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Martins have been nesting in human-supplied gourds for hundreds
of years. Long before Europeans first arrived on the North American
continent, native American Indians were attracting these purple
swallows to their villages using hollowed-out calabash gourds.
The tradition of putting up gourds for martins continues to this
day.
The purpose of these articles is not to promote
gourds as being "better than" martin houses, but to
counter misinformation about gourds. Gourds can only be said
to be "better" than houses when the gourds are of the
correct size and type, are properly prepared and well-maintained,
and when the house in question is inadequate due to incorrect
design features, poor maintenance, etc. Knowing the facts about
both types of housing will enable martin landlords to make informed
choices and increase their chances of attracting a healthy, successful
colony.
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