Purple Martins

(back to Duncraft.com homepage) Perhaps no other North American bird has a more interesting association with humans than the Purple Martin. As early as the 1800's, it was discovered that Native Americans had been providing the birds with hollowed out gourds to attract them to their dwellings. Martins were useful in driving off vultures, small hawks and crows from the vicinity, and it's possible that the Native Americans also appreciated the birds' voracious insect-eating appetites! Over time, perhaps because of the safety of being near humans, and the success of the provided nesting gourds Martins began to prefer nesting in close proximity to us ... (read more)

Top 10 Things To Do To Attract Hummingbirds

(Back to Duncraft.com Home Page) by Bill Thompson, III Here are my top ten things to do to attract (and keep) hummingbirds in your backyard. 10. Add a new native plant species to your garden You just can't have too many good hummingbird plants in your garden or yard. Take an inventory of your existing offerings and consult a source of hummer plant info for ideas on what to add next. Good sources include plant charts in Enjoying Hummingbirds More, and Creating Your Backyard Bird Garden. Both titles are part of the backyard booklet series published by (BWD Press: 800-879-2473, 32 pages, full color, $3.95). Also: Hummingbird Gardens, an excellent book ... (read more)