The 'Prairie Lodge' Purple Martin House | S&K American Barn 12-Room Starling-Resistant Pole-Mount Habitat

The Experience

Twelve rooms across two floors and an attic level, engineered for the Purple Martin landlord who refuses to compromise on colony capacity or character. The Prairie Lodge brings a classic American farmstead aesthetic to the serious colony program — crescent SREH entrances that physically exclude European Starlings, generously proportioned main floor apartments that give breeding pairs room to raise a full clutch in comfort, and a dedicated attic level that expands occupancy beyond what standard two-floor houses offer. Built from UV-stabilized copolymer plastic in the USA by Scenic Rivers Industries, and compatible with the 1.9" outer diameter pulley system pole for full raise-and-lower colony management, this is a purple martin nesting box that earns its place in the landscape as much as it earns its place in the program.

Scientific Engineering

• Starling-Resistant Crescent Entrance Holes (SREH): Each compartment features a precision crescent-shaped opening measuring 3"W x 1.125"H — dimensioned to admit Purple Martins comfortably while physically preventing the larger body profile of European Starlings from gaining entry. Passive exclusion, active every hour of every day.
• Dual-Tier Room Architecture: Main floor apartments measure a generous 8.25"L x 8.5"W x 6"H — significantly larger than the industry-standard 6"x6" compartment — providing breeding pairs with expanded nesting space that supports larger clutches and healthier nestling development. Four dedicated attic compartments measuring 6.25"L x 6.25"W x 6"H extend total colony capacity beyond the main floor footprint.
• Integrated Nest Bowls: Molded nest bowls on each compartment floor help martins position and secure their eggs during incubation — reducing egg loss from nest shifting and supporting higher fledgling success rates.
• Center Pole Pass-Through Design: Engineered for a 1.9" outer diameter pulley system pole through the center of the structure, enabling full raise-and-lower capability for nest monitoring, competitor eviction, and end-of-season cleanout.
• Rain Canopies & Landing Platforms: Each main body entrance features a rain canopy and dedicated landing platform — protecting nest interiors from precipitation while providing martins with a stable approach and departure surface.
• Ventilated Roof Line: Ventilation holes near the roof line maintain interior airflow during peak summer nesting season, reducing heat stress on nestlings during critical development windows.
• Textured Black Floor Panels: Black plastic floor surfaces provide nestlings with superior grip during the critical pre-fledge period, reducing fall risk inside the compartment.
• UV-Stabilized Copolymer Plastic: White exterior panels reflect solar radiation to regulate interior compartment temperatures, while the UV-stabilized composition resists fading, cracking, and structural degradation across decades of outdoor exposure.

Boutique & Conservation Values

• Raise-and-Lower Compatible: The 1.9" outer diameter center pole pass-through makes the Prairie Lodge fully compatible with pulley system poles — putting nest checks, competitor eviction, and seasonal management within reach without a ladder.
• Attic-Level Capacity: The dedicated attic tier gives the Prairie Lodge a room configuration found in few production martin houses at this price point — maximizing colony density while maintaining the compartment quality serious landlords demand.
• Scenic Rivers Industries: Your purchase directly supports a workshop providing dignified, meaningful employment for people with disabilities — making the Prairie Lodge one of the few purple martin nesting boxes that contributes to both wildlife conservation and human community in a single transaction.
• Heritage Manufacturing: Proudly Made in the USA.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 20" L x 21" W x 21" H
• Floors: 2 main floors + attic level
• Room Count: 12 total (8 main floor + 4 attic)
• Main Floor Room Dimensions: 8.25" L x 8.5" W x 6" H
• Attic Room Dimensions: 6.25" L x 6.25" W x 6" H
• Entrance Hole Style: Crescent SREH
• Entrance Hole Dimensions: 3" W x 1.125" H
• Material: UV-Stabilized Copolymer Plastic
• Mounting: Center pole pass-through — 1.9" outer diameter pulley system pole (sold separately)
• Compatible Pole: The Elevator Pulley System Pole (sold separately)
• Shipping Weight: 11 lbs.
• Country of Origin: Proudly Made in the USA
• ⚠️ Assembly Required

PRAIRIE LODGE MANUAL