Purple Martins Arriving

Day before yesterday the Scout was back. Boy what patience they have. I watch off and on all day as he sailed around for miles in the sky watching for the others to arrive. Yesterday evening, when it was their bedtime, I was surprised with three coming in to sleep. This evening there were still three, that I could tell. Sometimes they are already in the house and I may miss them.

I love to hear them, even inside their gourd houses they are still talking to each other.

The weather has been so beautiful this week, so it has been a great time for watching.

I am including an image of the full line of houses this post. The white building in the background is our little country grocery store, it is closed now and I have claimed it as my art studio (when I am not out watching Martins, or planting the field)!!

Hope you are getting ready for the Martins and the planting time!!

For now...Happy Gourding!!
The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount, Louisiana, that is.....

Gourd Crafting for Children : Rocky Mount Gourds

We are having one of those rainy days here to day at Rocky Mount, so I am hoping I can get some gourd art work done!!

If you have little ones at home with you today and need something great for them to do now, or on another day, gourds are "the best"!!!

I am entering an image of "Wild and Wacky Birds" that I did with a kindergarten class several years ago when I worked in Arts in Education here in Louisiana.
All you need is an odd shaped gourd, primary colors of acrylic paints (so they can practice mixing colors themselves), water based polyurethane (after the paint has dried), tack glue, bright colored feathers (glue them on), wiggle eyes, and felt for a beak, if you like.

They all turned out just wonderful and the children enjoyed this so very much....I do miss this too.

But the time comes when we cannot work with 30 children at one time!!
Hope you have a Blessed day!!
For now,
The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount, Louisiana, that is........

Ten Reasons Why People Fail to Attract Purple Martins

I would like to share some tips from the Purple Martin Conservatory concerning the Purple Martins. "Ten reasons why people fail to attract Purple Martins."

1. Housing placed too close to tall trees or in yards that are too enclosed. Last year we had let a tree grow up too close to the back side of the Martin House line and I think that is why we didn't have as many Martins. The tree is gone now, so, perhaps, they will forgive us.

2. Landlord allows other bird species to claim the housing first. Starlings are always a problem in your yard, we try to keep them run off.

3. Housing placed too far from human housing. They like to be around people, although ours like to dive bomb us when we stand too near.

4. Housing not painted white. Our first couple of years we put up gourd Martin houses, not painted just natural. Finally we painted them white and the Martins did come!!

5. Housing opened up too early. This leaves time for blue birds and other birds to nest.

6. Failure to open the martin housing.

7. Vines and shrubs are allowed to grow up under the housing. Last year we let a Bradford Pear tree grow too large and too close to the back of the Martin Gourd Houses and we did not have as many Purple Martins. That tree has been removed with hopes of more Martins coming back this year.

8. Housing not really ‘built to specifications" The holes need to be 2-1/4" and the house needs to be at least 6" wide.

9. Housing attached to wires, or placed too close to wires. Our houses are strung across the yard on a heavy cord, but we do not have the squirrel problem here.

10. Landlords buy or build housing that can’t be easily managed. You need to be able to get up there and check to be sure no other birds are nesting or trying to take over the Martin's nests. The Martins don't mind.

I checked the Purple Martin Conservatory site today and it shows reports of Martin Scouts as close to us as Pineville, Louisiana. Pineville is probably within 200 miles of us, south, so they are not far!!

Still hoping you are safe from the devastation of the bad weather, and able to watch for the Martins!!

It is not too late to order your Gourd Martin Houses, see our site for Rocky Mount Gourds on the Local Harvest website.

For now,

The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount

Gourd Crafting

I thought it would be good today to give you another idea for using the small Buffalo Gourds and modify the Indian Rattler design. It is easier than cutting and fitting the stick. To make a hanger, just punch a hole with an ice pick and using heavy wire and good glue create a hanger.
I use leather lacing as the holder, but you could use anything that works.
Keep creating while watching for the Purple Martins to arrive.

Have a great evening,
The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount

Purple Martins and Freezing Weather

We had wonderful weather here today, went from a cold 20's to possible 54 degrees. We should be so thankful for this. I spoke with a gentleman today that lives in northern Arkansas, he said it looks like a war zone there because of the ice storm. They have been without power for several days now, and not sure when it will be back on. This really makes one appreciate things more!!

I want to give you an idea for a crafting that would be good with children of many ages using the Buffalo Gourd. You can create Indian Rattlers, either large or small ones for Christmas Decorations. Children of all ages enjoy this one. All you need is a small round gourd, Buffalo, we call it. If not a Buffalo, you may use a Dipper Gourd. Cut a hole in the gourd to fit a stick, possibly an inch wide. You may clean the seed out (and save them for planting) and put in some small pebbles. Glue the stick into the gourd through the hole that you cut. You, or the children may decorate the gourd with acrylic paints, or marking pens. To preserve the design, later you may use a light misting of polyurethane spray. If you would like, you may further embellish the stick (handle) and gourd with leather lacing and feathers.

This is a great project for Boy Scouts too!! I used it often in Arts In Education in the schools in Louisiana. I am adding an image of a couple of completed ones so you may see.
For now, have a good evening,
The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount!!

Purple Martins and Freezing Weather

This time of year, we never know what the weather is going to do. I have heard of years that thousands of Martins were lost due to the freezing weather. We should be thankful that the Martins have not fully made it all over the United States with the freeze and snows we are having right now. We had a mild ice storm here last night, but it was much worse in many parts of the U.S. I am including an image of one year here at Rocky Mount when the Martins did arrive early and we had a snow and ice storm. They did make it through though, probably because it didn't last too long.

Purple Martin Scout Arrival

If you are interested in Purple Martins, it is time to be watching for the Scouts arrival. A great place to track the Purple Martin Scouts in your area is on the Purple Martin Society's website. They have lots of tips for placement of your Martin Houses. We have about 20 Gourd Martin Houses strung in the front of our property here at Rocky Mount and we get excited each year waiting for their return. I am adding a picture of the wagon wheel that we first started out with for our Martin Houses. We had a Martin Box on top and Gourd Martin Houses hanging below. You can see to the right side, we now have a cable with the Martin houses strung on it.

I have added a link to the right for the Purple Martin Conservation Society and the Purple Martin Society.

More about Purple Martins tomorrow,
The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount

During some of the cold lazy days before planting, you may want to
try helping your Grandchildren or some of the children of your church or community to create their own birdhouse. This image
is one of our Granddaughter's joyful creations!! It is so much fun
for all, and being creative is what it is all about.

For now,
The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount