeding location. That’s when the Field of Dreams adage seemed particularly appropriate: “If you build it, they will come.”
Buck constructed a purple martin “condo” at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation property in 2022 with guidance from Keleher. The condos are actually a series of plastic gourds that mimic traditional nesting cavities. The gourd style is the preferred method due to its ease of cleaning and repair. Benefitting from Keleher’s expertise, Buck set up the gourds were on a high point overlooking the North Head of Long Pond and the grasslands below: perfect insect habitat!
Then, all we had to do was wait…and wait… The expectation wasn’t to have birds right away. The idea was that if the gourds were set up and looked like good nesting habitat, migrating purple martins would see it and remember it for the following season. The gourd condo was adorned with two martin decoys and some fresh pine needles inside the gourds. They are very social birds, and if they see one of their kind, they will investigate. Despite her best efforts, Buck didn’t see any martin activity for three years.
Now the wait is finally over. In May of 2025, purple martins were spotted in Madaket in areas near the Linda Loring Nature Foundation (LLNF) property. Buck immediately began playing recordings of purple martin calls to lure them to the nesting area. It wasn’t until early June that birds were seen at the actual gourd site. And then, a week later on June 13, a pair was seen with nesting material.
What was first thought to be two females attempting nest building proved to be a mated pair. The male is a sub-adult male just coming into breeding plumage (which explains the original identification). This makes sense given that the subadults are usually the ones to occupy new colony sites. This was confirmed by a purple martin expert and then by the fact that the two birds produced a nest with eggs! As of Friday, June 27, there were four eggs in the nest. Nests typically range from 3 to 6 eggs per clutch, but they have as many as 8. They lay an egg a day, so we’ll have to see what we end up with for a total number. The eggs will then incubate for 15 to 18 days. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge in about 28 to 29 days. Be sure to follow @loringnatureack to stay up-to-date on the latest breeding activity.
The arrival of nesting purple martins is considered a hopeful sign of their expanding range and opens possibilities for future conservation efforts on Nantucket. Purple martins exhibit strong site fidelity, meaning they tend to return to the same nesting locations year after year. At the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, we look forward to hosting and potentially expanding the colony. You can help martins and other songbirds by protecting the insects they depend on by not using pesticides and growing native plant species that support our native insects.
To see them for yourself, take a walk on the LLNF public trails at 110 Eel Point Road. The gourds are visible from the trail and an interpretive sign details the purple martin natural history. You may see them swooping and soaring above or coming and going from the nest gourd.
You can also learn more about purple martin natural history, research, and how to become a purple martin “landlord” yourself by checking out the Purple Martin Conservation Association at purplemartin.org.
