When it comes to relationships with humans, the Purple Martin has a history that spans centuries! Even before Europeans arrived in the new world, Native American tribes had already recognized the benefits of hosting Purple Martin colonies, and had begun to hollow out gourds to be used as nesting cavities. Hundreds of years later, the Purple Martin almost exclusively relies on humans and the nesting boxes we provide.

The reason for this centuries old relationship is more than just the love of watching these beautiful, acrobatic birds in flight. Purple Martins are basically nature’s insecticide; they spend all summer eating thousands upon thousands of flying bugs, specifically the ones that buzz around your ear while on the lake. With this in mind, it is no wonder Purple Martin boxes are often installed near bodies of water.

Here at Allegheny Pond & Lake, we custom make our own purple martin boxes by hand. Each nesting cavity comes with its own removable nesting box for monitoring, as well as rail guards for protecting from birds of prey. Our boxes are designed with a pulley system for ease of access and removal for storage during winter months.

Each house is made to order, please reach out for a quote!