This past weekend 12 gourds were raised initiating this ninth year as a Purple Martin colony. Cameras will be upcoming in the following weeks (video cable currently broken).

Each gourd was filled with a bottom layer of brown pine needles, followed by brown live oak leaves. The lids on each gourd were greased with Dr. Bronners Peppermint soap, which really knocks down the mite population.

Tree swallows were seen overhead - but we're ready for a different swallow species.