The 'Grove' Purple Martin Gourd Rack | Troyer's Birds' Paradise Deluxe 12-Gourd SuperGourd Colony System

The Experience

For the Purple Martin landlord who has outgrown the traditional house and is ready to run a serious colony program, gourds are not a novelty — they are the preferred nesting vessel of the birds themselves. The Grove is the most complete turnkey gourd colony system available to the serious landlord: a dual-rack, two-level aluminum pole system paired with twelve purpose-engineered SuperGourds, each featuring crescent SREH entrances, integrated porches, rain canopies, and 45-degree access ports for nest monitoring without disassembly. Twenty years of Purple Martin breeding behavior research went into the design of these gourds. The result is a colony infrastructure that the birds choose first — and that the landlord can manage with the same precision and control that serious stewardship demands.

Scientific Engineering

• Troyer's SuperGourd Design: One-piece molded high-density polyethylene construction, engineered based on two decades of Purple Martin breeding behavior research. The rounded gourd profile mimics the natural cavity geometry that Purple Martins evolved to prefer — producing measurably higher occupancy rates than traditional rectangular compartment housing in side-by-side field comparisons.
• Crescent Starling-Resistant Entrance Holes (SREH): Each of the twelve gourds features a precision crescent-shaped opening measuring 3"W x 1.125"H — physically excluding European Starlings while admitting Purple Martins without restriction. Passive exclusion, operating every hour of every day without landlord intervention.
• Integrated Porch & Rain Canopy: Each gourd features a molded porch flanking the entrance and a canopy above it — providing martins with a stable landing surface and protecting the nest interior from direct precipitation during active breeding season.
• 45-Degree Access Port: A large plastic cap covers a generously sized access port positioned at a 45-degree angle on the side of each gourd — allowing the landlord to open, inspect, and close each nest without removing the gourd from the rack. Nest checks, parasite management, and egg counts are fully accessible without disassembly.
• Raised Perch Lines: Textured raised lines on the rain canopy provide martins with additional perching grip during approach, landing, and pre-entry behavior — reducing fatigue and supporting natural colony activity patterns.
• High-Density Polyethylene Construction: Heavier than standard plastic gourds, the HDPE composition significantly reduces wind sway — a meaningful colony management advantage, as excessive swaying discourages occupancy and disrupts nesting activity.
• Dual-Level Rack System: Two-level aluminum rack arms provide twelve hanging positions across two tiers, maximizing colony density at the site while maintaining natural spacing between individual gourds that reduces inter-pair territorial conflict.
• Pulley & Winder System: A polyester rope and winder clip allow the landlord to lower the entire gourd rack to ground level for nest checks, competitor eviction, and end-of-season cleanout — no ladder required, no colony disruption beyond what the task demands.
• Nylon Glides: Hub-mounted nylon glides ensure smooth rope travel during raising and lowering operations, reducing friction and extending the service life of the pulley system.
• Extended Top Perch: An aluminum perch mounted above the rack provides martins with a dedicated sentry and resting position — supporting the colony's natural predator-alert behavior and giving scouts a visible landmark during spring arrival.
• 2" Square Aluminum Pole: High-tensile aluminum pole construction provides the structural rigidity required to support a fully occupied 12-gourd system in sustained wind conditions, with a 48" ground stake for deep soil anchoring and long-term stability.

Boutique & Conservation Values

• The Gourd Advantage: Field data from the Purple Martin Conservation Association consistently shows that Purple Martins — particularly experienced breeding adults — preferentially select natural and artificial gourds over rectangular compartment housing when both are available at the same site. The Grove brings that preference to work for the landlord.
• Turnkey Colony Infrastructure: Every component required for a complete, functional 12-gourd colony installation is included — pole, ground stake, racks, arms, pulley, rope, winder, perch, and all twelve SuperGourds. No supplemental purchases required to get a colony in the air.
• Twenty Years of Research: The Troyer's SuperGourd is not a generic plastic gourd — it is the product of two decades of dedicated Purple Martin breeding behavior research, refined through real-world colony data into a vessel that consistently outperforms alternatives in occupancy and fledgling success rates.

Kit Contents

• 1 High-Tensile 2" Square Aluminum Pole
• 1 48" Ground Stake
• 1 Two-Level Rack System with Arms
• 1 Steel Pulley Wheel Assembly
• 1 Polyester Rope & Winder Clip
• 1 Extended Top Perch
• 12 Troyer's SuperGourds with Crescent SREH Entrances & Porches

Specifications

• Gourd Diameter: 10.5" per gourd
• Gourd Height: 13.75" per gourd
• Entrance Hole Style: Crescent SREH
• Entrance Hole Dimensions: 3" W x 1.125" H
• Gourd Material: High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• Pole Material: High-Tensile Aluminum
• Pole Style: 2" Square
• Rack Levels: 2
• Total Gourd Capacity: 12
• Mounting: Ground stake set in soil (concrete recommended for permanent installation)
• Shipping Weight: 68 lbs.
• Shipping Profile: Secure Estate Handling ($44.99)
• Country of Origin: Proudly Made in the USA
• ⚠️ Assembly Required