A Word from the Designer of the SuperGourd

The SuperGourd was designed and developed by ornithologist, James R. Hill, III, who is Founder and Executive Director of the Purple Martin Conservation Association. It is the only martin housing on the market today based on 24 years of scientific research into the needs of Purple Martins.

James R. Hill, III, owner of Bird Abodes and designer of the SuperGourd, is an internationally-known authority on Purple Martins, having conducted research on them for the past 24 years. He has published over 150 papers and articles on Purple Martins. He is Founder and Executive Director of the Purple Martin Conservation Association, and is editor of their quarterly membership magazine, the Purple Martin Update. In 1992, he was the subject of a BBC documentary entitled: "Bird Nuts, the Magnificent Obsession." For recent articles by or about him see: "A Passion For Purple Martins" in National Wildlife magazine (August/September 1990, pp 20-24); "Social Cavity Nesters" in WildBird magazine (March 1994, pp 38-41); "Purple Martin's Majesty" in Bird Conservation magazine (Late winter/early spring 1998, pp 9,14); "Martin Mania" in Birder's World magazine (April 1998, pp 32-36); "Martin Management Tips" in Bird Watcher's Digest (March/April 1999, pp 71-77), and "Purple Martin: A Passion for Purple" in Bird Watcher's Digest (March/April 2004, pp 28-37).