How to Make Purple Martin Gourds

Clean the skin on your chosen kettle gourd using a metal pot scrubber. Run the gourd under warm running water while scrubbing. The goal is to remove any dirt or debris. Some gourds have discolored skin from mold. These spots will not be removed with scrubbing. To be sure you have fully removed the debris, run your hand over the surface of the gourd. If it feels smooth, it is clean. If not, continue to scrub the gourd. Dry the surface of the gourd using a paper towel.

Drill an entrance hole on one side of your gourd using a drill with a hole attachment. The hole should be approximately 2 inches in diameter. Where you place the hole depends on the shape of the gourd. Choose a location that is close to center between the top and the bottom of the gourd. Discard the cut-out piece.

Remove the innards from the gourd through the hole you just created using a metal ice cream scoop. Discard the innards. Scrape the walls as well. If you want to leave the paperlike membrane in the gourd, the purple martin can use it to build its nest, but by removing it, you keep the gourd drier.

Drill drainage holes to the bottom of the gourd using your drill equipped with a 1/8-inch drill bit. Place four holes along the bottom of the gourd, evenly spaced from one another. This allows for water and waste to exit the gourd once martins move in.

Drill two more holes in the neck of the gourd to allow you to hang it up. Use your drill with the 1/8-inch drill bit and drill through the upper part of the neck. Feed a 24-inch piece of twine through the holes and tie the loose ends together. Use the tied twine to hang your gourd.