Adopt a Purple Martin Gourd

Purple Martins are near the top of the list of bird species that thrive with the help of people. For thousands of years they have relied on nesting in cavities of hollowed gourds or birdhouses. At the Coastal Center, we host a colony of these birds every summer, and carefully monitor their population to ensure a successful nesting season. This monitoring work is done by volunteers, conservation staff members, and Milford Point board members. They check the nests regularly to count eggs and chicks, remove parasites or House Sparrow nests, and generally monitor the health of the colony.

To fund this work, we rely on the support of gourd adopters. Your donation gives you access to regular updates from the monitor team, a full list of the gourds, nests, and numbers of eggs and chicks, and an insider look at the status of the colony. You'll also get exclusive photos taken by the monitoring team, including a peek at newly-hatched chicks. Thank you for making our continued work possible!